The Assignment

INFORMATION TO KNOW

What is a settlement?

A settlement is a place where people live. Settlements can vary in size from the very small to extremely large. They can be permanent or temporary.

For example: A settlement can be as small as one house and as large as an entire city.

What is the site of a location?

Site refers to the actual location of a settlement on the Earth. The term site includes the physical characteristics of the landscape specific to the location. These [site factors] include landforms, climate, plant life, water availability, quality of soil, minerals, and wildlife.

For example: Is the area protected by mountains? Does there exist a natural harbour? Is the area flat or hilly? It is located on a lake or river?

What is the situation of a location?

Situation refers to the location of a place in relation to its surroundings and other places. Situation factors include the accessibility or convenience of the location, the degree of the location's connections with another, and how close an area may be to raw materials (e.g., vegetables, meat, wood, minerals, etc.) if they are not located specifically on the site.

For example: A location's surroundings may include mountains, rivers, and roads (i.e., natural surroundings), cities, and transportation routes.

What determines where a settlement is located?

Settlements start in different places for different reasons. These [reasons] relate to the site and situation factors of a location.

For example:

Locations with potential for growth (site factors) - access to a plentiful/drinkable water source, material for building, an rich source of fuel for energy, climate, plant and animal life, and condition of soil
Locations that face challenges or a lack of growth (site factors) - climates that are difficult for humans or agriculture to exist in, rugged land (e.g., uneven, rocky)
Locations with potential for growth (situation factors) - availability of and access to natural resources, access to long distance buying and selling (e.g., trade), potential for agriculture

What is a regional stereotype?

A widely, overgeneralized idea, image of belief that Canadians often hold about different regions of Canada based on location and attributes.

Ask yourself:

Based on what you now know, try and think of a location that has potential for growth and progress (or lack thereof) based on its site and situation factors.

Think of some of the site and situation factors related to where we live (e.g., Halifax, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, etc.). Do they pose potential for growth? Why or why not?

WHAT IS YOUR TASK?

First, you should have read through the above information and made use of the provided resources (see: RESOURCES FOR LEARNING under the resources tab). Next, you should first carefully read through each of the steps listed below. You will then complete each step one by one. Once you have completed each step, you will demonstrate your knowledge by organizing the information you found into a graphic organizer of your choice (e.g., concept map).

Step 1

Choose a location. This can be a town, city, province, or a region within a province (e.g., Annapolis Valley). It is your decision.

Step 2

Use the provided resources below (see: RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH under the resources tab) to find information on the site and situation factors related to your chosen location.

Step 3

Use the information you found during your research (i.e., site and situation factors) to understand and explain why people have chosen to settle in this location and why (and if) it has and continues to grow and progress.

Step 4

For fun: Try and think of stereotype that relates to a location within the Atlantic Region (e.g., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador). Refer to the Canadian stereotypes map (see: RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH under the resources tab) and locate a stereotype that relates to your chosen location.

Step 5

Choose a graphic organizer to use from the Coggle website (see: RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH under the Resources tab).

Step 6

Fill in the graphic organizer with your information. This information should include the name of your location and a description of the site (1-2 points) and situation factors (1-2 points). You should also include reason as to why people have settled in this location (1-2 points) and why (or if) it has and continues to grow (1-2 points). Finally, you should include one stereotype that relates to your location. This information can be in bullet form.

Step 7

Make use of the self-assessment tool provided (see assessment tab).

GOOD LUCK!