T/L 518 31 January 2011Robyn Willow

Hyperlink PowerPoint Presentation The following slides were designed for an introductory

lesson on the physical landscapes of Western Canada for a grade ten social studies class.

Students typically arrive to class with the slides already printed, or they are permitted to print off the notes during evening homework sessions; therefore, they are not required to record all the text presented in the slides, but the majority of the students opt to take notes during the lesson.

Students are permitted to use their laptops during group work.

NB: Some of the hyperlinks may not show the images due to the images being located on a personal USB device.

Chapter Three:The Geography of Western Canada

Geography: The study of the Earth.

Location: Where people live.

Economy: How people earn a living varies depending on on the different physical landscapes.

Weather: Climate and ecosystems.

Moodle Access

Today’s Lesson Physical

landscapes Climate Temperature

Recap

The Physical Regions of Western CanadaThe Canadian Shield Large mass of rock. Very old. Former volcanic

mountain range. Rocky = not suitable for farming and settlement.

Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The Interior Plains From Canadian Shield to Rocky Mountains

(Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta). Eroded deposits from the Shield. Very fertile

with fossil fuels = very good for farming and settlement.

The Western Mountains Parallel mountain regions with plateaus and

valleys in the Cordillera Region. The Plateau region is stuck in between the

Rocky and Coast Mountains. New. Eroded mountains due to rivers and

glaciers make sediment with lots of minerals.

Images of the Physical Regions

The Canadian Shield

The Interior Plains

The Western Mountains

Photo credits: http://www.handwrote.com/intp.html and http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/74acc/dce6f/

The Climates of Western Canada Maritime ClimateMild Temperatures. High precipitation. Wet, damp, rain,

warm

Continental ClimateTemperature extremes. Low precipitation. Dry, cold, hot, snow (altitude).

Factors that affect Temperature1. LatitudeFarther away from equator = Less and less intense sun =

greater seasonal changes.2. AltitudeHigher = colder.3. Distance from SeaLand heats and cools quicker than ocean = coastal areas

are moderated by the ocean.4. Wind DirectionPrevailing winds: winds that blow more often in an area. Winds from the ocean increase the ocean’s moderating

effect.5. Ocean CurrentsCurrents impact air temperature. Warm air absorbs more

water, therefore West coast is mild and wet. 6. PrecipitationWind and ocean proximity determine amount of

precipitation.

Group Discussion and Assignment

Climate VideosBasics of Geography: Climatehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95TtXYjOEv4&feature=related

Five Factors that Affect Climatehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7DLLxrrBV8&feature=related

Each group is to select ONE of the videos to watch. Complete the provided worksheet among your group. Be prepared to discuss your responses as a class.

Resources

Canadian Geographic Website