Grade Level

Grades 9 to 12

Time Required

Approximately three 45-minute periods

Curriculum Connection

Prince Edward Island: Atlantic Canada in the Global Community

• Outcome #1.5 – Identify and trace settlement patterns affecting Atlantic Canadians from Aboriginal to early new-world migration to the present day.

Link to Canadian National Geography Standards

Essential Element #2 – Places and Regions

• Physical and human processes shape places and regions – Grades 9 to 12 standard

Geographic Skill #4 – Analyzing Geographic Information

• Make inferences and draw conclusions from maps and other geographic representations – Grades 9 to 12 skill

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
• Map Archives
• Reference Maps

Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment

• printed wall maps of Canada and Atlantic Canada
• computer lab with Internet access and word processing access
• outline maps of the Atlantic provinces

Main Objective

The primary objective is for students to draw inferences about how geographic features influence human settlement pattern by using an online map of the Atlas of Canada.

Learning Outcomes

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

• access the Atlas of Canada Web site
• follow directions in order to find specific information
• work independently and with a group
• make inferences and draw conclusions from specific data about changes in settlement patterns in Atlantic Canada in the 20th century
• justify their conclusions

Introduction

Teacher Activity

• Using wall maps of Canada and Atlantic Canada, review the relative location of the Atlantic Provinces and the region’s main geographic/ physical features.
• Ask which geographic/ physical features might be most suitable for humans to inhabit.

Student Activity

• Answer questions about the relative location of the Atlantic Provinces and their main geographic/physical features.
• Draw inferences about the suitability for settlement of different physical environments.

Lesson Development

Teacher Activity

• Introduce students to the task by going over the directions in the student worksheet.
• Decide which students should work together in groups and give the students this information.

Student Activity

• Students follow the instructions on the student worksheet.
• They work both independently and in groups to make inferences from their data and to draw conclusions.

Conclusion

Teacher Activity

• Come together as a class and lead the students in a discussion about their findings and inferences.
• Note similarities and differences among students’ findings.
• As a class, analyze whether or not their inferences can be deemed justified.

Student Activity

• Using their recorded answers from the tasks outlined on the worksheet, students discuss their findings and justify their responses to inferences made from interpreting their data.

The student worksheet is printed separately for distribution to students.

• Student Worksheet – Settlement Patterns of Atlantic Canada

Provide outline maps of the Maritime provinces and of Atlantic Canada to each student. Each student shades the map according to population density for the particular map they worked on in Part II. Display in chronological order on a bulletin board.

Students could also be evaluated on their participation within the original lesson and on the completed worksheets.

To assess mastery of the skills involved in the lesson, provide students with another copy of question # 7 (Part I). Revisit the Atlas of Canada Web site and the Population Density, 1996 Map. Ask students to choose another province of Canada outside of Atlantic Canada and complete the chart.

• PDF version (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)