THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
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NOVA SCOTIA – GRADES 9 – 12
Why Do We Live Here? :
A Historical Geographical Study of La Tabatiere, Quebec
North Shore
Lesson Overview
Many communities and their occupants have historical connections to exploration routes and
traditional resource extraction and trading routes. This is particularly true in Eastern Canada
and the Gulf of St. Lawrence where families of French, Irish, Scots, and English came to
pursue new lives and economic activities. The North Shore of Quebec has families of many
origins with ties by sea to the rest of the Atlantic Region. In fact this often-unknown edge of
Quebec shares roots, family names and dialects with the west coast of the island of
Newfoundland.
Through a case study of La Tabatiere on Quebec’s North Shore in the Gulf of St. Lawrence,
students will undertake a study of how the geography of a community/region affects its
history. The process and skills attained by analyzing La Tabatiere will enable an examination
by exploring maps and other primary source documents to understand what it was about an
area that drew early settlers to this place/region. The importance of resource extraction,
landforms and water forms will be highlighted.
Grade Level
Grades 9-12 (secondary school) Lesson could be modified for another level.
Time Required
Teachers should be able to conduct the lesson in one class.
Curriculum Connection (Province/Territory and course)
Atlantic Provinces Curriculum for Social Studies: Council of Atlantic Ministers of
Education and Training (CAMET): Nova Scotia
Link to the Canadian Atlas Online (CAOL)
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/ This site will be used for the historical maps therein. The
students will use the maps to explore the coastline and topography of a geographical region
(the Lower North Shore of Quebec and another assigned region) to examine why people
settled in these areas.
Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required
Copies of student worksheet #1- “Why Do We Live Here?” (Attached)
Copies of student worksheet #2: “Online Instructions Sheet” (attached)
Computer(s) with Internet access.
Main Objective
The primary goal of this lesson is to help students discover what physical features of their
region were attractive to the early settlers.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE NOVA SCOTIA – GRADES 9 – 12
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will:

Learn to use the Internet to research the historical background of different areas of
Canada.

Have an understanding of settlement patterns.

Be able to identify the important elements required for lasting settlement.

Make linkages between their community’s history and their present day lives.
Teacher Information: Settlement Basics
The following points are things that early settlers looked for when choosing an area to
settle:

Fresh water source for drinking and household use. Settlement was not possible
without a source of fresh water, preferably moving water like a brook or stream.

Forested area that could be used for building and fuel for heating and cooking.

Soil that is suitable for growing at least kitchen gardens.

Maritime communities also required a suitable sea port, preferably a cove or inlet
that was protected from the open ocean and harsh winds. However offshore
islands also serve as a protection to mainland settlements if these islands are not
too far offshore.

In most cases the early settlers of Maritime communities also sought a harbour
with a beach that was suitable for landing and launching boats when necessary.

