Regions of Canada Lesson Overview Canada has six main natural regions that can be identified by their landforms, climate, vegetation, animal life and industry. Grade Level Grades 1-5 (elementary) Time Required 100 minutes Curriculum Connection (Province and course) Ontario Social Studies, Canada and World Connections, Grade 4 Canada s Provinces, Territories and Regions Link to Canadian National Geography Standards Essential Elements #2 (Grades 1-5 ) - Places and Regions Essential Elements #2 (Grades 1-5 ) - Environment and Society Geographic Skills #2 (Grades 1-5 ) - Acquiring Geographic Information Geographic Skills #3 (Grades 1-5 ) - Organizing Geographic Information Principal Resource The Canadian Atlas Online website at www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required Student Activity Sheet - Blank map of Canada and chart outline (attached) Optional: further texts, atlases and websites for more in-depth study Main Objective To have students become aware of the various regions in Canada and their main characteristics. Learning Outcomes By the end of the lesson, students will be able to: explain the meaning of region locate Canada s natural regions use a chart to record geographical information describe several characteristics of each of Canada s regions locate suitable pictures to illustrate given characteristics comfortably browse the Canadian Atlas Online The Canadian Atlas Online 1
The Lesson Introduction Lesson Development Conclusion Teacher Activity Review the meaning of a region. Tell students they are researching the characteristics of the Natural Regions of Canada, using the Canadian Atlas Online Give students the outline map and remind them of the required elements (Title, legend and their name). The map should be coloured before the web site visit. Only the legend is completed once the students are online. Show students the chart that they will be completing. Be sure that they understand what is expected of them. Guide students on to the website. Have them click Explore By Themes and choose Regions. Give them time to complete the legend for their map. Next, complete one region on the chart with the students to familiarize them with the necessary parts of the website. In discussion, have students describe the location of the region chosen from the map. Click on the chosen region. Use the Blue Bar at the top. Go to Basics and Choose Ecozones. Find each of the five headings by scrolling through the pop-up box. (Note: there may be more than one box in an Ecoregion.) Have a student read the information aloud. Together decide what to record on the chart. Have all students add this information to their chart. Assign one region to a pair of students to research. When students begin, be available to help students having difficulty. When complete, have them write a paragraph about the region based on their findings. Prepare a bulletin board display. On a large map of the Regions, place some of the better paragraphs about each region. Have students gather suitable illustrations to give a visual representation of features to the display. Students can complete their own charts from information on the display map. Listen attentively. Student Activity Examine handouts carefully. Ask questions when unsure of vocabulary, tasks or expectations. Add the correct Region name to the colours in the legend box to complete the map of the Natural Regions of Canada. Work with the class to complete one region on the chart. With a partner, work through the web site to gather information on assigned region. Complete the chart for the region. Write a summary paragraph. Gather pictures showing landforms, vegetation, etc. of your region. Add them to the bulletin board map. Complete your own charts. The Canadian Atlas Online 2
Lesson Extension Have students do further research on an economic activity typical of their region, e.g. grain farming on the central plains, mining in the boreal shield. Assessment of Student Learning i. Proper title, legend are used on map ii. Completeness and correctness of individual student s chart iii. Written description of region iv. Question on unit test Use a Venn diagram to compare the environments of two of the Regions. The Canadian Atlas Online 3
Student Activity Sheet page 1 [insert blank map of Canada] The Canadian Atlas Online 4
Student Activity Sheet page 2 REGION LOCATION LANDFORMS CLIMATE VEGETATION WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES ARCTIC AND TAIGA PACIFIC AND MOUNTAINS CENTRAL PLAINS BOREAL SHIELD MIXEDWOOD PLAINS ATLANTIC REGION The Canadian Atlas Online 5