Course Title/ Grade/ Course Type: Issues in Canadian Geography, Grade 9
Ministry Course Code: CGC1D
Curriculum Document: Ministry of Education; The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Canadian and World Studies, 2018, (revised), Ministry of Education; Growing Success Documents, 2010
Prerequisite: None
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines interrelationships within and between Canada’s natural and human systems and how these systems interconnect with those in other parts of the world. Students will explore environmental, economic, and social geographic issues relating to topics such as transportation options, energy choices, and urban development. Students will apply the concepts of geographic thinking and the geographic inquiry process, including spatial technologies, to investigate various geographic issues and to develop possible approaches for making Canada a more sustainable place in which to live.
Outline of Course Content
Unit 1: Interactions In The Physical Environment
Students will analyse various interactions between physical processes, phenomena, and events and activities in Canada including Canada’s population patterns and their relation to naturally occurring events. Students will analyse characteristics of various physical processes, phenomena, and events affecting Canada and their interrelationship with global physical systems including plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanos. Students will describe various characteristics of the natural environment and the spatial distribution of physical features in Canada, and explain the role of physical processes, phenomena, and events in shaping them including climate, soil and vegetation.
Unit 2: Managing Canada’s Resources & Industries
Students will analyse impacts of resource policy, resource management, and consumer choices on resource sustainability in Canada by looking at things such as organization in place to protect our resources. Students will analyse issues related to the distribution, availability, and development of natural resources in Canada from a geographic perspective including water supply, demand and location. Students will assess the relative importance of different industrial sectors to the Canadian economy and Canada’s place in the global economy, and analyse factors that influence the location of industries in these sectors including availability of resources, transportation and labour force.
Unit 3: Indigenous Peoples of Canada
Students will analyse selected national and global population issues and their implications for Canada including the issues of an ageing population. Students will describe the diversity of Canada’s population, and assess some social, economic, political, and environmental implications of immigration and diversity for Canada including where the immigrants came from and when. Students will analyse patterns of population settlement and various demographic characteristics of the Canadian population and be able to answer the question: Why do people live where they do?
Unit 4: Liveable Communities
Students will analyse issues relating to the sustainability of human systems in Canada including what it means for other businesses if an indirect industry suffers. Students will analyse impacts of urban growth in Canada including the impact of urban sprawl. Students will analyse characteristics of land use in various Canadian communities, and explain how some factors influence land-use patterns including the physical environment and politics.
Culminating Activity
Final Exam
Final Mark will be determined following percentages:
70% Determined by the evaluations conducted throughout the duration of the course:
Products – Assignments, Essays, Journals, Portfolio
Observations – Presentations
Conversations – Conference with the Teacher
30% Final examination of the students and/or a Culmination Assignment