THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
ONTARIO – GRADES 1 TO 5
Regions of Canada
Lesson Overview
Canada has six main natural regions that can be identified by their landforms, climate,
vegetation, animal life and industry.
Grade Level
Grades 1-5 (elementary)
Time Required
100 minutes
Curriculum Connection (Province and course)
Ontario Social Studies, Canada and World Connections, Grade 4 – Canada’s Provinces,
Territories and Regions
Link to Canadian National Geography Standards
Essential Elements #2 (Grades 1-5 ) - Places and Regions
Essential Elements #2 (Grades 1-5 ) - Environment and Society
Geographic Skills #2 (Grades 1-5 ) - Acquiring Geographic Information
Geographic Skills #3 (Grades 1-5 ) - Organizing Geographic Information
Principal Resource
The Canadian Atlas Online website at www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required
 Student Activity Sheet - Blank map of Canada and chart outline (attached)
 Optional: further texts, atlases and websites for more in-depth study
Main Objective
To have students become aware of the various regions in Canada and their main
characteristics.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
 explain the meaning of region
 locate Canada’s natural regions
 use a chart to record geographical information
 describe several characteristics of each of Canada’s regions
 locate suitable pictures to illustrate given characteristics
 comfortably browse the Canadian Atlas Online
The Canadian Atlas Online
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
1
February 2007
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
ONTARIO – GRADES 1 TO 5
The Lesson
Teacher Activity
Introduction
Student Activity
 Review the meaning of a “region”. Tell
students they are researching the
characteristics of the Natural Regions of
Canada, using the Canadian Atlas
Online
 Listen attentively.
 Give students the outline map and
remind them of the required elements
(Title, legend and their name). The map
should be coloured before the web site
visit. Only the legend is completed once
the students are online.
 Examine handouts carefully. Ask
questions when unsure of vocabulary,
tasks or expectations.
 Show students the chart that they will be
completing. Be sure that they
understand what is expected of them.
Lesson Development
 Guide students on to the website. Have
them click Explore By Themes and
choose Regions. Give them time to
complete the legend for their map.
 Add the correct Region name to the
colours in the legend box to complete the
map of the Natural Regions of Canada.
 Next, complete one region on the chart
with the students to familiarize them
with the necessary parts of the website.
 Work with the class to complete one
region on the chart.
 In discussion, have students describe the
location of the region chosen from the
map. Click on the chosen region. Use
the Blue Bar at the top. Go to Basics
and Choose Ecozones. Find each of the
five headings by scrolling through the
pop-up box. (Note: there may be more
than one box in an Ecoregion.) Have a
student read the information aloud.
 Together decide what to record on the
chart. Have all students add this
information to their chart.
 Assign one region to a pair of students to
research. When students begin, be
available to help students having
difficulty.
 When complete, have them write a
paragraph about the region based on
their findings.
Conclusion
 With a partner, work through the web
site to gather information on assigned
region. Complete the chart for the region.
 Write a summary paragraph.
 Prepare a bulletin board display. On a
large map of the Regions, place some of
the better paragraphs about each region.
 Have students gather suitable
illustrations to give a visual
representation of features to the display.
 Students can complete their own charts
from information on the display map.
The Canadian Atlas Online
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
 Gather pictures showing landforms,
vegetation, etc. of your region. Add them
to the bulletin board map. Complete your
own charts.
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February 2007
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
ONTARIO – GRADES 1 TO 5
Lesson Extension
Have students do further research on an economic activity typical of their region, e.g. grain
farming on the central plains, mining in the boreal shield.
Assessment of Student Learning
i. Proper title, legend are used on map
ii. Completeness and correctness of individual student’s chart
iii. Written description of region
iv. Question on unit test – Use a Venn diagram to compare the environments of two of the
Regions.
The Canadian Atlas Online
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
3
February 2007
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
ONTARIO – GRADES 1 TO 5
Student Activity Sheet – page 1
[insert blank map of Canada]
The Canadian Atlas Online
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
4
February 2007
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
ONTARIO – GRADES 1 TO 5
Student Activity Sheet – page 2
REGION
LOCATION
LANDFORMS
CLIMATE
VEGETATION
ARCTIC
AND TAIGA
PACIFIC AND
MOUNTAINS
CENTRAL
PLAINS
BOREAL
SHIELD
MIXEDWOOD
PLAINS
ATLANTIC
REGION
The Canadian Atlas Online
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
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February 2007
WILDLIFE
RESOURCES AND
INDUSTRIES