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Teacher’s Guide
Teacher’s Guide
Our Canada: Its Geographic Regions Series
McIntyre Media Inc. tel: 800-565-3036 fax: 519-942-8489 email: [email protected] www.mcintyre.ca
Our Canada: Its Geographic RegionsGrades 4-6 2016 CC 15-18 min each/7 programs McIntyre Media Inc.
Teachers across Canada have long asked for an up-to-date series on Canada’s geographic regions. After much research and gathering of footage, we can now say we have put together an excellent new 7-part series for you and your students.
We have consulted Anne Smith Mansfield, Queen’s University Geography curriculum instructor and winner of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) Geographic Literacy Award, gathered beautiful high-definition aerial and ground footage from some of Canada’s leading film producers and drone operators, worked with Luke Murphy, a leading animator to provide you with accurate and colourful maps and graphics and our own in-house experts, Mary Cubello, University of Toronto Geography and Geomorphology graduate and Pauline Weber, Teacher-Librarian and Coordinator of Media and Libraries wrote and edited the scripts.
Produced for Canada’s 150th Birthday, this visual masterpiece will take students on a visual journey across the country. Sweeping vistas, spectacular mountain ranges, majestic rivers, rolling plains, vibrant cities and towns capture the beauty of this wonderful country. Accurate, up-to-date content explores Canada’s six physiographic regions. From the Cordillera to the Appalachians to the Arctic, students will get a broad understanding of the geography of each region, including geology, population and settlement patterns, industry, vegetation and wildlife, and an overview of original settlement by various First Nations groups.
Included is information on our continuing struggle to build a sustainable environment where students will learn to become responsible, active citizens.
The Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands#MCI097 This is Canada’s smallest geographic region in terms of area, however, it contains the most people. Known as the “Industrial Heartland” of Canada, its climate, soil and location make it ideal for industry, tourism, and agriculture. Water plays an important role in the region. The St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes have been major transportation routes for thousands of years. First used by the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and other First Nation groups, today a series of locks, dams, and channels allow for the passage of huge ships and barges.
Other programs in the series include:
Our Canada: An IntroductionThe CordilleraThe ArcticThe Interior PlainsThe Canadian ShieldThe Appalachian
McIntyre Media Inc. tel: 800-565-3036 fax: 519-942-8489 email: [email protected] www.mcintyre.ca 3
Using the video in the classroom:
Before viewing the video:
1. Display or project a map showing the 6 geographic regions of Canada (see page 11). Ask students to think about which of the 6 regions has the most people living in it, and write their answers down individually. Now ask them to volunteer their answers, giving the reason for the region they chose. When you reveal the correct answer, the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Lowlands region, talk a bit about some of the factors that make this region attractive to residents and industries:
a. climate, b. how waterways and industry are interconnectedc. the history of settlement in Canadad. the number of large cities in this region
2. Ask students if they know of any First Nations groups living in this region or if they have visited any First Nations cultural centres here.
While viewing the video:
1. Give students a copy of the Notetaking While Viewing worksheet on page 5 of this guide. 2. Review it with them, and ask them to make notes of some of the interesting things they see and hear while they are watching the video. 3. Tell them not to worry about spelling or neatness while taking notes, as the most important thing is for them to be watching the screen and listening to the narrator.
After viewing the video:
1. Ask students to work in groups to compare their viewing notes, and have them create a large chart combining all the information they found collectively.
2. Have each group report to the class on their combined notes and when all groups have finished reporting, identify any points that are unique to each group. Talk about how difficult it is to make notes while you are viewing, and how much information is presented in this short video.
3. Select some of the learning activities that follow in this guide to allow opportunities for students to extend their learning about this region of Canada.
4. Replay the video, and ask students this time give their full attention to the screen. Ask them to describe anything new they noticed on this second viewing when they were not writing.
5. Show students a map of the St. Lawrence Seaway from the official seaway website. Point out to students the inset at the top of the map labeled “Highway H2O”. Ask students to explain the meaning of this name for the seaway. Now look at the inset on the lower right side of the map, and take note of where locks have been built to raise and lower ships along the route. Which section has the most locks? Why were so many needed here? Calculate the total number of meters ships would rise above sea level if they were to sail from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior.
