THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE ONTARIO – GRADE 9
Lesson Overview
Canadians are rapidly developing alternative forms of energy from those we commonly rely on today. Understanding energy and its forms, where they come from and where they will be needed now and in 2050 are the main elements of this lesson.
Grade Level
Grade 9 (secondary)
Time Required
This lesson requires 75 minutes to complete.
Curriculum Connection (Province and course)
Ontario Geography, Grade 9 Applied: Geography of Canada.
Link to Canadian National Geography Standards
Essential Element # 5 (Grades 9-12) – Environment and Society
 Use and Sustainability of Resources
Geographic Skills # 2 (Grades 9-12) – Acquiring Geographic Information
 Systematically locate and gather geographic information from a variety of primary and secondary sources.
Principle Resource
The Canadian Atlas Online website at www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/ .
Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required
Use your standard textbook, class room atlases, computer lab for additional web searches, and the school Library Resource centre. Student Worksheet (attached)
Main Objective
Students review energy terms and sources for their life styles in Canada and predict what forms of energy will be used by 2050.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- explain renewable and non-renewable forms of energy.
- describe the energy types used in Canada at the beginning of the millennium
- predict the energy sources used by Canadians in 2050
- relate changes in energy use to changes in climate, pollution and environment.
The Canadian Atlas Online
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
1
February 2007

THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE ONTARIO – GRADE 9
The Lesson
Introduction
TEACHER ACTIVITY STUDENT ACTIVITY
 Ask students to define the terms renewable, non-renewable, conventional and alternative for sources of energy.
 Using resources at hand, develop a set of definitions for the class.
 Have students brain storm examples for each of the above definitions.
 Contribute definitions and examples during the class discussion.
Lesson Development  Instruct students on accessing the
Canadian Atlas on line. Book the
Computer lab if necessary or schedule time for each student to get on-line.
 Have students complete the first two questions on their work sheet from class discussions.
 Then go online to answer the questions three to eight.
 Finally, use classroom discussion to answer number nine.
 Write answers to questions 1 and 2 from class discussions.
 Go to the web site on the work sheet to answer questions 3- 8.
 Use your experience and class discussion to get an answer to question 9.
Conclusion  Have the students read their predictions.
Make a common list and have them eliminate any that are too extreme.
 Complete your work sheet and submit to your teacher for grading.
Lesson Extension
 Have students make a map of existing energy sources in Canada.
 Have students select and research one of the alternative sources of energy. This can be done as a power point or poster board for maximum visual effect and sharing with classmates.
 Ask students to write a review on the usefulness of this web site.
Assessment of Student Learning
 Collect and grade work sheets.
 Ask verbal review questions concerning how to access the information on the web site.
 Give the students a mini-worksheet that requires them to go on-line, access this web site and find a piece of in formation.
Further Reading
 Other sections on the web site, especially the hot links from the required sites.
 Classroom texts, atlases or reference works.
 Book a session at your school Library Resource centre for researching alternative energy sources.
The Canadian Atlas Online
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
2
February 2007

THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE ONTARIO – GRADE 9
NAME:
Answer the following questions:
1. Define and give examples for: a) Renewable energy: b) Non-renewable energy:
2. Define and give 3 examples for: a) conventional energy sources: b) alternative energy sources:
The Canadian Atlas Online
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
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February 2007

THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE ONTARIO – GRADE 9
Go to the web site for the Canadian Atlas www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/ . Select Explore by themes and choose The Issues - Canada 2050. From the drop-down menus along the blue bar, choose Canada Now.
From the drop-down menu choose Environment. When the text appears, skim the contents as you scroll down looking for the heading Energy.
3 a) List the various types of energy used in Canada. b. From your own experience, describe where the types of energy come from and their location in Canada.
4. Where does Canada rank in energy consumption?
5. What decade marked the start of growth for large energy demands in Canada?
6. What are two problems arising from the large consumption of energy? a) b)
7. What are two alternatives for the future energy use? a) b)
The Canadian Atlas Online
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
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February 2007

THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE ONTARIO – GRADE 9
Return to the blue bar and select the heading Canada 2050, then choose Environment from the drop-down menu. Read the paragraph and answer question 8.
8. How will “greenhouse gas emissions” be reduced by 2050?
9. Predict what alternative energy sources will be most common by 2050. Give a reason why for each one.
The Canadian Atlas Online
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
5
February 2007