THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – GRADE 6
Buried Treasure
Lesson Overview
This lesson asks students to consider the development of offshore oil in Newfoundland and make a
presentation of their findings to the class. The lesson will examine the ability of this resource to lead
to sustained economic growth.
Grade Level
Grade 6; can be modified for use in high schools
Time Required
65-85 minutes
Curriculum Connection
Newfoundland and Labrador - Grade 6 Social Studies
Link to Canadian National Geography Standards
Essential Elements #2 (Grades 6-8) - Places and Regions
 Factors that influence people’s perceptions of places and regions
 Changes in places and regions over time
Essential Elements #4 (Grades 6-8) - Human Systems
 Human migration patterns
 Regional development in Canada and the world
 Types and patterns of economic activity
Essential Elements #5 (Grades 6-8) - Environment and Society
 World patterns of resource distribution and utilization
 Changes in the importance of energy resources
Geographic Skills #1 (Grades 6-8) - Asking Geographic Questions
 Identify geographic issues, define geographic problems and pose
geographic questions
 Plan how to answer geographic questions
Geographic Skills #2 (Grades 6-8) - Acquiring Geographic Information
 Use maps to collect and/or compile geographic information
Geographic Skills #3 (Grades 6-8) - Organizing Geographic Information
 Prepare various forms of graphs to organize and display geographic information
 Prepare various forms of diagrams, tables and charts to organize and display geographic
information
Geographic Skills #4 (Grades 6-8) - Analyzing Geographic Information
 Interpret information obtained from maps
 Interpret and synthesize information obtained from a variety of sources – graphs, charts, tables,
diagrams, texts etc.
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
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THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – GRADE 6
The Canadian Atlas
 Students will refer to the Atlantic Canada section of The Canadian Atlas (or the Canadian Atlas
Website at www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas) to read the overview of Hibernia in the section titled
“Wealth from the Shelf”
 Students will refer to maps of the area on page 38 of the Atlas or the Atlas Website page at
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required
 Hibernia – Super Modules Move video, available from Dockwise N.V. in Belgium. Tel: (03) 317 02
00 (optional)
 Internet access
 Hibernia Study: Student Organizer Sheet #1 (attached)
 Hibernia Study: Student Organizer Sheet #2 (attached)
 Self-evaluation sheet (attached)
 Peer evaluation sheet (attached)
 Teacher evaluation (attached)
Main Objective
 To develop an understanding of Newfoundland and Labrador’s reliance on primary industries in
general, and oil in particular
 Examine how the development of this resource provides hope for the future of the province’s
economy
 Prepare and make a presentation on a related topic of their choosing to the class
Learning Outcomes
SCO 1.1
Students will determine the location of Canada and its regions
SCO 1.4
Students will analyze how water and landforms lead to a regional specialization of
activity
SCO 3.2
Students will recognize that Canadian offshore and inland waters provide resources for
people
SCO 3.3
Students will analyze how Canadians utilize primary resources
SCO 4.3
Students will examine how modern technology affects Canadians
SCO 9.1
Students will analyze how this resource has helped the development in the regions of
Canada
SCO 9.2
Analyze how resource utilization has helped the development of communities in
Canada
SCO 10.2
Recognize that primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy will
increasingly be linked to global factors
SCO 10.4
Recognize that the future of Canada requires cooperation and understanding
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
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THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – GRADE 6
The Lesson
Teacher Activity
Introduction
Student Activity
 The video “Hibernia - Super Modules
Moves” may be shown in a previous
class as preparation (optional)
 Introduce the historical background
of oil development in Newfoundland
and Labrador
 Ask such questions as:
- In what parts of Canada do we find
most of our oil?
- Why is oil such an important
resource?
- Is oil a renewable or nonrenewable resource?
