Digging deeper

Place names in the USA can tell you something about the history of the country. They also reflect the many nationalities that have settled there. Here are four possible categories:

  1. Names based on Native American names, eg Seattle, Alabama, Miami
  2. Descriptions of the landscape, eg Lakeview, Willow Creek, Pine Bluffs
  3. Names from the countries colonists have come from, eg New York, Oslo, New Orleans
  4. Names expressing hopes for a place, eg Harmony, Sweet Home, Success

Work in groups of four. Look at a map of the USA.

  1. Each person is to find five examples from one of the categories above. Write down the names and the states they are in. Read your list aloud to the rest of the group. They are to write down the names.
  2. Can you think of any other categories?
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