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New York State: Our Land and Its First People

Anything
Grade 4
English

New York State: Our Land and Its First People

New York State: Our Land and Its First People

Welcome to your New York State Social Studies packet! We are going to explore the mountains, rivers, and cities of our state. We will also learn about the Native American groups who lived here long ago and still live here today.


Section 1: The Shape of New York

New York State is a beautiful place with many different landforms. A landform is a natural shape on the Earth's surface.

Physical Features

  • Mountains: In the north, we have the Adirondack Mountains. In the south, we have the Catskill Mountains. These are high, rocky places with many trees.
  • Rivers: The Hudson River is a very famous river that flows south into the Atlantic Ocean. It was like a highway for people long ago.
  • Lakes: New York has two "Great Lakes" on its border: Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. We also have the long, skinny Finger Lakes in the middle of the state.
  • Ocean: To the southeast, New York touches the Atlantic Ocean near Long Island.
Fig 1: A physical map of New York State
Fig 1: A physical map of New York State


Activity 1: Mapping the Land

Look at the map above and answer these questions:
  1. Find the Hudson River. Does it flow toward the ocean or away from it?

  1. Which mountains are located in the northern part of the state?

  1. Name one Great Lake that borders New York.



Section 2: Cities and Neighbors

New York is not just mountains and water. It is also home to many people and busy cities.

Our Political Map

  • The Capital: The city where our state government works is Albany.
  • Major Cities: New York City is the largest city. Other big cities include Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and Syracuse.
  • Borders: New York has many neighbors!
  • To the North: Canada
  • To the East: Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut
  • To the South: New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Activity 2: Border Patrol

List three states that touch the border of New York State:
  1. 
  1. 
  1. 


Section 3: The First People of New York

Long before there were big cities, two main groups of Native Americans lived in New York: the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and the Algonquians.

Living with the Land

Native Americans used the geography of New York to survive. They used trees for wood, rivers for water and fish, and the soil for farming.

The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)

They lived in the central and western parts of New York. They are famous for building Longhouses. A longhouse was made of wood and bark. Many families lived together in one longhouse!
A realistic illustration of a traditional Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) longhouse in a wooded environment.
A realistic illustration of a traditional Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) longhouse in a wooded environment.


The Algonquians

They lived mostly near the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean. They built smaller, round houses called Wigwams. Because they lived near the water, they were expert fishermen and used birchbark canoes.
A realistic illustration of a traditional Algonquian wigwam near a waterway.
A realistic illustration of a traditional Algonquian wigwam near a waterway.


Activity 3: Compare and Contrast

Use the information above to fill in the chart.
Feature
Haudenosaunee
Algonquian
Type of House
​
​
Where they lived
Central/Western NY
Near the Coast/Rivers
Resource used
Trees for bark and wood
​


Section 4: New York State Quiz

Instructions: Circle the best answer for each question.
  1. Which mountain range is located in the northern part of New York? A. Catskill Mountains B. Appalachian Mountains C. Rocky Mountains D. Adirondack Mountains
  1. What is the capital city of New York State? A. New York City B. Buffalo C. Rochester D. Albany
  1. Which body of water is located to the southeast of New York? A. Lake Ontario B. Atlantic Ocean C. Lake Erie D. Hudson River
  1. What kind of house did the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) live in? A. Longhouse B. Wigwam C. Teepee D. Igloo
  1. Which group of Native Americans lived mostly near the coast and the Hudson River? A. Haudenosaunee B. Iroquois C. Algonquians D. Lakota
  1. Which country borders New York to the north? A. Mexico B. Canada C. France D. Vermont
  1. What did Native Americans use to make their houses? A. Bricks and cement B. Plastic and metal C. Grass and sand D. Wood and bark
  1. Which city in New York is the largest by population? A. Albany B. Syracuse C. Yonkers D. New York City