Letters from the Southwest

The fourth graders travel the regions of the United States in their Social Studies curriculum. In their study, they look at the climate and physical features of a region as well as important landmarks, industries, and the region's natural resources. The students examine the history of the area, too. After studying a region, each student writes a friendly letter to a family member describing what he has learned about that region as if from personal experience (for example, his visit to the Grand Canyon). They put the letter into an envelope and decorate the envelope with pictures representing that region. The envelopes from each region are then bound together to create a book keepsake. 

The following are a few examples of student letters from the study of the Southwest: Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico.

November 21, 2006

Dear Grandma,
     This year I visited many exciting places. Among them were the four states in the southwest: Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico. All of the states in this southwest area were very hot and dry. It was sunny most of the time and I don't think it rained the whole time I was there! I saw lots of plateaus and canyons. I also saw some buttes and a huge mesa! It was fun seeing the Colorado River.
     My favorite spot was in Texas when we went to an oil field. It was interesting to learn about. Did you know that Texas and Oklahoma are the top producers in the United States? We caw crude oil which is called black gold. Another thing I found out is that after crude oil is dug it is sent to an oil refinery. I learned lots on my trip and I hope I can go back again.
     Please write back soon.

Your Grandson,
Adam

November 21, 2006

Dear Grandpa,
     My teacher, classmates, and I have just finished a trip to the Southwest Region of the United States. We visited Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. The climate is very hot and dry. There is little rainfall in these states. It is warm most of the year. These states have lots of canyons, mesas, plateaus, and buttes, the Rocky Mountains, and some big rivers.
     One of the places I went to was the Glen Canyon Dam. It is used to provide a water supply to the cities, towns, and farms in the Southwest. Also it supplies electricity to them. I saw Lake Powell, the lake made by the dam. We hiked for two miles on the shores. It was huge and fun.
     Have you ever been to the Southwest? If you have I hope your visit was great.
 

Love,
McKinley

November 21, 2006

Dear Grandma Linda,
     My teacher, classmates, and I have just finished a trip the Southwest Region of the United States. We visited Arizona,  New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The climate is very hot and dry. There is little rainfall in the states. It is warm most of the year. These states have many canyons, lots of mesas, plateaus, and buttes, the Rocky Mountains, and some big rivers.
     One of my favorite places in the Southwest is the Painted Desert. It is located in Arizona and New Mexico, and named for the colorful rocks it has in its area. It is the smallest desert in the Southwest. It think it is really colorful.
     Have you ever been to the Painted Desert? If not, you should go. Please write back soon.

Love,
Megan

November 21, 2006

Dear Mom,
     My teacher, classmates, and I have just finished our trip the Southwest Region of the United States. We visited Arizona,  New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The climate is very hot and dry. It is warm most of the year. These states have many canyons, lots of mesas, plateaus, and buttes, the Rocky Mountains, and some big rivers.
     One of my favorite places in the Southwest is the Sonaran Desert. The desert is located in Arizona, California, and Mexico. Did you know it is about the same size as the state of New Mexico? The Sonoran Desert has the biggest cactus in the Southwest, the Saguaro.
     Please write back to me.

Love,
Alexis
 

 

November 21, 2006

Dear Uncle Todd and Aunt Stephanie,
     My teacher, classmates, and I have just finished a trip the Southwest Region of the United States. We visited Arizona,  New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The climate is very hot and dry. There is little rainfall in these states. These states have many canyons, lots of mesas, plateaus, and buttes, the Rocky Mountains, and some big rivers.
     One of my favorite places we visited in the region was the Grand Canyon. This place is located in northeast Arizona. It is 217 miles long and one mile deep at its deepest parts. The Colorado River runs through it and made it. I heard over four million people visit the canyon each year.
     Will you please write back? I look forward to reading your letter.

Love,
Kyler
 

 

November 21, 2006

Dear Grandma V,
      I just got back from an awesome field trip with my classmates to the Southwest Region. We visited the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona. We found the climate very hot and dry. It is warm in these states most of the year. There are several deserts, many canyons, the Rocky Mountains, and lots of plateaus, mesas, and buttes in the region. Two major rivers in the southwest are the Colorado River and the Rio Grande River.
     The place we visited that I liked best was the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is 217 miles long, one mile at its deepest part, and 18 miles at its widest point. The Colorado River runs through it and made it by erosion. Over four million people visit every year. That's a lot of visitors.
     Have you ever visited it? If you have will you write back and tell me about what you saw?

Love,
Jennifer