Grade Level

Grades 6 to 8

Time Required

Two 45 minute periods

Curriculum Connection

Saskatchewan Social Studies Curriculum Connections

• Grade 6 – Canada and its Atlantic Neighbours – Unit 1: Location
• Grade 7 – Canada and its Pacific Neighbours – Unit 1: Location
• Grade 8 – The Individual in Society – Unit 3: Identity

Skills and Processes

• locate and interpret information from maps, charts and tables
• summarize information in a variety of formats: written, oral and graphic representations
• participate appropriately and effectively in groups
• read, review and listen effectively to gather ideas and information

Link to Canadian National Geography Standards

Essential Element #1 (Grades 6 to 8) – The World in Spatial Terms

• major countries of the World
• major cities of the province, Canada and the World

Essential Element #2 – Places and Regions

• physical and human characteristics of places and regions in Canada and the World

Geographic Skill #2 (Grades 6 to 8) – Acquiring Geographic Information

• use a variety of research skills to locate and collect geographic data
• use maps to collect and/or compile geographic information

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 Tornadoes Map

People and Society » Age » Youth (under 15 years) Map

Economy » Diamond Exploration » Location of Kimberlites Map

Reference Maps » International » North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Map

Reference Maps » Provincial and Territorial » Prairie Provinces Map

Climate Change » Stress to the Atmosphere » Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Gas, 1998 Map

Freshwater » Distribution of Freshwater » Glaciers and Icefields Map

• Advanced Search

Search for the location of a place on a map option

Additional Resources

• one computer with Internet access per group of 4 (teacher computer access to data projector is an added advantage if demonstration of the Atlas of Canada Web site is desired)
• Question Card 1
• Question Card 2
• pie sheet
• prizes for students (optional)

Main Objective

The primary goal of the lesson is to review facts about Canada studied in an earlier unit or to introduce the basic geography of Canada and its Pacific and Atlantic neighbours through a teacher directed game using the online Atlas of Canada.

Learning Outcomes

By the conclusion of the activity, students will be able to:

• access the online Atlas of Canada
• navigate the Atlas of Canada Web site quickly and efficiently
• become proficient in researching geographical information

Introduction

Teacher Activity

• The lesson opens with a review of how to navigate the Atlas of Canada. If students have not used the Web site before, the introductory activity will help them gain initial experience of how to navigate the Atlas of Canada online resource to find information about Canada.

Student Activity

• Students work through the student worksheet, Geographical Pursuit in Canada. They should be encouraged to work independently through this activity if there are sufficient computers.

Lesson Development

Teacher Activity

• Students are divided into groups of four and assigned to a computer.
• Students are given a pie sheet (see attached pie sheet) and must write all team members’ names on this sheet.
• Hand out game cards in envelopes to each group.
• Teacher can assist teams having difficulty navigating the Web site.
• Teacher stamps cards and hands and gives out small dot stickers for students to place over pie segments.

Student Activity

• Write names on the pie sheet.
• Once the game starts, all teams may begin navigating through the site to find the answer on the game cards.
• As soon as a team has an answer, the student may run to the front of the room and show the teacher the answer. If the answer is correct, the teacher stamps the card and the students hand, and gives the student a small dot sticker or uses a stamp to mark one of the segments of the team’s pie sheet.
• The student returns to the team for the next question.
• Each team member must have a chance to navigate the Web site and answer questions.
• The team with the greatest number of complete pies wins. Prizes may be awarded.

Conclusion

Teacher Activity

• The game concludes at the end of the lesson. The team with the greatest number of complete pies (or highest number of completed pie segments) wins.

Student Activity

• Students should hand in their cards and pies in the enveloped provided for each team at the end of the lesson.

The student worksheet is printed separately for distribution to students.

• Student Worksheet – Geographical Pursuit in Canada
• Question Card 1
• Question Card 2
• Pie sheet

• Students may compete against one another if you have the number of computers to support one on one.
• A homework assignment where students are given the questions and must complete the worksheet to take up the answers in a subsequent lesson.

Student’s assessment is based on:

• participation and effort
• group work (a peer-evaluation may be used)
• answers given during the game
• ability to navigate quickly and correctly through the site (monitored by the teacher)
• quiz homework assignment given as a culminating activity

• PDF version (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)