Grade Level

Elementary (Grades 1 to 6) and it could be modified for junior high and high school as an introductory activity for a more complex lesson.

Time Required

Two 60 minute periods, depending on the time required for the wall mural map to be completed.

Curriculum Connection

Nunavut – Inuuqatigiit/Piniaqtavut Integrated Program

• Grades 5 and 6 Land: Regional Geography Units
• Grade 6 Sea: Bodies of Water Unit (if extension lesson is done)

Link to Canadian National Geography Standards

Essential Element – The World in Spatial Terms

Kindergarten to Grade 1 – Personal, Local, Province, Canada and the World

• maps as representations of local and distant places
• location and names of places in school and the neighbourhood
• relative location (for example, near, far, above and below)

Grades 2 to 3 – Local, Province, Canada and the World

• relative and absolute locations
• location and distribution of physical and human features
• local and provincial and territorial maps and atlases

Grades 4 to 5 – Province, Canada and the World

• physical and political maps of the province/territory, Canada and the World
• provinces and territories of Canada

Geographic Skill – Asking Geographic Questions

Kindergarten to Grade 5 – Ask Geographic Questions – Where is it located?

• What is significant about its location?
• How is its location related to the locations of other people and environments?

Atlas of Canada Resources

The Atlas of Canada resources used may be accessed directly by students at atlas.gc.ca or beforehand by the teacher, depending on computer availability in the school. The following maps and resources will be accessed:

• Explore Our Maps

Reference Maps » Provinces & Territories Outline » Nunavut Map

Reference Maps » Provinces & Territories Outline » Nunavut with Names Map

• Learning Resources

Facts About Canada » Nunavut Communities, 1999

Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment

• computer lab with Internet access and printer
• acetates of Nunavut maps downloaded from the Atlas of Canada Web site
• globe, print maps of the World
• blank flash cards (to be written on by teacher)
• kraft paper roll, markers, tape
• overhead projector

Main Objective

To locate the communities of Nunavut on a territorial map

Learning Outcomes

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

• access and navigate the Atlas of Canada Web site
• place Nunavut within the world context
• locate the Nunavut communities on a regional map
• state some information about communities on their maps

The Lesson

If at all possible, have students access the Atlas of Canada Web site themselves for a guided search for the required maps in the lesson. If this is not possible, the teacher must access and print off the needed maps.

Introduction

Teacher Activity

• Guided discussion: Where do we live? Do we have family or friends who live in other communities?

Student Activity

• Participate in the discussion.

Lesson Development

Teacher Activity

• Refer to a large print map of the world, as well as a globe to orient students. Zoom in towards Nunavut on both. Talk about north, south, east and west orientations. Have students point out places they know.

Student Activity

• Answer questions as asked and participate as required.
• Students work on their own maps.

Conclusion

Teacher Activity

• Project a blank outline map of Nunavut on a large piece of white kraft paper. The completed map can be displayed in the school foyer or hallway and decorated as desired.
• See lesson extension activities.

Student Activity

• Students copy the map onto a large sheet as carefully as possible, then tape flash cards (with correct spellings facing up) onto the appropriate locations.

The student worksheet is printed separately for distribution to students.

• Student Worksheet – Nunavut, Our Communities

• decorate the wall mural map with drawings of community life
• have students identify where other family members reside within Nunavut by placing a family flag of sorts on the completed wall mural
• use the Atlas of Canada Web site at atlas.gc.ca and select Learning Resources » Facts About Canada » Nunavut Communities, 1999 to research information for the rest of the communities shown on the map (clicking on the community of choice shows more textual and pictorial details for that community).
• gradually add island names as well as names of bodies of water on the large map, as well as on their own copies

• monitor student participation in class discussion and at the projected images
• check for learning with the scrambled flash cards
• oral questioning, for example, What is the most northern Nunavut community? The most southern? Eastern? Western? Which community is the closest neighbour to Grise Fiord? Pond Inlet? and so on
• error testing, a blank map showing dots only, could be given and students asked to locate specific communities

• PDF version. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)