Grade Level

Grades 9 to 12

Time Required

60 to 120 minutes depending on grade level and level of computer comfort

Curriculum Connection

• British Columbia, Geography Grade 12
• Ontario, Physical Geography Grade 11

Link to Canadian National Geography Standards

Essential Element #5 – Environment and Society

• impacts of major natural hazards/disasters on humans

Geographic Skill #4 – Analyzing Geographic Information

• make inferences and draw conclusions from maps and other geographic representation

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

Environment » Natural Hazards » Major Avalanches Map

Environment » Natural Hazards » Major Landslides Map

Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment

• computer lab with Internet access and printer
• review Student Worksheet – Avalanche and Landslide Hazards in Canada

Main Objective

The primary goal of the lesson is to have students analyze the location of avalanches and landslides and explore some of their causes and effects.

Learning Outcomes

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

• navigate the Atlas of Canada Web site for natural hazards
• understand how avalanches and landslides affect humans
• define what avalanches are and where avalanches are most frequent in Canada
• describe the topographical and snow characteristics that lead to avalanches
• find statistics on past avalanches and access current avalanche warning bulletins
• learn about the various avalanche danger levels and their probabilities
• define what landslides are and where they are most frequent in Canada
• describe the five types of landslides
• analyze newspaper articles for information on past avalanche and landslide disasters

Introduction

Teacher Activity

• Introduce mass wasting as a set of gradational processes responsible for reshaping the landscape.

Student Activity

• Notes on mass wasting and gradational processes.

Lesson Development

Teacher Activity

• Introduce students to the Atlas of Canada Web site. Help students to load the page and explain the importance of following the instructions on the worksheet to complete the questions.

Student Activity

• Students complete the questions on the avalanches and landslides worksheet by obtaining information from the Atlas of Canada Web site.

Conclusion

Teacher Activity

• Review student answers with class.

Student Activity

• Make corrections on worksheet.

The student worksheet is printed separately for distribution to students.

• Student Worksheet – Avalanche and Landslide Hazards in Canada

Follow up with video or print case studies of major avalanche or landslide disasters. For example, the Frank Slide and the Hope Slide.

Evaluate student responses to the worksheet.

• PDF version (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)