Comparing Neighbors Geography Lesson Plan (Minnesota to Manitoba, Ontario)

Transcription

1 Comparing Neighbors Geography Lesson Plan (Minnesota to Manitoba, Ontario) Submitted by: Joan Frost Date: July 12, 2007 Description: This activity compares and contrasts Minnesota to its Canadian neighbors, Manitoba and Ontario, by using information sheets, maps, and recording information. The students will use prior knowledge of Minnesota and new knowledge of Canada to help them compare and contrast information and form conclusions. This activity is set up for a class of 30 yet can be adjusted to fewer students by not having so many flags, maps, or recorder pieces. Grade Level(s): Suitable for Grades 5-7 Subject(s): Social Studies, Minnesota History, Western Hemisphere, Geography Duration: One 45-minute session Goal: The goal is to learn how Manitoba, Ontario, and Minnesota are alike and different and to appreciate each political division s uniqueness. Objective(s): The students will: compare and contrast information about Minnesota, Manitoba, Ontario compare and contrast land forms of Minnesota, Manitoba, Ontario conclude findings on a chart to see how all three are alike and different Standards: This lesson meets MN state standard for geographic interconnections. The students will give examples that demonstrate how people are connected to each other and the environment. This lesson also meets the MN state standard for concepts of locations. The students will identify and locate major physical and cultural features of the studied political divisions. Background Information: Before this activity, students will have learned the geography of Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario. See also the information that is included on pages 3-8 (following this lesson plan). Materials: an overhead projector an overhead of group symbols, flags, maps, recorder container with individual flags, maps, and recorder pieces for the students to draw from paper and pencils for the recorders Xeroxed information sheets and maps about each political division for students to work from Butcher paper (blackboard/whiteboard) markers with headings How are Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario alike? and How are Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario different? 1

2 Procedures: 1. Using overhead of symbols for each group, explain to the students that they will be drawing a flag, map, or recorder piece from the container to form groups which will then examine information about Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario. Explain when the students form their groups the flag groups will examine information sheets about their political division to Minnesota, map groups will examine map for their political division to Minnesota, and the recorders will record how these political divisions are alike and different. Recorders will have a flag or map with the word recorder by it, so they know which group to join. Every member of the group will be responsible to record at least one piece of information during the group discussion. 2. Then walk around with the container so students may pick out a piece. When everyone has their piece they will form their groups. Recorders will come to the front and pick up the information for their group. 3. Give the groups between 10 and 15 minutes work time, depending on the class. Check with each group to make sure they understand. 4. After the allotted work time (setting a timer or what ever works) bring the class back together and start discussing their findings by having them come up to the butcher paper (blackboard, whiteboard) one at a time and record their piece of information under the correct heading. 5. Have students summarize their findings about the three political divisions. Possible Extension/Wrap-Up: Depending on the class, there may be carry over to the next day. This could be reviewed the next day for a lead into the regions of Canada and how they extend into the United States. Assessment: On the test of Canada there will be a short answer question about comparing and contrasting regions of Canada and the United States. 2

3 MANITOBA Origin of Name - Likely from the Cree Manitou bah, meaning the narrows of the Great Spirit. Symbols Bird Grey Owl Flower Prairie Crocus Tree White Spruce Size (land area) - 649,950 sq. km (250,965 sq. miles) Population 1,119,583 Capital Winnipeg Other Major Cities Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Thompson, St. Boniface Major Lakes Winnipeg, Winnipegosis, Manitoba Major Rivers Churchill, Nelson, Assiniboine, Red (River of the North) Entered Dominion of Canada or Became a state - July 15, 1870 Products - Wheat, oats, barley, livestock, nickel, petroleum, copper, bold, zinc, iron and steel products, chemicals, electrical goods Highest Point Mt. Baldy, 2,746 feet (837 meters) Other interesting information - Manitoba is sometimes called the land of 100,000 lakes. Nicknamed the Keystone Province or Gateway to the west because Manitoba lies at the center of the nation. Manitoba has the only seaport in the prairie provinces, which is Churchill. Churchill is the world s largest denning areas for polar bear. Information from WOW CANADA by Viven Bowers, MANITOBA and CANADA FACTS AND FIGURES by Pierre Berton ONTARIO Origin of Name From the Iroquois word kanadario meaning "beautiful" or sparkling water or lake. Symbols Bird Common Loon Flower White Trillium (also called white lily) Tree Eastern White Pine Size (land area) - 1,068,580 sq. km (412,610 sq. miles) Population 11,410,046 Capital Toronto Other Major Cities Ottawa, Kingston, London, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Hamilton Major Lakes - Four Great Lakes lie partly in Ontario: Huron, Superior, Ontario, and Erie. Other large lakes are Lake of the Woods, Lake of Bays, Nipigon, Nipissing, Simcoe, St. Clair, Rainy Major Rivers Ottawa, St. Lawrence, Thames, Albany, Rainy, Pigeon 3

4 Entered Dominion of Canada or Became a state July 1, 1867 Products Transportation equipment, steel, cars, food products, nickel, gold, copper, zinc, uranium, wood, beef cattle, tobacco, hay, oats, corn, milk Highest Point Ogidaki Mountain 2,1183 feet (662 meters) Other interesting information - Canada s second largest province and the one with the most people. Most of the people live around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Ottawa is the national capital and Niagara Falls is a major tourist attraction. The CN (Canadian National) Tower in Toronto is the world s tallest freestanding structure at 1,815 feet (533 meters). is the Ontario is known as Canada s Heartland. Information from WOW CANADA by Viven Bowers, ONTARIO and CANADA FACTS AND FIGURES by Pierre Berton MINNESOTA Origin of Name From the Dakota word minisota ( there are many different spellings) meaning sky-tinted water Symbols Bird - Common Loon Flower Pink and White Lady Slipper Tree Norway or Red Pine Size (land area) 84,068 sq. miles ( 206,207 sq. km) Population 4,919,479 Capital St. Paul Other Major Cities Minneapolis, Duluth, Rochester, Bloomington, Major Lakes - Red, Mille Lacs, Leech, Winnibigoshish, Minnetonka, Vermilion, Pepin, Big Stone, Lake Traverse, Lake of the Woods, Superior, Rainy Major Rivers Mississippi, Minnesota, St. Croix, Red. St. Louis, Crow Wing, Rainy, Pigeon Entered Dominion of Canada or Became a state May 11, 1858 Products Canned foods, cereals, chemicals, computers, medical instruments, farm and construction machinery, lumber, wood, flour, hogs, turkeys, milk, beef cattle, sugar beets, oats, soybeans, barley, corn, hay, wheat, apples, potatoes, iron ore, clay, sand, gravel, granite, limestone Highest Point - Eagle Mountain 2,301 feet (701meters) Other interesting information Nicknames - Land of 10,000 Lakes, North Star State, Gopher State. Has the head waters or source of the Mississippi River. Duluth is a seaport on Lake Superior. Minnesota is located in the north central part of the United States. Information from MINNESOTA by Dennis Fradin and MINNESOTA by Judy l. Hasday 4

5 Manitoba Recorder Ontario Recorder Minnesota Recorder 5

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