A natural resource is something that occurs in nature and is used to make products that contribute to a region’s economy. Many natural resources can be found in Canada, but fresh water is by far the most important to Canadians. Some of the other natural resources that are abundant in Canada are oil, trees, minerals such as gold, silver, and copper, fish, and coal. For this activity, students will research the natural resources of Canada and create a storyboard to illustrate their use and importance. Spider maps are an excellent tool to help students organize facts in a systematic and visual manner.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a 3 cell spider map explaining the natural resources of Canada.
Student Instructions:
Engage your students by leading a class discussion about how natural resources shape Canadian life. This approach sparks curiosity, encourages critical thinking, and helps students connect classroom knowledge to real-world situations.
Draft 3–5 open-ended questions focusing on the social, economic, and environmental impacts of Canadian natural resources. This helps students think deeply and share diverse perspectives.
Explain expectations for respectful listening and participation. Establishing norms creates a safe environment where every student feels comfortable sharing ideas.
Present a real-life situation, such as a community relying on forestry or a debate about mining. Scenarios make the topic relatable and encourage students to apply their learning.
Use strategies like think-pair-share or round-robin to ensure all voices are heard. This promotes inclusion and deepens understanding for every learner.
Invite students to write or share one new insight they gained about Canadian natural resources. Reflection reinforces learning and helps connect the discussion to the activity objectives.
Canada's most important natural resources include fresh water, oil, forests (trees), minerals like gold, silver, and copper, fish, and coal. Fresh water is considered the most vital to Canadians due to its abundance and significance for daily life and industry.
To teach students about Canadian natural resources using a spider map, have them choose three resources, write each as a heading, illustrate each with scenes or items, and add a short summary beneath each illustration. This visual tool helps students organize and present their research clearly.
A spider map is a visual organizer that helps students systematically arrange facts around a central concept. It's useful for geography lessons because it allows students to break down complex topics, like natural resources, into clear, connected ideas and visuals.
Lessons on Canadian natural resources are ideal for grade 4-5 students. This age group can research, summarize information, and create simple visual organizers like spider maps to enhance their understanding of geography topics.
Examples include having students research three Canadian natural resources, illustrate each in a storyboard cell, and write a brief summary of their uses and importance. This engages students by combining visual learning with research and writing skills.