Physical Regions of Canada · Term 2

Vegetation and Ecosystems

Investigating how climate influences what plants grow and the types of ecosystems found across Canada.

About This Topic

Natural Resources identifies the wealth of materials found in Canada's environment and their importance to our economy and daily lives. Students distinguish between renewable resources (like forests and fish) and non-renewable resources (like minerals and oil). They explore which resources are found in which landform regions, for example, minerals in the Canadian Shield or wheat in the Interior Plains. This topic is a core part of the Ontario curriculum's focus on the interaction between people and the environment.

Students also look at how communities depend on these resources for jobs and how the extraction of resources can change the physical landscape. This leads to discussions about sustainability and the economic diversity of Canada. This topic is best explored through hands-on sorting, mapping, and collaborative research into how everyday objects are made from natural materials.

Active Learning Ideas

Stations Rotation: Resource Sorting

Students visit stations with various items (a wooden spoon, a nickel, a jar of soil, a picture of a wind turbine). They must categorize each as renewable or non-renewable and identify which region it likely came from.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

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Inquiry Circle: The Resource Map

In small groups, students are assigned a landform region. They must find three major resources found there and place representative icons on a large class map to show the 'wealth' of the land.

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

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Think-Pair-Share: The 'What If' Scenario

Students are asked: 'What if we ran out of a non-renewable resource like oil or nickel?' They discuss with a partner how their daily life would change and what alternatives we might use.

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Renewable resources will never run out, no matter what.

What to Teach Instead

Students often think 'renewable' means 'infinite.' A simulation showing what happens if we cut down trees faster than they grow helps them understand that renewable resources require careful management to remain sustainable.

Common Misconception

Resources are only things we dig out of the ground.

What to Teach Instead

Students may forget about water, wind, or even fertile soil as resources. A gallery walk of 'invisible resources' like hydroelectric dams or wind farms helps broaden their definition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources?

Renewable resources can replace themselves naturally over time, like trees, fish, or sunlight. Non-renewable resources exist in a fixed amount and take millions of years to form, so once we use them up, they are gone, like gold, oil, or coal.

What are the main natural resources in the Canadian Shield?

The Canadian Shield is famous for its minerals, including gold, silver, copper, and nickel. It also has vast forests for timber and many rivers that are used to generate hydroelectric power.

How do natural resources affect where people live?

Many towns in Canada were built specifically to be near a resource, like 'mining towns' or 'fishing villages.' When a resource is plentiful, it creates jobs, which draws people to that area. If the resource runs out, the community may struggle.

How can active learning help students understand natural resources?

Active learning makes the connection between the environment and the economy tangible. By using station rotations to handle raw materials and finished products, students see the 'life cycle' of a resource. Collaborative mapping helps them visualize the geographic distribution of wealth, making it easier to remember which regions produce which goods.

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