Lesson Overview: Canada s Natural Highway Trade is the lifeblood of any nation, province or region whether it is local, within your province, between provinces or global trade with other companies from around the world. Our every day lives as Canadians are intertwined with the trade that occurs at our nation s ports and what moves up and down the St. Lawrence Seaway. The questions that need to be answered are: How much trade comes into Canada via the Seaway and where does it come from? How much trade goes out of Canada via the Seaway and where does it go? How is it possible for this to happen given the challenges of the physical geography of Canada? Students will do online research, complete graphic organizers and create a map to answer the above questions. Grade Level: Grades 4-8 (The lesson could also be modified for any high school physical geography class or Canadian geography class) Time Required: Teachers should be able to conduct the lesson in two or three classes (60 minutes classes) Curriculum Connection: General Curriculum Outcomes Atlantic Provinces Curriculum for Social Studies: Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training (CAMET): Prince Edward Island People, Places and Environment Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the interactions among people, places and the environment. Changes in the importance of energy resources. Environmental issues (e.g. air pollution, global warming and ecological footprint) Link to the Canadian Atlas Online (CAOL): / Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required: Computer and Internet Access The Canadian Atlas Online website at Copies in print or online of the booklet We ve got a good thing flowing HWYH 2 O: The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System - www.hwyh20.com Students will need copies of a blank map of Canada and the world Main Objective: Using the Canadian Atlas Online, introduce students to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System. In particular, help students to understand how the St. Lawrence Seaway came into being. Students will be informed about trade on the Seaway and its benefits both in economic and environmental terms.
came into being. Students will be informed about trade on the Seaway and its benefits both in economic and environmental terms. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to: Conduct research online to answer questions regarding the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway, as well as, the port cities of Saint John and Halifax. Create a map showing the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway Reflect on two critical questions about Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway and write a response. The Lesson: Development Teacher Activity Student Activity Introduction How will the lesson open? Ask students to name the Great Lakes. What do they know about the Great Lakes? What connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean? How are ships able to sail from the Atlantic Ocean to the Port of Thunder Bay in Ontario? Why are canals important? What types of goods are transported up and down the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway? Respond to teacher s questions about the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. Lesson Development Detail point by point how the lesson will develop by student and teacher activity. Direct students to the Canadian Atlas Online to research details about the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. They are to complete the worksheet entitled Canadian Atlas Online Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. Provide students with the second worksheet and briefly explain that they will be using two websites to learn about the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence, Seaway and HWYH2O. http://www.greatlakes- Students will complete the worksheet entitled Canadian Atlas Online Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. Students will complete the worksheet entitled Why the waterway is the better way. Students will be given time to explore the
seaway.com/en/ http://www.hwyh20.com/ http://www.hwyh20.com/ link. Students are to continue to explore the http://www.hwyh20.com/ web link and to focus on the economic benefit of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway to the region. Students will read and make jot notes Students will look at the port cities of Halifax and Saint John and the economic benefits of cargo ships. Port of Halifax container statistics http://www.portofhalifax.ca/e nglish/aboutus/statistics/index.html Students will create a map of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. Port of Saint John container statistics http://www.sjport.com/englis h/about/tonnage_statistics.ht ml Students will create a map of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway including the following: label the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Atlantic Ocean, Halifax, Saint John, Quebec City, Montreal, Prescott, Toronto, Windsor, Thunder Bay, plus six other cities or locks. Their map needs to have a border, directional arrow, title, key and scale.
Conclusion Students will reflect on two critical questions and write a response on the critical question worksheet. Environmentally speaking, does the use of cargo ships make good sense? What are some of the economic benefits to ports cities and their surrounding areas in Canada? Students will answer the two questions and pass in their answers. Lesson Extension: 1. Students can perform historical research on the Montreal/Lake Ontario section of the Seaway or the Welland Canal section of the Seaway. They can present their research on a poster board or in a PowerPoint format. Include in the research how a canal works. 2. Students will write an essay on the necessity of trade for a country. They will complete the graphic organizer called Essay Graphic Organizer. When this is done they will write a five-paragraph essay. The essay will contain: an introduction with a clear thesis statement, four supporting paragraphs with supporting details and a strong conclusion. Assessment of Student Learning: Teacher will assess the students answers, worksheets as well as the map and Critical Thinking question. Further Reading: http://canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/intro.aspx?lang=en www.hwyh20.com http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/ http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=mixedwood&sub=mixedwood_fea tures_seaway Read the text provided and be sure to click on the map animations. http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=connecting&sub=connecting_tran sportation_water Look at and read about the waterways of Canada. http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=first&sub=first_basics_timeline This is a timeline of many defining moments that have contributed to making Canada the country it is today. Click on the map and listen to the synopsis. The year 1959 marks the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Port of Halifax container statistics http://www.portofhalifax.ca/english/about-us/statistics/index.html Port of Saint John container statistics http://www.sjport.com/english/about/tonnage_statistics.html Statistics Canada http://www.statcan.gc.ca/start-debut-eng.html Link to Canadian National Geography Standards: Essential Element#4: Human Systems The Earth s surface is shaped by human activities. The spatial organization of society is a mosaic of population movements, settlement patterns, economic activity, transportation, communication and political organizations. Regional development in Canada and the world Transportation and communications networks in Canada and the world Global economic interdependence (trade, commerce and communication) Essential Element#5: Environment and Society The physical environment has been modified by human activities. Today, air and water pollution and the management of solid waste and hazardous materials are a serious problem. Effects of human modification of the physical environment e.g. global warming, Geographic Skill #1: Asking Geographic Questions Identify geographic issues, define geographic problems and pose geographic questions. Geographic Skill #2: Acquiring Geographic information Use a variety of research skills to locate and collect geographic data. Use maps to collect and/or compile geographic information. Geographic Skill #3: Organizing Geographic Information: Prepare various forms of maps as a means of organizing geographic information. Geographic Skill #4: Analyzing Geographic Information Interpret and synthesize information obtained from a variety of sources graphs, charts, tables. Try to be as persuasive as possible!