McIntyre Media Inc. tel: 800-565-3036 fax: 519-942-8489 email: [email protected] www.mcintyre.ca4
The Great Lakes Region The St. Lawrence Lowlands Region
First Nations Groups
Landforms
The Importance of Water
Agriculture
Natural Resources
Industries
McIntyre Media Inc. tel: 800-565-3036 fax: 519-942-8489 email: [email protected] www.mcintyre.ca 5
Extended Learning Activity #1The Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands Region
This is Canada’s smallest geographic region in terms of area, however, it contains the most people. Known as the “Industrial Heartland” of Canada, its climate, soil and location make it ideal for industry, tourism, and agriculture. The Lowlands are low, flat lands with gently rolling hills in southern Québec and southern Ontario. This region follows the path of the St. Lawrence River, as far as the western end of Lake Erie. Many of the cities, towns, and villages of this region have developed along this river and beside Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie.
Water plays an important role in the region. The St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes have been major transportation routes for thousands of years. First used by the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and other First Nation groups, today a series of canals, locks, dams, and channels allow for the passage of huge ships and barges.
Activities:
1. Use a highlighter pen to mark key words in the two paragraphs above. Compare the words you marked with someone sitting near you. Discuss any differences in your choices.
2. Print a blank map of this region.
3. Consult a map or atlas and outline on their map the following bodies of water: Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Label each body of water on your map.
4. Find cities and towns that are located on these bodies of water, and also on the St. Lawrence River, and mark and label them on this map.
McIntyre Media Inc. tel: 800-565-3036 fax: 519-942-8489 email: [email protected] www.mcintyre.ca6
Extended Learning Activity #2 (combining former pp. 6&7)Formation of The Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands Region 1. Using library reference materials and internet resources, find information and make notes about the
following:
What were the forces that shaped the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence region over thousands and thousands of years of earth’s history?:
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What types of vegetation grow naturally in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Lowlands region, including trees, berries, and wetlands vegetation?:
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How does the climate nearest the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River compare to the climate nearer to the Shield region?
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2. Prepare a three paragraph report on your findings to be given to your teacher.
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McIntyre Media Inc. tel: 800-565-3036 fax: 519-942-8489 email: [email protected] www.mcintyre.ca8
Extended Learning Activity #3The Waterways of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands
The Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands geographic region contains numerous lakes and rivers. From the earliest days of settlement by people in this area, the lakes and rivers have been very important for transportation. First Nations, fur traders and then European settlers used this vast marine highway long before railroads and highways were built.
Working with a partner, find information to provide short answers to the following questions:
1. How did First Nations people and early European visitors use the system of waterways in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands region? ___________________________________________________________________
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2. The Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River are important for industries and communities in this geographic region. List two industries that rely on the bodies of water in this region. How do they use the water? _________
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3. Make a list of some of the major rivers and lakes inland from the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence. How are these waterways used today? __________________________________________________________________
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4. There are a lot of people living in this geographic region. List some of the environmental impacts of the cities located on major bodies of water. _______________________________________________________________
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5. List one thing that could be done to improve the environmental health of waterways in this geographic region. __________________________________________________________________________________________
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Extended Learning Activity #4Locks and Canals
Over the last 200 years, locks and canals have been built in the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes that make it possible for ships to travel all the way from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. The St. Lawrence Seaway has become a major transportation route for all of North America. It is the longest such system in the world, extending 3,700 kilometres into the heart of the North American continent.
Large ships and barges carry raw materials, agricultural goods and manufactured products to many different places. Every year more than 160 million metric tons of cargo gets moved through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System.
1. Go to the St. Lawrence Seaway website and open the For Students and Educator’s page. Click on the “SEAWAY MAP” at the bottom of the page. Set it to show the ports and make a list of all of the American or all of the Canadian ports on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Choose one of these ports, and do research to find out what kind of manufactured goods and resource materials are being shipped to and from these ports, and what industries are important in these centres.
