THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
BRITISH COLUMBIA – GRADES 6 TO 8
An action plan to protect fishing in British Columbia
Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students will use The Canadian Atlas Online to research the history of fishing
on the east coast of Canada and the current status of fishing on the west coast. Students
will use the facts that they have gathered to prepare an action plan to protect fishing in
British Columbia.
Grade Level
Grades 6-8
Time Required
One class
Curriculum Connection (Province/Territory and course)
British Columbia Grade 6 Social Studies – Skills and Processes of Social Studies

Plan of action to address a problem or issue
Link to the Canadian Atlas Online (CAOL)
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/
Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required

Access to the internet

Student Activity sheet
Main Objective
The goal of this lesson is for students to gather facts and use them to create an action plan
that addresses an important issue.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Gather facts from secondary sources.

Compile information and use it to create an action plan for an important issue.
Introduction
The Lesson
Teacher Activity
Ask students to brainstorm answers to the
following question: How do plentiful and
abundant resources become depleted? (You
could also watch a brief video about depleted
salmon stocks in BC or read a short news
article.)
(Review the meaning of ‘resources’ if necessary
and provide examples.)
Inform students that they are going to create an
action plan to protect fishing in this province.
Students will gather facts from historical and
current data to examine fishing from the east
coast and west coast of Canada to support their
plan.
(Decide if students will work individually or in
groups.)
Student Activity
Participate in
brainstorming activity.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
Lesson
Development
Conclusion
BRITISH COLUMBIA – GRADES 6 TO 8
Distribute the student activity sheet and review
the instructions with students.
Monitor and assist students through the activity
as required.
Complete the activity and
draft an action plan.
Collect the plans or ask students to present them
to the class.
Submit action plan or
present it to the class.
Lesson Extension
Ask students to prepare an action plan to help solve another regional, national or
international issue.
Visit a local fishery or hatching site to learn more about conservation in the local
community.
Assessment of Student Learning
Assess the action plan based on students’ ability to use facts to support opinions and
provide realistic steps for solving a problem.
Further Reading:
Fisheries Atlas of Canada http://atn-riae.agr.ca/seafood/fisheries-e.htm
Link to Canadian National Geography Standards
Essential Element #4: Environment and Society

Effects of human modification of the physical environment

Environmental issues
Geographic Skill #1: Asking Geographic Questions

Plan how to answer geographic questions.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
BRITISH COLUMBIA – GRADES 6 TO 8
Student Activity Sheet
An Action Plan to Protect Fishing in BC
You are going to write an action plan to try to protect fishing in BC. First, you need to get
the facts! Next, you need to prepare a plan.
Step 1: Use The Canadian Atlas Online to find facts about fishing on the east coast (in the
past) and west coast (in the present) of Canada.
Sources:
The Canadian Atlas Online, Fishing (for Historical data about the East coast fishing industry)
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
The Canadian Atlas Online (for Current West Coast Fishing information)
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=pacific&sub=pacific_industry_fish
eries&lang=En
Step 2: Research
Use the questions below to help you find the important facts. Write point form notes under
the headings.
What was fished? How did they fish? Describe the benefits and challenges.
East Coast
West Coast
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
BRITISH COLUMBIA – GRADES 6 TO 8
Step 3: Action Plan
Use the facts from Step 2 to help you draft an action plan to protect fishing in British
Columbia.
Your action plan should contain the following:
1. Identify the problem
2. List the steps involved to solve the problem
3. Describe and explain the possible solutions
4. List the advantages and disadvantages of each solution
Remember to use facts to support your opinion. A chart would be the best way to organize
your work.