They also looked for a reason to settle, a way for the people in the community to
make a living. This was usually resource extraction based such as cod fishing
grounds, salmon rivers, large timber stands, mineral resources, or large numbers
of fur bearing animals (land or sea).
Introduction
**The teacher
should have
some of this
information
prepared
beforehand in
case the
students do
not know any
or many of the
answers.
The Lesson
Teacher Activity
Introduce the concept of historical
geography-how land and water forms
affect why people settle where they do.
Ask the following questions to find out
what the students know about their
community’s history and heritage.
1.From where did the community name
come?
2. From where did the original settlers
come?
3.Why did they settle there?
Student Activity
Participate in class
discussion. One or
more students can
take turns recording
class answers on the
board.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
NOVA SCOTIA – GRADES 9 – 12
4.What part of town is the oldest?
5. Where did the settlers first live within
the community?
6. What work did they do? Can anyone
name any of the early settlers?
7. Is there anyone in the class who can
link their family to the early settlers?
Lesson
Development
Although it
has a French
toponym, La
Tabatiere has
a large
number of
English and
Scots
surnames.
Provide the website links:
These links will provide good maps to
help with topographical research:
Assemble in groups,
and assign roles.
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
http://www.historicalatlas.ca/website/hac
olp/
As well, to help with the La Tabatiere
worksheet:
http://www.thelowernorthshore.com/La_
Tabatiere
For help with settlement history
questions:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~can
wgw/ **This is an online Canadian database
of census and genealogical information.
Assign students to groups.
Distribute two copies of ““Why Do We
Live Here?” (a chart that needs to be
filled out twice) to each student. Instruct
that the first is to be done as a group in a
case study, based on La Tabatiere, a
community on the Quebec Lower North
Shore.
The second time around each student will
do it individually either on their own
community or each student will do a
different pre-assigned community in their
province or region.
Distribute the attached “Online
Instructions”” to students.
First complete chart
about La Tabatiere
with their group
members.
Second, complete
individual chart on
their assigned
community with
internet research.
Following “Online
Instructions” and
using their charts,
maps on the CAOL
website, and other
online information,
identify how
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE NOVA SCOTIA – GRADES 9 – 12
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Conclusion
Initiate a discussion by asking:
1. What were the predominant
reasons why people chose to live
in La Tabatiere?
2. Were the reasons the same or
different for your assigned places?
Why do you think this was so?
3. Did you encounter any
predominant family names? What
are the origins of these names?
4. How does a family end up in a
place initially?
5. Do you think the same influences
determine where people settle
today?
6. Make a list of the 5 most
significant factors. Rank them.
requirements for basic
settlement was met in
each place.
Reconvene in the
classroom and discuss
patterns found in their
findings.
Lesson Extension
This lesson could be used to be a cursory introduction to the concept of historical
geography, or it could be adapted to a major term assignment where each student is
assigned a community in their region or province and they each have to do a full historical
geographical analysis of their assigned community. The lesson can also be adapted to
include research on the original settlers of the community and from where they came. How
did their origins affect the development of the community? What sort of work did they do?
Were housing styles influenced? Have families maintained links with the “old country”?
Students can also research historical maps and photographs of their community and
construct a model of what the early community looked like.
Assessment of Student Learning
Completed worksheets can be collected and assessed, concepts can be included in questions
on the unit tests If any of the lesson extensions are chosen then the chosen project will be
included in course evaluation.
Further Reading
The Peopling of Newfoundland: Essays in Historical Geography, John J. Mannion,
Editor, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Memorial University of Newfoundland,
2000.
Link to Canadian National Standards for Geography
Essential Element #1:
•
•
•
World in Spatial Terms
Map, globe, and atlas use
Map types
Provinces and Territories of Canada
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
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Essential Element #2:
NOVA SCOTIA – GRADES 9 – 12
Places and Regions
•
Changes in places and regions over time
•
Changes in places and regions over time
•
Political and historical characteristics of regions
Essential Element #6:
The Uses of Geography
•
•
•
•
Effects of physical and human geographic factors on major historic events
Influences of physical and human features on historical events
Interaction of physical and human systems and influence on current and
future conditions
Physical and human characteristics of places change over time
Geographic Skill #1:
Asking Geographic Questions
 Identify geographic issues, define geographic problems and pose geographic
questions.
Geographic Skill #2:


Use a variety of research skills to locate and collect geographic data.
Use maps to collect and/or compile geographic information.
Geographic Skill #4:


Acquiring Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information
Interpret information obtained from maps, aerial photographs, satellite-produced
images and geographic information systems.
Interpret and synthesize information obtained from a variety of sources – graphs,
charts, tables, diagrams, texts, photographs, documents and interviews.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
NOVA SCOTIA – GRADES 9 – 12
Student Sheet 1: Why Do We Live Here?
Name of Place:
Absolute
geographic location
Relative geographic
location
Adjacent water
forms
Topography (relief)
Adjacent
transportation
routes
First settlers
Date of first
inhabitance
Most common
surnames
Origins of settlers
Current population
Resources
exploited
Past:
Current:
A telephone directory can be used to collate surnames.
Information about current population can be found at: http://www12.statcan.ca/censusrecensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/index.cfm?Lang=E
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
NOVA SCOTIA – GRADES 9 – 12
Student Sheet 2: Online Instructions

Open the Historical Atlas of Canada website
http://www.historicalatlas.ca/website/hacolp/


Select a map that highlights your community or region
Select the interactive map attributes that are available on the right hand side. These
interactive attributes will allow you to view fishing and trade routes, early
settlements and migration patterns if the information is available for your region.
Pinpoint your community and zoom in on it.
Examine the shape of the shoreline if you live in a coastal community, does it look
like it is suitable for shipping? Does a peninsula or island(s) protect it? Is there a
smooth or sandy beach located in the general vicinity of your community?
Can you find a freshwater source in your general area? Is there a river or stream
running through your community? Can you find it on the map? Remember that some
communities have diverted rivers or streams so a historical map may show older
routes.
Are there ponds or lakes nearby that could have been fished by early settlers?
Are there topographical maps available that highlight your region? If so, are there
any hills that could have been used in points in history to defend or fortify your
community if that is part of your heritage?





As well, use the following websites to help you in your research of La Tabatiere and
your individually assigned community.
http://www.atlas.gc.ca
http://www.thelowernorthshore.com/La_Tabatiere
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canwgw/
Make a note of any other sites you discovered that might be of interest: