Link to Slideshow:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VL9Oej0l5q0IrF4RmIaOcODoaGL9VkUyavmacNNkYo
Q/edit?usp=sharing
(Used TA’s slideshow as foundation and made some changes)

CONTEXT

Grade(s): 5

Subject(s): Social Studies

Long-Term Introduction to Geographic Regions Unit.

Sequencing and
Scaffolding: Scaffolding from previous lessons provided by TA.

GOALS

Curricular Using 2005 Program of Studies

Expectations: 5.1.1 value Canada’s physical geography and natural environment:
● appreciate the variety and abundance of natural resources
in Canada (ER, LPP)
● appreciate the diversity of geographic phenomena in
Canada (LPP)
● appreciate the geographic vastness of Canada (LPP)
5.1.2 examine, critically, the physical geography of Canada by
exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
● What are the major geographical regions, landforms and
bodies of water in Canada? (LPP)
● What are the differences and similarities among the
geographical regions of Canada? (LPP)
● How is the geographical region they live in different from
other regions of Canada? (LPP)

MATERIALS & RESOURCES

(From Natural Resources: Lesson & Activities) 5 sets of Card Sorting Activity #1
1 Whiteboard per group
Unlabelled Provincial Canada Maps (1 per student)
Unlabelled Geographic Regions of Canada Maps (1 per student)
Colouring and writing materials
Timer

OVERVIEW OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES & INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

To begin the lesson, each table group (or combined table groups based on # of students)
will be given a whiteboard and a set of the Card Sorting Activity #1 cards. Students will be
tasked with sorting the cards in whatever way they deem fit (ex. Products, resources, use,
etc.). The teacher will roam the classroom and check in on students' categories as they
work. Once all the groups have described a few of their categories, the teacher will ask
them to put all of their cards together again (and give them back to the teacher) and return
their whiteboards to their place. (15 min)

Students will then be given a map of Canada and asked to try to fill in the map’s
provinces, territories, capital cities, and lakes from the labels and map on the slide
(copying). (they will not be colouring these yet, just labelling — ensure they write in pencil
in case they need to erase)

Then the teacher will show a short song to help remember provinces/territories/capitals.

Finally, on the same sheet, students will colour the geographic regions of Canada as the
teacher describes each. (Cordillera, Interior Plains, Canadian Shield, Great Lakes and St.
Lawrence Lowlands, Atlantic, & Arctic)
● Cordillera:
○ one of the most diverse and beautiful regions in Canada.
○ The word “cordillera” means “chain of mountains” in Spanish.
○ found in parts of Alberta, Northwest
○ Territories and most of the Yukon Territory and British Columbia.
○ This region contains islands, mountain ranges, fast rivers, valleys and
○ lowlands.
● Interior Plains:
○ flattened by glaciers that went over the land millions of years ago.
○ The region covers almost all of Alberta, half of Saskatchewan and part
○ of Manitoba. The Plains also move up through parts of the Northwest
Territories and a corner of British Columbia.
○ The Interior Plains region is made up of three smaller areas — the taiga
plains, the prairies and the boreal plains.
● Canadian Shield:
○ 48% of Canada’s land
○ Largest and Oldest geographic region of Canada
○ Includes the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador
(Labrador only)
○ It mainly is rock that was once mountains millions of years ago. The
rocky ground makes it difficult for things to grow.
○ Generally a cold climate
● Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Lowlands:
○ This region contains islands, mountain ranges, fast rivers, valleys and
lowlands.
○ all of the Great Lakes in this region.
○ You can also find two of Canada’s largest cities in this region- Montreal and
Toronto.
○ Besides the St. Lawrence River, there is also Niagara Falls and of course,
the Great Lakes. Besides the lakes, this region has beaches, wetlands,
rolling hills, islands and dunes.
● Atlantic:
○ This region includes parts of Quebec, as well as New Brunswick, Nova
Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
 ○ sometimes called the “Appalachian Region”.
○ covered in many mountains and lowlands. Lowlands are formed when
glaciers move over valleys and carve out rock. Lowlands have good soil for
farming.
● Arctic:
○ The Arctic region is a quiet, cold landscape that is north of all the other
regions in Canada.
○ It includes land along the coasts of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories
as well as Nunavut.
○ This region is known for the tundra that covers the land, as well as
mountains, rivers and lakes.
○ This is the only region where there is permafrost- a ground that is frozen all
year. Permafrost makes it difficult to build certain types of homes (you won’t
find a home with a basement in the Arctic region!).

TIMING, SEQUENCING, TRANSITIONS OF LESSON

INCL. KEY PROMPTS & INSTRUCTIONS

Introduction / Hook Introduce by discussing that we are beginning a new unit —

(1 min) Geographic Regions of Canada

Tell students that if they have any questions, feel free to ask.

(5 min) Hand out Card Sorting Activity #1 cards and 1 whiteboard/ 1

marker per table group (or combined table groups)

(10 min) Give students instructions to complete Card Sorting Activity #1:
They will make categories and sort all of their cards into those
categories. They will use the whiteboards to write their categories.
There is no right or wrong answer, but be prepared to explain why
they sorted them the way they did. Give them a 10 minute timer.

(5 min) Tell students to collect cards in a pile and I will collect their cards
and whiteboards and hands out Canada maps

(15 min) Students will be instructed to fill in the

provinces/territories/lakes/capitals that are shown on screen in 15
minutes

(3 min) Teacher will then show students the mnemonic devices and song
for provinces/territories/lakes

(5 min) Introduce final activity:

Students will use the same map that they just used to label the
provinces, but now we will be covering geographic regions.

Geographic regions are different from the provinces because they

are naturally occurring and do not have borders. Geographic
regions have existed much longer than provinces or countries.
(15 min) Teacher will go through slides, giving the information on each
geographic region while students colour/outline the regions (using
photos on slides), do not forget to label the regions!
Teacher will move on when students indicate they have completed
the region.

Conclusion / Students will hand in maps at the end of the lesson.

Wrap up (5 min)
If they are not fully completed at the end, we will take a few
minutes to complete them at the beginning of the next lesson.

ASSESSMENT(S)

Formative assessment: maps assessed for completion.