Grade Level

Junior high Grades 7 to 9 and it could be modified for high school as an introduction to a more in-depth lesson in northern studies.

Time Required

Two, 60 minute periods (plus extra time if extension activities are attempted)

Curriculum Connection

Nunavut – Inuuqatigiit/Piniaqtavut Integrated Program

• Grade 7: Community – Young Northerners Unit
• Grade 8: Community – Circumpolar Peoples Now Unit
• Grade 9: Land – Emerging Nations and Nunavut

Link to Canadian National Geography Standards

Essential Element #2 – Places and Regions – Grades 6 to 8 – Canada and the World

• World political regions
• World cultural regions

Geographic Skill #3 – Organizing Geographic Information

Grades 6 to 8

• prepare various forms of diagrams, tables and charts to organize and display geographic information
• integrate various types of materials to organize geographic information

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 will be accessed:

• Explore Our Maps

People & Society » Nunavut » The Nunavut Mining Industry, 1999 » Mineral Exploration in Nunavut Map

People & Society » Nunavut » Our Land » Terrestrial Ecozones (Nunavut) Map

People & Society » Nunavut » Our Land » Permafrost, Glaciers and Sea Ice Map

People & Society » Nunavut » Our People » Aboriginal Cultural Areas Map

People & Society » Nunavut » Special Places » National Parks in Nunavut Map

People & Society » Nunavut » Transportation Infrastructure » Air Routes to Nunavut Map

• Explore Our Maps

Reference Maps » Provincial & Territorial Outline » Nunavut Map

Reference Maps » Provincial & Territorial Outline » Nunavut with Names Map

Reference Maps » International » North Circumpolar Region Map

Reference Maps » International Outline » North Circumpolar Region Map

Reference Maps » International Outline » North Circumpolar Region with Names Map

Additional Resources

• computer lab with Internet access for Web research, printer
• acetates of Nunavut and Circumpolar maps downloaded from the Atlas Web site
• globe, print map(s) of the world
• student activity sheet (provided)
• access to library books (including encyclopaedia)
• overhead projector

Main Objective

To recognize Nunavut as part of a larger, northern circumpolar community within the global context.

Learning Outcomes

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

• access and navigate the Atlas of Canada Web site
• locate all Nunavut communities on a regional map and to be able to physically place Nunavut within the circumpolar and world context
• identify some specific characteristics of Nunavut, its people and society
• list the 9 circumpolar countries and locate them on a map give specific information regarding each of the 9 circumpolar countries

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

• Review Nunavut communities and their location within Nunavut. A large wall map could be used to begin with.
• Project a labelled map of Nunavut for students to use to label their own blank maps.

Student Activity

• Students come up to the map and point out the desired communities.
• Students add all Nunavut communities to each of their own maps.

Lesson Development

Teacher Activity

• Direct students to the maps in the People & Society section, as listed in the Atlas of Canada resources above and on the student worksheet.
• Guided Discussion: Nunavut is part of what country? What other region of the world? Has anyone ever traveled to Greenland? Why would Nunavut have anything in common with other circumpolar countries? Can anyone name circumpolar countries ?
• Refer to a large print map of the world, as well as a globe to orient students. Focus in on the northern circumpolar region. Identify each of the 9 countries.
• Show blank North Circumpolar World Region Map on overhead projector.
• Hand out an outline map of the Northern Circumpolar Region to each student and allow time to label the countries. Direct students to the Northern Circumpolar Region Map (coloured, not outlined) on the Web site for clarity as they label their own maps.
• Ask students to fill in the table in question 7 by using the Atlas of Canada and other resources they have available in the school and community.

Student Activity

• Students work in groups if preferred, yet answer their worksheets independently.
• Answer questions as asked and participate as required.
• Answer questions as asked and participate as required. Students can show what they know of these countries so far.
• Various students label country names on the acetate.
• Students label circumpolar countries to each of their own maps.
• Students undertake independent Web or library research to complete worksheet.

Conclusion

Teacher Activity

• Go over student worksheet.
• Discuss the possibility of students writing to circumpolar countries for project information (see extension activity).

Student Activity

• Students share the answers to their worksheets with the class.
• Students are grouped for project work if the lesson extension is done.

The student worksheet is printed separately for distribution to students.

• Student Worksheet – Nunavut, A Northern Land

• study the tilt and rotation of the earth as it applies to seasons and climate
• explore the topography and climate of the Canadian north through a mapping project involving latitude, elevation, land and water distribution, winds and ocean currents
• have students write to tourism boards for each of the other circumpolar nations to gather information for a future project on peoples of the circumpolar north

• monitor student participation in class discussion and at the projected images
• evaluate the completed student worksheets
• oral questioning, for example, which country makes up the most circumpolar area on the globe? Is any country completely within the circumpolar region?
• for testing, a blank map could be given and students asked to locate circumpolar countries

MacQuarrie, Bob. 1996. The Northern Circumpolar World. Edmonton, Alberta: Reidmore.

• PDF version (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)