Unit 1 - Introduction to Canada & Geographic Skills

Lesson Details

1. Introductions

2. Mr. Durk's Website.

3. Class Rules and Expectations (page 4)

4. A Little Bit About Me (pages 5 & 6)

5. Class Scavenger Hunt & BINGO (page 7)

6. CGC 1D Course Outline

7. engrade.ca and Remind

8. So...what do you know about Canada? (pages 8 & 9)

9. Photography Permission Form (permission to use photographs of students from field trips, class activities, etc for use on this website). Please return to Mr. Durk ASAP.

Other Important Info, Focus Questions and Learning Goals

1. Explore Mr. Durk's website (Complete Mr. Durk's Website Scavenger Hunt and receive a "Durk Dollar" tomorrow)

2. Get a binder, ruler, pencil crayons, pencils and a calculator (things you will need for class on a daily basis)

3. Get the course outline signed by a parent / guardian and return to class tomorrow.

Focus Questions

1. What is Geography?

2. What can you expect from this course?

3. So...what do you know about Canada already?

Learning Goals

At the end of today's lesson, I will be able to...

1. know the difference between the different streams of geography.

2. clearly navigate through Mr. Durk's website and be able to "see" where and what we will be studying in this course.

3. understand how to access my class marks online via engrade.com.

Today I am introducing an assignment that is on-going throughout the course. Each day for the first 10 minutes of class we will be watching the CBC online news broadcast (The National). The purpose of this is to stay informed on what is occurring in and around the world and within Canada. You will be required to make point form notes of the major news stories from each day, and be prepared to discuss some of these major stories (the ones that involve Canada's involvement in World events and issues) with the rest of the class.

Focus Questions

1. Why does Geography matter?

2. What are two career paths that involve a good background in Geography?

3. Why would Geography be considered an "all encompassing" discipline?

Learning Goals

At the end of today's lesson, I will be able to...

1. access the course textbook.

2. evaluate my geographic knowledge of Canada.

3. set up a template to watch and learn about the daily news events that affect Canadians.

Focus Questions

1. What is a mental map?

2. What does my mental map tell me about my understanding of Canada's Geography?

3. How do I use an atlas effectively to answer questions about Canada's Extreme Geographic attributes?

Learning Goals

At the end of today's lesson, I will be able to...

1. assess my mental map of Canada's Geography.

2. understand key geographical attributes about Canada's Geographic Extremes.

HOMEWORK

1. Find out one unique or interesting fact about Canada's Geography. Be prepared to share with the class tomorrow.

5. CBC Online News Journal (First 10 minutes of each class)

The MacKenzie River in the North-west Territories

is the longest river in Canada and flows North-west into the Beaufort Sea.

1. Geographic Photo of the Day

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Finish Canada's Extremes Crossword Puzzle (~ 30 minutes).

4. Map of Canada Online Challenge

5. Mapping Requirements (page 15)

6. Brainpop Video: Mapping Skills

7. Political Map of Canada Assignment (page )

1. Question of the Day: What elements must be on every map? Can you name three different types of maps?

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Video: The World in Spatial Terms (20 min.)

4. Political Map of Canada and Map Guidelines.

DUE: Tomorrow!

1. Question of the Day: How do geographers pin-point exact locations around the globe? What is latitude and longitude? Do you know our latitude and longitude in Guelph, ON?

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Collect Political Maps of Canada Assignment

4. Brainpop Video: Latitude and Longitude

5. PPT: Latitude and Longitude (student worksheet) (page 21)

Map of Canada - Latitude and Longitude Lines

5. Latitude and Longitude: Pin-pointing places using a special grid system. (pages 22 - 23)

6. Video: Latitude and Longitude Recap (4 min.)

1. Geographic Photo of the Day

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Rapid Recap!...how much do you remember?

4. Continue working on and take up: Latitude and Longitude: Pin-pointing places using a special grid system.

5. The "Amazing Race Across Canada" (page 24)

Focus Questions

1. What are latitude and longitude coordinates used for?

2. What are the geographic significance of the Equator, Prime Meridian and Arctic / Antarctic circles.

3. What are the latitude and longitude coordinates for major Canadian cities?

Learning Goals

At the end of tomorrow's lesson, I will be able to...

1. locate and pinpoint specific points on a map using latitude and longitude coordinates.

2. clearly recognize and distinguish between major lines of latitude and longitude.

Homework

- Complete the "Amazing Race Across Canada" for Homework if not completed in class.

Focus Questions

1. What are latitude and longitude coordinates used for?

2. What are the geographic significance of the Equator, Prime Meridian and Arctic / Antarctic circles.

3. What are the latitude and longitude coordinates for major Canadian cities?

Learning Goals

At the end of today's lesson, I will be able to...

1. locate and pinpoint specific points on a map using latitude and longitude coordinates.

2. clearly recognize and distinguish between major lines of latitude and longitude.

Homework

- finish timezones map of Canada

- finish timezones calculation / questions

1. Question of the Day: Why do we have timezones? How would our world be if we didn't have timezones?

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Geoguessr

4. Take up the "Amazing Race Across Canada" (page 24)

4. Video: Introduction to Timezones (3 min.)

5. Video: Longitude and Timezones (4 min.)

6. PPT: Canada's Timezones (student worksheet) (pages 25 & 26)

7. Canada Timezone Map (copy onto blank map of Canada)

8. Timezones Calculations / Questions (page 27)

1. Question of the Day: What is a scale? Why do we need a scale for each map?

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Geoguessr

4. Take up Timezones Calculations / Questions from last day.

5. PPT: Map Scales (students copy down note)

Canada has a total of 6 timezones. WE live in the Eastern Standard Timezone (GMT - 5 hours)

Focus Questions

1. What are timezones?

2. What are the major advantages of using standard time?

3. How do you calculate time changes using a time zone map?

Learning Goals

At the end of today's lesson, I will be able to...

1. calculate the difference in time between major Canadian cities.

2. list and name at least one city in each time zone in Canada.

3. describe why we use time zones.

Homework

- complete the 2 worksheets (if not completed in class)

1. Measuring Distances Between 2 points

2. Comparing Maps at Different Scales

- complete map scales textbook questions assigned.

Focus Questions

1. What are the three types of map scales that exist?

2. Why are map scales important?

Learning Goals

At the end of today's lesson, I will be able to...

1. name and demonstrate each type of scale.

2. convert scale from one type to another.

3. use map scale to calculate and estimate distances between places on a map.

Focus Questions

1. What is a compass rose?

2. How do bearings work in naviagtion?

3.

Learning Goals

At the end of today's lesson, I will be able to...

1.

Focus Questions

1.

2.

3.

Learning Goals

At the end of today's lesson, I will be able to...

1.

Focus Questions

1. Unit 1 Test - Geographic Skills

TEST FORMAT - 76 marks

Part A: Introduction to Canada (10 marks)

Part B: Latitude and Longitude (8 marks)

Part C: True / False (8 marks)

Part D: Time Zone Calculations (18 marks)

Part E: Map Scales (10 marks)

Part F: Map of Canada (12 marks)

Part G: Canada and the World - News Journal Response (10 marks)

*Choose one story in the news over the past two weeks that we have watched using the CBC National broadcast. Describe the major players involved and summarize the major events that have occurred to make this an international (or National) news story. (aim for 200-300 words in length)

1.

2.

3.

Learning Goals

At the end of today's lesson, I will be able to...

1.