At what rate is the river lowering the continent? (Enough sediment is annually carried down to cover twelve miles square of surface one foot deep.)
Where is the soil being deposited? How far is the river navigable? What canal is being dug to connect its waters with those of Lake Michigan? Consider the effect of this great work on the commerce of Chicago. What is the temperature in the northern part of the Mississippi River basin? What is the character of its vegetation? Compare these with those of the southern part. Where is the greatest rainfall? What besides fertile soil and abundant rainfall, is necessary to insure luxuriant vegetation? Name some fruits characteristic of the northern part of the basin, also of the southern part.
Locate areas of land best adapted to the growing of food plants; as grain, including rice; potatoes and sugar-cane; also those best for grazing purposes; the raising of cattle, sheep, etc. What plants produce materials for the manufacture of clothing? What areas are especially suitable to the growth of cotton? What to the growth of flax and hemp? Locate coal mines, and other mining districts; also lumber regions.
Where are the largest cities situated? Why are they thus located? What localities are best adapted to manufacturing purposes? Which to commerce? Interest the children in the discovery of the “great river.” Read accounts of Joliet’s and Marquette’s discoveries in 1673, also LaSalle’s discovery of its mouth in 1682.
Study the history of the early colonists and show the relation of their environment to their social and political development.
The further study of history will require a constant review of the geographical features of the continent, and will show their relation to the political divisions. These may be marked off upon the map with red chalk at the proper time.
In a similar manner each river basin of the continent may be studied separately, and the Hudson Bay basin. Compare the Atlantic and the Pacific, river basin systems, also Alabama and Texas systems of river basins.
Review the whole continent. See where the boundaries of all natural divisions coincide with the political divisions. Draw the continent, and mark all the large political divisions on the map. Add, also, the continental islands. How were these formed? What is a political division? What is its use? Mention the government of each division of the continent.
As the study of other continents are taken up, they may be compared with this one, and with each other, in regard to resemblances and differences.