 Provide overview and instructions of
how lesson will proceed. Describe
the elements you wish to see in their
presentations and your expectations
 Assign groups
 Assist students in locating
information in The Canadian Atlas or
the Atlas Website at
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
 Students find their groups on the list
 Students brainstorm how oil
development could help a province
or community
 Students complete Student Activity
Sheet #1 in small groups
 Provide an overview of
Newfoundland and Labrador oil
development based on the
information on page 29 and the
maps on page 37 of The Canadian
Atlas, or related pages from the
Atlas Website
 Distribute Student Activity Sheet # 1
Lesson
Development
 Inform students that they can learn
more about the development of
offshore oil in NL by referring to
page 29 of The Canadian Atlas (or
website)
 Students read the Atlas page
 Students complete Student Activity
Sheet #2 in small groups
 Distribute Student Activity Sheet #2
Conclusion
 Briefly discuss the results of the
activity and the presentations
 Distribute attached evaluation
rubrics (optional)
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
 Student groups present
 Students and teacher complete
evaluation rubrics (optional)
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THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – GRADE 6
Lesson Extension
 A follow-up lesson could investigate the concept of “equalization” payments and how oil and gas
revenues in NL affect them. A discussion of the current debate of 100% control of provincial
resources could follow
 Students could write a letter to government officials or oil companies to express their opinion on
this issue
 Students could investigate how the equalization formula affects other provinces
Assessment of Student Learning
 Teacher, peer and self-evaluation rubrics may be used for group work and presentations
 Students could be assigned a journal entry for homework
Further Reading
 Related Websites
- Economic Modernization: The Hibernia Platform
www.heritage.nf.ca/society/hibernia.html
- Socio-Economic Benefits: The Future
www.hibernia.ca/html/economic_benefits/p_futu.html
- Interesting Facts About Newfoundland and Labrador
www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ae050/facts.html
- Hibernia 109, Newfoundland
www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/2516.html
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
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THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – GRADE 6
Student Activity Sheet #1
Hibernia Study
After discussing the importance of oil development with your teacher and your group, complete the
following visual organizer by describing five ways in which oil development would help a town or
province.
Description
#1
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
#2
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
#3
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
#4
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
#5
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – GRADE 6
Student Activity Sheet #2
Hibernia Study
Complete the following chart on Hibernia using the information presented on page 29 of The Canadian
Atlas or from the related the Atlas Website pages at www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas.
Description
Location of
oil field
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Size of
deposit
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Structure of
rig
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Oil output
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Future
potential
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
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THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – GRADE 6
Self-Evaluation of Presentation:
How well did you do?
For each item in the table below, score your group’s efforts using the following scale:
5 = Excellent
4 = Superior
3 = Good
2 = Fair
Description
1.
We were well prepared for this presentation
2.
We were well organized for this presentation
3.
We knew the material well
4.
We chose a topic that interested the class
5.
Our presentation was well supported with information
6.
We were clear in our explanations
7.
Our presentation was well paced
8.
We were enthusiastic and confident
9.
We interacted well with the audience
10.
We used audio/visual aids or handouts
1 = Poor
5
4
3
2
1
• My favourite part was: _____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Next time, we should: ______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• I would like to have had time to: _____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
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THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – GRADE 6
Peer Evaluation of Presentation:
How well did they do?
For each item below, indicate your reaction to the presentation. Use the following rating scale:
5 = Excellent
4 = Superior
3 = Good
2 = Fair
Description
1.
How well was the presentation prepared?
2.
Was the presentation well organized?
3.
Did the presenter(s) know the material well?
4.
Was the presentation topic they chose interesting?
5.
Was the presentation well supported by the information?
6.
Was the presenter(s) clear in their explanation?
7.
Was the presentation well paced?
8.
Was the presenter(s) enthusiastic and confident?
9.
Did the presenter(s) interact well with the audience?
10.
Did the presenter(s) make good use of audio/visual aids
or handouts
1 = Poor
5
4
3
2
1
• My favourite part was: _____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Next time, the presentation should: __________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• I would like to learn more about: ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Canadian Council For Geographic Education
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THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – GRADE 6
Teacher Evaluation of Presentation
Student’s Name: ________________________________________ Date: ___________________
Topic: ___________________________________________________________________________
For each item below, rate the student’s presentation on each of the items below using the following
rating scale:
5 = Excellent
4 = Superior
3 = Good
Description
1.
2 = Fair
1 = Poor
5
4
3
2
1
Evidence of sufficient preparation
Comment:
2.
Effective use of class time for planning
Comment:
3.
Organization of presentation
Comment:
4
Knowledge of material
Comment:
5.
Choice of topic
Comment:
6.
Valid supporting information
Comment:
7.
Creativity and suitability of presentation method
Comment:
8.
Enthusiasm and confidence
Comment:
9.
Interaction with audience
Comment:
10.
Effective use of audio/visual or handouts
Comment:
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