California: Places and Regions

Once back on the ground, the exploration continues with the many ways to describe the climate and vegetation in different parts of the state, which can take you from baking deserts to frosty mountain peaks in just a few hours. Differences in vegetation follow suit. On their trip through California, kids learn how geography shapes their state’s communities – from the natural harbors of the Coastal Region that encouraged early settlement, to the dangerous mountain passes that kept many people away until the Gold Rush began, to the Central Valley, where farming took hold early on, and to the Desert Region, where the harsh climate kept successful communities from developing until much more recently. Kids will thrive on exploring details about their home region and comparing it to others.

Visually oriented kids will enjoy the vast landscapes and vegetation of each region. While future geologists will be fascinated by the effects of earthquakes and the San Andreas Fault. And future naturalists will be eager to learn about John Muir and the woods named after him. Those especially interested in agriculture will be fascinated to find out how people in the Desert Region have managed to grow grapefruits. Cartophiles will want to pore over elevation and precipitation maps. California’s rich and varied geography is something kids won’t want to miss out on.