LESSON /UNIT TITLE : Comparing and contrasting landscapes - Canada and the world

TEACHER : Gale May

TEACHER INFORMATION : Markham District High School, 89 Church St., Markham, Ontario, L3P 4P7 CANADA Phone: (905) 294 - 1886 Fax: (905) 294 - 8141

OVERVIEW:

• use as an introduction to the physical diversity of CANADA using the inquiry model
  
• compare and contrast the GREATEST PLACES to greatest places in the Canadian landscape

GRADE LEVEL/AGE: Grade 9/10 (the Geography of Canada) but could be adapted for Grade 7/8.

GREATEST PLACES THEME: Physical Diversity

LEARNING OUTCOMES (Ontario standards - York Region Board of Education)

INQUIRY - ORGANIZERS - collects, organizes and stores relevant questions to develop an inquiry for a specific study
*selects and uses a wide variety of appropriate geographic information
FOUNDATIONS - MAPS - interprets and represents spatial relationships through a variety of maps and other geographic representations
* describes the relative location of places through description of their proximity to other major features and landmarks
DIVERSITY AND INTERCONNECTIONS - DIVERSITY - demonstrates knowledge of physical, resource, economic and demographic diversity
* understands the impact of Canada�s size on its physical and human diversity
REGIONS AND INTERCONNECTIONS - recognizes regions and the links between processes and communities
* describes and explains Canada�s ecozones

INTEGRATION STRATEGIES:
Earth Day integrated unit - environmental issues can be incorporated into the curriculum of most subject areas ( art, science, geog, drama, english, math, business) in an ongoing unit with the focus as an Earth Day celebration in April
English - response writing, and oral sharing of impressions

TIME NEEDED: will vary depending on choice of activities - suggested 4 to 5 , 70 minute periods

MATERIALS: an assortment of visuals including photographs, Canadian Geographic magazines, wall maps, altlases, globes, animatic video (Greatest Places)

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: map reading skills, interpretive skills, organizer skills, concept of place and diversity

KEY WORDS: delta, plateau, physical diversity,ecosystem, glacier/icefield, tundra, cold desert,inlet, Inuit, shield, plain, valley

ACTIVITIES:Some choice is built in to this model.

• Show the GREATEST PLACES animatic video (world)
  
• Bag your place - small baggie with samples of items that define your favourite place - students will exchange and identify these
  
• Superlatives - what are the highest, coldest, wettest, longest places in Canada
  
• Create an inquiry - using visuals outline some questions about some greatest places in the Canadian landscape including criteria for greatness
  
• Design an organizer to display the information from the inquiry questions
  
• Record your impressions about these landscapes and share these with classmates
  
• Map reading and research - find out what are the greatest places in the Canadian landscape (why and where) using all available resources including electronic sources
  
• Compare and contrast the chosen Canadian landscapes with those from the GREATEST PLACES animatic
  
• Design a stamp or travel pamphlet for your favourite greatest place
  
• Using GIS - ARCVIEW - create a setof clues to make word puzzle about your greatest place - exchange with a partner to solve the puzzles

TIMELINE: September 1997