NAFTA Trade Unit: Canada
Submitted by: Marvin Ray Hull
Date: 2002 STUDY CANADA Summer Institute
Description:
This unit is designed as a second part of North American Free Trade Agreement Unit. The Students will see
Canada as a valuable trade partner as well as learning about the valuable economic role Canada plays in
exports and imports to the United States. Students will also learn about the geography, history, economics and
government of Canada.
Grade Level:
12 CWP/ Economics (This project could be done in less detail at lower levels)
Subjects:
Economics, Geography, History, CWP
Duration:
Eleven 50-55 minute period days in a 15 day overall unit
Goal:
The goal is for students to recognize similarities and differences in the history, geography, culture and
government. The students will also learn to recognize the important role Canada and the US play in one
another’s economies.
Objectives:
The students will:
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be able to describe the extremely important role trade plays in the US and Canadian economies;
be able to describe similarities and differences between the US and Canadian history, cultures, and systems
of government;
be able to explain how differences in history, geography, and economics of each nation have influenced its
social, cultural and political systems;
and be able to compare and contrast alternate forms of democracy and appreciate how particular political
perspectives altar judgments about which systems are “best”.
Background:
Before this activity section, students should have completed a series of lessons on NAFTA, a Product Map of
North America, a full quarter’s study of US Government/Civics and a recent review of US economic issues from
both business and labor. Following this unit, a similar unit on Mexico - the other trading partner - will be taught.
Materials:
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Game Quiz questions from the STUDY CANADA handout Facts Don’t Lie and handout regarding the IpsosReid poll for the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
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An overhead projector
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Overheads of the following:
US Canada vertical time line
Canada: Northern Neighbor’s Figure Six, Seven, and Fifteen
Activity Eight
Current Events Articles
Wall map of Canada
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Student copies of the following:
Canada: Northern Neighbor readings
NAFTA Map Assignment # 1 + Outline Map
NAFTA Map Assignment # 2 + Outline Map
Atlas for every 2 students
Slide projector
Slide show of Western & Eastern Canada (May substitute a VCR tape of Over Canada)
Computer Lab or 1 computer for each 2 students
Procedures:
Day 1 - Introduction to Canada by a Quiz Game
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Students will be divided into groups and will answer questions taken from the poll for the Canada Institute at
the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars ½ Period.
Introduction of Canadian Geography & Map Assignment ½ Period.
Students will read Canada: Northern Neighbor (pp 15-18)
Teacher will discuss the regions of Canada using a current map and overheads of figures seven & eight
Day 2 - Short History of Canada
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Students will read Canada: Northern Neighbor (pp 21-30)
Teacher will present a US/Canada vertical time line by dates only.
Students will fill in information about the US dates.
Teacher will present information about the Canadian dates.
Day 3 -Western Canada Map Assignment
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Students will be divided into groups of 2 with one atlas and given a set of instructions with a list of
geographic & political names to places on an outline map.
Teacher has chosen cities & regions of Western Canada that will be viewed on Day 4 of slide presentation.
Day 4 - Western Canada Slide Presentation

Teacher has chosen slides of Western Canada that exemplify its historic, economic, political and cultural
background. Most of the slides cover cities & regions from the map assignment.
Day 5 - Eastern Canada Map Assignment
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
Students will be divided into groups of 2 with one atlas and given a set of instructions with a list of
geographic & political names to places on an outline map.
Teacher has chosen cities & regions of Eastern Canada that will be viewed on Day 6 of slide presentation.
Day 6 - Eastern Canada Slide Presentation

Teacher has chosen slides of Eastern Canada that exemplify its historic, economic, political and cultural
background. Most of the slides cover cities & regions from the map assignment.
Day 7 - Governments of Canada & US Comparison
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Students to read Canada: Northern Neighbor (pp 41-45)
Teacher & Students to complete Activity Eight
Day 8 - The Canadian Economy & NAFTA
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Students to read Canada: Northern Neighbor (pp 32-36)
Students will be divided into groups of 2 to spend the class period in the computer lab finding information
about local Washington vs BC products in the areas of soft woods, fishing & wheat.
Students will complete and print a vertical bar graph on one of the above products.
Day 9 - First Nations: US vs. Canada
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Students will read Canada: Northern Neighbor, “Native Peoples”, page 53
Teacher will lead a discussion on the comparison of First Nations/Native American right and economic
events that are currently in play.
Day 10 - Quebec/French Question
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Students will read Canada: Northern Neighbor (pp 52-54 & “Political Parties”, 48-50)
Teacher will hand out current event articles that highlight this issue
Students and teacher discussion to follow covering this issue and see if there is any impact on the US either
economic or political.
Day 11 - Oral Question Review
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Teacher leads question and answer period that covers information and materials for the past 10 days.
Assessment:
Students will be graded on their 2 map assignments, their computer-created graph, oral questions, a general
test over NAFTA and end-of-quarter notebook.
Additional Notes:
Please note that several days will be spent viewing an extensive personal collection of slides. To substitute for
this, teachers may want to shorten the unit length and put together a PowerPoint collection of images or view a
film such as Postcards from Canada (NFB of Canada).
