Location is the position of a place on the Earth’s surface. Relative location is the position of one place compared to another. Using a map of Canada from the Atlas of Canada Web site, you will be able to describe the relative location of the Northwest Territories.

1. Follow these instructions carefully.

a. Go to the Atlas of Canada Web site located at atlas.gc.ca and click on the English button.
b. Find the Explore Our Maps menu on the left hand column of the page.
c. Move your cursor over Reference Maps, then click on Canada in the pop-out menu.
d. On the new page that appears, click on the link to the Political Divisions Map.
e. View the map as a JPEG.

2. Use the map of Canada on your computer screen to locate the Northwest Territories. You will notice that the Northwest Territories consists of a mainland area and some islands. Using the outline map of Canada, given to you by your teacher, write the letter symbol NT in the mainland part of the Northwest Territories. Now colour the Northwest Territories purple to show the mainland area and all the islands that make up the Northwest Territories.

3. On your outline map of Canada, write the letter symbols in the correct location for all the other provinces and territories of Canada using the legend below.

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Letter Symbols for Provinces and Territories

4. For homework, you will copy the legend above onto your map of Canada in the top right corner, so you will know what the letter symbols mean.

5. Label the Arctic Ocean on your map of Canada.

6. Use the information on your map to fill out the blanks in the box below using the words: North, East, South and West to describe the relative location of the Northwest Territories.

a. The Northwest Territories is located ______________ of Yukon Territory.
b. Nunavut is located ____________________ of the Northwest Territories.
c. The Arctic Ocean is located _________________ of the Northwest Territories.
d. The provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan are located _________________ of the Northwest Territories.

7. Cross out the wrong words below so that you are left with a true statement.

a. The Northwest Territories is near to / far from Prince Edward Island.
b. Ontario is nearer to / further from the Northwest Territories than Newfoundland and Labrador.

Place has both physical and human features. Physical features are any features that are made by nature and include:

mountains, hills and plains

oceans, rivers and lakes

plants and wildlife

weather and climate

Human features are any features that are made by humans and include:

roads and railways

buildings and bridges

towns and cities (where people live)

mines, farms and fishing ports

1. Use the map of Canada on your computer screen to answer the questions.

a. Write down the name of one physical feature found on the map of the Northwest Territories.

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b. Write down the name of one human feature found on the map of the Northwest Territories.

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Humans use and change the natural environment. We depend on, adapt to and modify the natural environment.

1. Write down one way humans:

a. depend on the natural environment

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b. adapt to the natural environment

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c. modify (change) the natural environment

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2. The environment also affects humans in good and harmful ways. Let’s explore a new map.

a. Find the Explore Our Maps menu in the left-hand column of the page .
b. Move your cursor over Environment, then click on Natural Hazards in the pop-out menu.
c. On the new page that appears, click on the link to the Major Floods Map.

3. What is a flood?

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4. Now click once on the Zoom In button, with the magnifying glass, above the map and then click on the Northwest Territories. Click the Get Info from Map button, above the map, and click the place of Norman Wells.

a. When did the flood happen?

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b. How much damage did the flood cause?

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People, goods and ideas move. The movement of humans and things connects places with each other.

1. Find the Explore Our Maps menu in the left-hand column of the page.
2. Move your cursor over Reference Maps, then click on Canada in the pop-out menu.
3. On the new page that appears, click on the link to the Political Divisions (interactive) Map.
4. Click once on the Zoom In button, with the magnifying glass, above the map and then click on the Northwest Territories.
5. Use the legend on the right of the map to find out what the red line is on the map joining Yellowknife and Fort Simpson. The red line joining Yellowknife and Fort Simpson is a:
   
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A region is an area on the Earth’s surface. Let’s see how the region of Northwest Territories has changed.

1. Find the Explore Our Maps menu in the left-hand column of the page.
2. Move your cursor over History, then click on Territorial Evolution in the pop-out menu.
3. On the new page that appears, click on the link to the Territorial Evolution 1949 Map.
4. Look at the region of the Northwest Territories.
5. Now, go back to the Territorial Evolution page (item 2 above).
6. Click on the link to the Territorial Evolution 1999 Map.
7. Look at the region of the Northwest Territories. What happened to the region of Northwest Territories in 1999?
   
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