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How do the sizes of the states in the United States compare?
What To Do
Use the Internet or a reference book to locate a map of our fifty states. Then look at the map and visually estimate how the areas of different states compare. For example, look at Georgia and Illinois—the states are about the same size. And now look at Montana and Nebraska—Montana is about twice the size of Nebraska.
Make these additional visual comparisons:
• Compare Texas to the 48 contiguous states.
About what fraction of the area of the 48
contiguous states is the area of Texas?
• Compare Rhode Island and Texas. About
what fraction of the area of Texas is the area
of Rhode Island?
• Are any states about the same size as Texas?
If yes, which state or states? |
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Search Engine Keywords
land area of U.S. states
Materials
calculator
Complete the Activity
Again use the Internet or a reference book such as an almanac to learn the area in square miles of each of our 50 states. Then use the data and a calculator to check your estimates. Of the estimates you made, which one was your best estimate?
Share Your Work
Share several facts you learned from this activity with your classmates. |