Grade Level

Grades 4 to 5

Time Required

Three, 40-minute classes, depending on availability of computers and level of computer comfort.

Curriculum Connection

New Brunswick Social Studies Curriculum Outcomes with Delineations, June 2003

Link to Canadian National Geography Standards

Essential Element #4 – Human Systems

Grades 4 to 5 standards

• human settlement patterns and land use
• cultural regions (for example, religion, language, ethnicity)

Geographic Skill #4 – Analyzing Geographic Information

Kindergarten to Grade 5 standards

• use maps to observe and interpret geography relationships

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

People and Society

Reference Maps

• Learning Resources

Atlas of Canada Glossary

Facts About Canada

Quizzes

Useful Links

Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment

• computer lab with Internet access and printer
• lesson project template
• copies of outline maps (for Canada, provinces and territories) from the Atlas of Canada Web site
• teacher created legends for maps
• data projector

Main Objective

The primary goal of the lesson is for students to have a better understanding of the Aboriginal peoples of North America and of Canada. They will learn how to obtain and interpret information from maps using the online Atlas of Canada.

Learning Outcomes

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

• access the Atlas of Canada Web site
• read maps and their legends
• select specific information
• compare statistics of Aboriginal peoples within the provinces and territories of Canada
• locate provinces and territories of Canada
• make a display of information
• interpret information
• share information through oral presentation to class
• test their knowledge through a student-created project

Introduction

Teacher Activity

• Assign a province/territory to student groups. (2 students per group)
• Review terms: Aboriginal people, language, population, and language ability.
• Print copies of maps, legends and student instruction sheets for groups of students (one outline map of Canada and three maps of provinces/territories per group). Go to » Explore Our Maps » Reference Maps » Canada Outline and Explore Our Maps » Reference Maps » Provincial and Territorial Outline.

Student Activity

• Following the steps on the student worksheet, set up four pages by gluing maps and legends on student’s sheets of plain paper leaving room for titles and interpretative statements to be added.
• On the page with the map of Canada put the heading Aboriginal Cultural Areas.
• Put one of the titles listed below on each of the remaining 3 pages:

Aboriginal Population

Aboriginal Languages by Community

Aboriginal Language Ability

Lesson Development

Teacher Activity

• Explain maps and legends.
• Explain sample template of project.
• Introduce whole class to the Atlas of Canada using data projector.

Student Activity

• Students compile information from online maps.
• Color code information.
• Write interpretations (Students follow step by step instructions for project).

Conclusion

Teacher Activity

• Review statistics about Aboriginal peoples with class.
• Check to see findings are correct.

Student Activity

• Project is completed.
• Share information with class.

The student worksheet is printed separately for distribution to students.

• Student Worksheet – Aboriginal Societies of Canada

Follow-up: Students will read more information using Useful Links, Facts About Canada and Quizzes to make their own quiz on Aboriginal societies in Canada. This will enable students to discover more facts about Aboriginal people.

• evaluation of completed project: maps, written interpretations and oral presentation
• evaluate follow-up lesson, if assigned or use as fun activity

• PDF version. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)