Economic NAFTA Map Assignment #1
Western Canada: British Columbia, Prairie Provinces and The Territories
Materials Needed: Atlas Pages 93,94,96,98-101 +index, pencil, and blue & brown colored pencils
1. Print the name of each province, territory and bordering country with states.
2. If an item is not found on the map use the color pencil to draw the item using blue for water or brown for land.
3. Place each of the following on the map correctly using its letter/number code:
Rivers
R1 Columbia
R2 Fraser
R3 Thompson
R4 Peace
R5 Skena
R6 Yukon
R7 Mackenzie
R8N N. Saskatchewan
R8S S. Saskatchewan
R9 Red
L1 Kootenay
L4 Williston
L7 Great Slave
L10 Winnipeg
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
Salt Water
Strait of Georgia
Strait of Juan de Fucca
Pacific Ocean
Queen Charlotte Sound
Hecate Strait
Barkley Sound
Nootka Sound
Discovery Passage
Portland Channel
Hudson Bay
Beaufort Sea
Land
G1 Vancouver Island
G2 Queen Charlotte Island
G3 Rocky Mts.
G4 Coastal Mts.
G4 KR Kitmat Range
G4 PR Pacific Range
G5 Mt. Roberts
G6 Waterton Glacier Int. Peace Park
G7 Richardson Mts.
G8 Mackenzie Mts.
G9 Horn Plateau
G10 Point Roberts, US
Lakes
L2 Okanagan Reservoir
L5 McNaughton
L8 Lac La Ronge
L11 Big Quill
L3 Tahtsa/Nechako
L6 Great Bear
L9 Manitoba
Cities (if a Capital place the number in a circle.)
10 Stewart, BC
13 Masset, BC
16 Port Hardy, BC
19 Nanaimo, BC
22 N. Vancouver, BC
25 Fort Nelson, BC
28 Edmonton, AB
31 Drumheller, AB
34 Prince Albert, SK
37 Winnipeg, MB
40 Flin Flan, MB
43 Carcross, YT
46 Skagway, AK US
49 Fort Providence, NT
11 Alice Arms, BC
14 Kitmat, BC
17 Powell River, BC
20 Victoria, BC
23 Lillooet, BC
26 Trail, BC
29 Calgary, AB
32 Lethbridge, AB
35 Saskatoon, SK
38 Portage-la-Prairie, MB
41 Churchill, MB
44 Dawson, YT
47 Yellowknife, NT
12 Prince Rupert, BC
15 Bella Coola, BC
18 Port Alberni
21Vancouver, BC
24 Prince George, BC
27 Jasper, AB
30 Red Deer, AB
33 Uranium City, SK
36 Moose Jaw, SK
39 The Pas, MB
42 White Horse, YT
45 Watson Lake, YT
48 Port Radium, NT
Economic NAFTA Map Assignment #2
Eastern Canada: The Central & Atlantic Provinces + Nunavut
Materials Needed: Atlas Pages: 93-97,102-105 +index, pencil, and blue & brown colored pencils
1. Print the name of each province, territory and bordering country with states.
2. If an item is not found on the map use the color pencil to draw the item using blue for water or brown for
land.
3. Place each of the following on the map correctly using its letter/number code:
Rivers/Canals
R1 Saguenay
R2 St. Lawrence
R3 Ottawa
R4 Rideau Canal
R5 Welland Canal
R6 Saint John
R7 Miramichi
R8 Rainy
R9 Pigeon
Land
G1 Labrador
G2 Cape Breton Island
G3 St Pierre Island
G4 Miquelon Island
G5 Peninsula de Gaspe’
G6 Ile. de Orleans
G7 Monts. Notre Dame
G8 Baffin Island
G9 Campobello Island
A. Gulf of St. Lawrence
D. Cabot Strait
G. St. George Bay
J. Chaleur Bay
B.
E.
H.
K.
Salt Water
Strait of Belle Isle
Atlantic Ocean
Passamaquoddy Bay
Hudson Bay
Lakes
L1 Lake of the Woods
L2 Bras d’ Or
L3 St Jean
L4 Great Lakes (5)
L5 St Clair
L6 Nipigon
L7 Chiputneticook
C. Bay of Fundy
F. Northumberland Strait
I. Labrador Sea
L. James Bay
Cities (if a Capital place the number in a circle.)
10 St. John’s, NF
13 Battle Harbour, NF
16 Annapolis Royal, NS
19 Sydney, NS
22 Charlottetown, PE
25 Moncton, NB
28 Fredericton, NB
31 Edmundston, NB
34 Rimouski, QC
37 Ste. Anne de-Beaupre’, QC
40 Trois-Rivieres, QC
43 Hull, QC
46 Kingston, ON
49 Sudbury, ON
52 Fort Frances, On
11 Gander, NF
14 Goose Bay, NF
17 Halifax, NS
20 Louisburg, NS
23 Georgetown, PE
26 Saint John, NB
29 Bathurst, NB
32 Perce, QC
35 Riviere-Toris-Pistoles, QC
38 Quebec City, QC
41 Sherbrooke, QC
44 Ottawa, CA
47 Toronto, ON
50 Sault Ste. Marie, ON
53 Iqaluit, NU
12 Corner Brook, NF
15 Yarmouth, NS
18 Parrsboro, NS
21 Amherst, NS
24 Port Borden, PE
27 St. Andrews, NB
30 Campbellton, NB
33 Gaspe’, QC
36 Tadoussac, QC
39 Ste. Foy, QC
42 Montréal, QC
45 Smith Falls, ON
48 Windsor, ON
51 Thunder Bay, ON
54 Chesterfield Inlet, NU