Canada s Natural Highway Canadian Atlas Online: Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway WORKSHEET #1 Go to this link: http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=mixedwood&sub=mixedw ood_features_seaway Read the text The Lakes and the Seaway and complete the following questions: 1. Name the Great Lakes: 2. How big are the Great Lakes? 3. What is the maximum size of ship that the Seaway can handle? Go to this link: http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=connecting&sub=connecting_t ransportation_water Read the text Waterways and answer the following question: 4. What are some of the major products transported on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway? Go to this link: (Click on the map and listen to the synopsis) http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=first&sub=first_basics_timelin e 5. Why do you think that the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway was included in the timeline of many defining moments that have contributed to making Canada?
Canada s Natural Highway WORKSHEET #2 Why the waterway is the better way... Go to this link: http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/ Look on the left and click on For students and educators. Read Why the waterway is the better way... 1. What does Hwy H 2 O mean? 2. How many people does Hwy H 2 O potentially impact? 3. What types of commodities have moved through the St. Lawrence Seaway System? 4. Why is using Hwy H 2 O better for energy conservation than using trains or trucks as alternative methods for moving commodities? Go to this link: http://www.hwyh20.com/ 5. How does the Hwy H 2 O link the world to the U.S. and Canadian mid-continent? 6. How does Hwy H 2 O serve this region of Canada and the US? 7. What is the economic impact of the Hwy H 2 O?
Answer Key to Work Sheet Questions Answers to questions for Canadian Atlas Online: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway Worksheet: 1. The names of the Great Lakes are Lake Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario. 2. The overall surface area of the lakes is 246,000 square km or 20 percent of the Earth s surface freshwater. 3. The maximum size for a ship is up to 222.5 m long, 23.2 m wide and loaded to a maximum draft of 7.9 m. 4. Some of the major products are grain, coal and iron ore. 5. Student answers may vary. Answers to the questions for the reading Why the waterway is the better way... WORKSHEET: 1. Hwy H 2 O is a 3,700-kilometer (2,300 mile) marine highway that runs between Canada and the United States. 2. Approximately 100 million people or roughly one quarter of the Canada/U.S. combined population. 3. Since its inception in 1959, various commodities have moved through the St. Lawrence Seaway System including: iron ore; grain; coke; aggregates; furnace slags; semi-finished steel; pig iron and various chemicals. 4. Yes, because greater fuel efficiency is realized as ships use only 10% to 20% of the energy required by trucks. A ship can move a tonne of freight up to 800 km (500 miles) on 4 litres of fuel (1 gallon). A single ship can carry as much cargo as three 100-unit trains or 870 truckloads, guaranteeing highly competitive unit costs. 5. Hwy H 2 O begins with the St. Lawrence River connection to the Atlantic Ocean. The waterway extends into the heart of North America, with the ports of Duluth (United States) and Thunder Bay (Canada) representing its most westerly access. The majority of Hwy H 2 O ports are closer to European markets than East Coast or Gulf ports. For instance, Montreal is closer to Rotterdam than most eastern seaboard ports. Cleveland is closer to Hamburg than Baltimore in nautical miles. 6. The Hwy H 2 O serves this region in the following ways. a) Accounts for approximately 40% of U.S. manufacturing. b) Produces two-thirds of Canada s industrial output. c) Creates more than 1/3 of the continent s gross national product. d) Grows almost half of the soybeans and corn in the U.S. 7. Some of the economic impact is: a) Waterborne shipping is the mode of transport for 3/4 of the planet s international trade.
b) The value of goods transported by water in North America is valued at over $300 billion annually. c) Maritime commerce on Hwy H 2 O annually generates more than $4.3 billion in personal income, $3.4 billion in transportation-related revenue and $1.3 billion in federal, state and local taxes.
Canada s Natural Highway Critical Thinking Questions WORKSHEET #3 1. Explain why the use of cargo ships make good sense for the environment. 2. What are some the economic benefits to ports cities and their surrounding areas in Canada?
Canada s Natural Highway Lesson Extension Graphic Organizer
Canada s Natural Highway