Exploring Canada Through Interactive Maps

Grade 5 Social Studies - Physical Geography of Canada unit

GLO: Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how the physical geography and natural
resources of Canada affect the quality of life of all Canadians.
SLO: 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)

ICT Outcomes:
GLO: Students will access, use and communicate information from a variety of technologies.
SLO: 2.1 access and retrieve appropriate information from the Internet by using a specific search path or from given uniform resource locations (URLs)

GLO: Students will demonstrate a moral and ethical approach to the use of technology
SLO: comply with the acceptable use policy of the school and school authority for Internet and networked services, including software licensing agreements

Exploring Canada Through Interactive Maps Activity Description

In this activity, students would visit this website first to review a map of Canada. When students move their mouse over various part of the map, names of provinces, territories, capital cities, lakes, and oceans appear. Using their mouse they can travel across Canada and review the names and positions of provinces, territories, capital cities, and bodies of water. Once students feel that they have an understanding of the map of Canada, they can move on to the next website.

At this website students can work at solving three different Canadian map puzzles. The first puzzle provides a blank map of Canada that shows the outlines of the provinces and territories. Students are then given a puzzle piece and the name of province or territory and they must place it in the correct position. The next puzzle provides a blank map of Canada as well, but there aren’t any outlines of the provinces and territories. Students are then given puzzle pieces in the shape of each province and territory and given the name and they must place the piece in the correct position. The final puzzle provides a blank map of Canada with outlines showing the borders between the provinces and territories. Students are then given the names of each capital city and they must place a star in the correct province and in the correct area of that province.

These websites are a fun and interactive way for students to learn where each province and territory is located, as well as the names and positions of their capital cities. Through the use of technology, students are able to learn from their interaction and maniulation of the maps. Technology provides an alternative to students having to stare at a map and memorize the locations of provinces, territories, capital cities, and bodies of water. Websites like these engage students in their learning and keep them interested.

References

Owl and Mouse Educational Software (2006). Interactive Map of Canada. Retrieved Sept. 28, 2007, from http://www.yourchildlearns.com/canada_map.htm

Owl and Mouse Educational Software (2006). Canada Map Puzzle. Retrieved Sept. 28, 2007, from http://www.yourchildlearns.com/mappuzzle/canada-puzzle.html