Canadian Geography 1201

Number of Credits: 2 Graduation Requirements: Students are required to obtain at least 2 credits in Canadian Studies.

Textbook Encounter Canada – Healy, Hurlington, Mulrine & Costello

What course was designed for and characteristics needed for success: Canadian Geography 1202 is designed to introduce students to systems thinking. Systems thinking is an approach used to guide inquiries in order to understand how things influence one another within a whole. In physical geography systems thinking is used to understand how elements such as climate, soil, water and vegetation interact to create ecosystems. In human geography people create structures and processes that interact in order to bring about a desired result, such as a transportation system. Upon completion of this course, students should have a deeper understanding of Canada’s natural and human systems. Further, they should be able to use a systems thinking approach to address issues in both personal and community contexts.

Course Description: Canadian Geography 1202 will enable the student to examine and reflect upon the spatial organization of relationships between Canadians with their diverse northern environment and the world community. More specifically, a geographical study of Canada contributes to an understanding of the composite of the physical, economic, and cultural features of Canada. There are interrelated basic features which hold consequences for the way Canadians live. These fundamental features may be expressed as follows: Integrated Concepts and Processes (Geographic Inquiry Model)

Unit One: Natural and Human Systems

Unit Two: Human Population Issues in Canadian Geography

Unit Three: Economic Issues in Canadian Geography

Unit Four: Global Issues in Canadian Geography

The course Canadian Geography has been designed to provide students with a discovery approach to Canadian geography. Students will be presented with the opportunity to learn new geographic concepts and ideas which are directly related to the geography of Canada. Throughout the semester students will learn such concepts as:

Canada, Geography & You

A world of systems

Ecozones

The human landscape

Sustainable communities

Natural resources or the future

Canada’s energy resources

Canadians as global citizens At the end of each chapter or combined chapters, a comprehensive test will follow.

Evaluation Mid Term Exam 15% Final Exam 25% (comprehensive from Sept. to June) Test 30% Other Data Sources 30% Other Data Sources Breakdown (Student Portfolio)

Journals 5% - here students will be given a critical thinking question which will require them to use their knowledge and information about that topic.

Glossary terminology (definitions & applications) 5% - here students will write out the correct definition (bold terms) and apply each term in a proper sentence

Student Resource Assessments (SRA’s) 10% - here students will be required to complete inclass assessments that will be collected as part of a student portfolio

Case Studies (Using Blackline Masters – BLM’s) 10% - here students will be required to complete case studies that are topic related. These assessments will be a part of the student portfolio.

Students will put this collection of work in a binder that will be passed in periodically for assessment. If a student misses any work, it is their responsibility to get the missed work.