Grade Level

Grades 1 to 5

Time Required

40 to 60 minutes depending on grade level and level of computer comfort

Curriculum Connection

British Columbia, Social Studies Grades 1 to 5 General Geographic Skills.

Link to Canadian National Geography Standards

Essential Element #1 – The World in Spatial Terms

• Kindergarten to Grade 1 – maps as representations of local and distant places
• Grades 2 to 3 – location and distribution of physical and human features
• Grades 4 to 5 – physical/political maps of the province, Canada and the World

Geographic Skill #2 – Acquiring Geographic Information

• Kindergarten to Grade 5 – locate, gather and process information from a variety of primary and secondary sources including maps

Atlas of Canada Resources

Go to the Atlas of Canada Web site found at atlas.gc.ca The following parts of the Web site will be accessed by students during the lesson:

• Explore Our Maps

Reference Maps » Canada » Political Divisions (interactive) Map

• Learning Resources

Facts About Canada » Parks and Environment

• Advanced Search

Search for the location of a place on a map option

Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment

• computer lab with Internet access and printer
• review the student worksheet and decide how you want to present the lesson

Main Objective

The primary goal of the lesson is for students to use the online Atlas of Canada in order to collect information about places in Canada.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the lesson the students will be able to:

• access the Atlas of Canada Web site
• record observations about various places in western Canada using the online Atlas
• find specific facts about Canada using the Facts about Canada section
• use the Explore Our Maps section to examine interactive maps of Canada
• identify simple symbols in the legend
• find specific information about Canada using the Get Info from Map tool in the interactive maps

Introduction

Teacher Activity

• Decide how you will present the lesson.
• Option A: Set up a projector in the classroom and work through all or parts of the lesson together. The teacher can manipulate the computer while students make observations and answer questions either in writing or orally.
• Option B: Form small groups of students with a variety of computer skills to work together.
• Option C: Introduce the online Atlas and assign the activity to be completed individually.

Student Activity

• Listen to the introduction about the online Atlas. Prepare to complete the activity in writing or orally.

Lesson Development

Teacher Activity

• Work through the activity with students following one of the options as presented above.

Student Activity

• Students follow the instructions of their teacher to complete the activity or work through the printed instructions.

Conclusion

Teacher Activity

• Go over the answers with the class.

Student Activity

• Answer questions on the worksheet, in notebook or orally.

The student worksheet is printed separately for distribution to students.

• Student Worksheet – Discovering Dinosaurs: Planning your Summer Vacation

Follow up with a lesson where students create a visual representation of their trip across western Canada. The teacher could print out an outline map and students could map the route they travelled. Students could also create a collage or mural of some of the physical and human features they observed during their journey.

Evaluate the follow-up lesson, if assigned.

• PDF version (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)