2. Just for fun, look at the “vessels in transit” display on this website if you are doing this activity in spring, summer or fall. If you were looking at “vessels in transit” in January, what would you expect to see? Why?
3. With a partner, select one of the following pages listed on the left side of the For Students and Educator’s page:
• Have Fun and Stay Safe• History of the Seaway• ABC’s of the Seaway• Seaway Facts• How Locks Work• Seaway Resource Library• Benefits of Shipping• The Environment
4. Prepare a summary of important facts found on the page you selected and present it to the class in an oral report.
McIntyre Media Inc. tel: 800-565-3036 fax: 519-942-8489 email: [email protected] www.mcintyre.ca 9
McIntyre Media Inc. tel: 800-565-3036 fax: 519-942-8489 email: [email protected] www.mcintyre.ca10
Extended Learning Activity #5
The Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands have been inhabited for many thousands of years by First Nations people. Research one of these groups:
• Wendat (Huron)• Haudenosaunee• Anishinaabe• Mississauga• Chippewa• Six Nations• Mohawk• Algonquin
Use the chart below to find and record information for each of the topics:
Chart: First Nations group I have selected: ________________________________________________________
Food
Shelter
Modes of Transportation
Clothing
Tools and Weapons
McIntyre Media Inc. tel: 800-565-3036 fax: 519-942-8489 email: [email protected] www.mcintyre.ca 11
tel: 800-565-3036 fax: 519-942-8489
email: [email protected] www.mcintyre.ca
Other programs in the Our Canada: Its Geographic Region include:
Our Canada: An Introduction#MCI093 This introductory program in the Our Canada Series provides students with a broad overview of Canada - our geography, population, settlement pattern, industry, resources, vegetation and climate. Bright and clearly labelled maps introduce students to each province and each geographic region.
The Arctic#MCI094 Canada’s Arctic region is one of the world’s most isolated regions, primarily composed of a large group of islands north of the Arctic Circle. It is an area of unusual landforms such as pingos, cirques and tors as well as an area of beautiful sights such as the aurora borealis. Special adaptations have had to be made by vegetation and wildlife in order to survive in this harsh environment. Despite its isolation, this is a region greatly impacted by climate change.
The Cordillera#MCI095 The Cordillera is the most western geographic region in Canada. Formed over millions of years as a result of plate tectonics, this is a beautiful area with a varied landscape of high peaks, glaciers, rivers and fertile desert-like valleys. The ocean and mountains combine to influence both climate and vegetation. The west coast features ancient cedars, beautiful totem poles carved by First Nation groups and a spectacular coastline where some of the world’s largest aquaculture farms can be found.
The Interior Plains#MCI096 The Plains region of Canada is an area of a variety of interesting landforms. Sometimes called “Canada’s breadbasket” it is known as one of the richest grain-producing regions in the world supplying us with a lot of our food. Formed over milllions of years, the area started as a region of land below an ancient sea. Today one can find fossils and dinosaur bones in certain areas. The First Peoples of the Plains arrived over 10,000 years ago and were nomadic hunters who followed the great herds of bison.
The Canadian Shield#MCI098 The largest of Canada’s geographic regions, the Shield is a massive horseshoe shaped area covering almost half of Canada. Made famous by the paintings of the Group of Seven, it is a landscape shaped by glaciers during the Ice Age. The rounded hills of igneous and metamorphic rock have been eroded and smoothed over time. Within these rocks lie minerals such as gold and silver. The Shield has been home to Aboriginal people for thousands of years. Today, they fight to maintain their culture as mining and hydroelectric projects threaten their traditional way of life.
The Appalachian#MCI099 Canada’s eastern most geographic region is an area shaped by the forces of glaciation and the ocean waters that surround it. Erosion has carved the rounded peaks of the oldest mountain range in Canada. Steep rock cliffs, fjords, tides, and some of the oldest rocks in the world are found here along with fertile valleys and the red soils synonymous with Prince Edward Island potato farms. The first settled region of Canada has a long and storied history. Early inhabitants like the Mi’kmaq and Beothuk carved out lives both on the coast and inland in the colder months.
