Unit 1 - Introduction to Canada & Geographic Skills

Lesson #

Introduction to Canadian Geography

February 3rd

Introduction to Canada

Exploring Canada's Geography

Mapping Our World

February 9th

Latitude and Longitude

Timezones

Map Scales

Map Scale & Compass Rose

February 17th

Unit 1 Review

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.

1. Geographic Photo of the Day

2. Take up Mr. Durk's Website Scavenger Hunt (page 10)

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

4. Video: Geography Matters! (6:46)

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

Blank CBC Online Journal Sheet

1. Geographic Photo of the Day

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Video: What is Geography?

4. Activity: Your Mental Map of Canada (actual map of Canada) - What is a mental map? (pages 11 & 12)

5. Introduce Canada's Extremes Crossword Puzzle (students will have time to complete tomorrow in class) (pages 13 & 14)

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.)

- Be sure to carefully follow all of the mapping guidelines while producing and labeling any map.

- atlases cannot be taken home, but can be borrowed from the JFR library.

- You will have time next lesson to continue working on your maps.

Focus Questions

1. What features do all maps require?

2. How do you use an atlas to correctly label a map?

3. How do you properly shade and colour a map?

Learning Goals

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

1. know and apply specific mapping skills to any map I create.

2. clearly create a functional and asthetically pleasing map.

HOMEWORK

1. If you could travel to any part of Canada, where would you go? What things would you see and what would you do? Be prepared to share with the class tomorrow.

- Today you had lots of time to work on and maybe finish your Mapping Our World assignment. Please be sure to have this completed by Day #7.

Learning Goals

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

1. clearly label a map using the instructions given.

2. use mapping skills to include all required features on a map.

3. locate and identify the location of major countries, provinces and geographical features.

- I will give you more time in class tomorrow to work on Latitude and Longitude: Pin-pointing places using a special grid system.

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)

6. Measuring Distances Between 2 points (page 28)

7. Comparing Maps at Different Scales (page 29)

8. Textbook Reading & Questions: Read pages 43 - 48. Answer questions 1 - 5 & 8 - 10

1. Geographic Photo of the Day

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Geoguessr

4. Rapid Recap!

5. Video: Understanding Map Scale (3 min.)

6. Take up textbook questions (map scales) from last day.

7. Scale Conversion Quiz (Answers)

8. PPT: The Compass Rose (student notes)

9. Introduce Assignment: My Compass Rose (evaluation rubric)

DUE: Day #2 of the Human Geography Unit

1. Geographic Photo of the Day

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Geoguessr

4. Continue working on "My Compass Rose Assignment" (pages 31 & 32) DUE: Day #2 of Unit 2.

5. Study and review your notes for Unit 1 Test.

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?

Learning Goals

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

Focus Questions

Learning Goals

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

Introduction to Global Positioning Systems

Unit 1 Test

February 20th

1. Geographic Photo of the Day

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Geoguessr

4. PPT: Introduction to Global Positioning Systems (student handout)

5. GPS Scavenger Hunt - Around Ross

1. Geographic Photo of the Day

2. CBC Online News Journal

3. Geoguessr

4. Unit 1 Review Package (pages 33 & 35)

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)

Learning Goals

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