Map interpretation II

Overview

Analyse the maps contained in the Statistics Canada publication The St. Lawrence River Valley 1998 Ice Storm: Maps and Facts.

Contributor: Dave Knox

Objectives

• To appreciate the 'scale' of the ice storm, including its impact on people and their environment
• To demonstrate/practise interpretation and analysis of one or more of the six ice storm maps
• To demonstrate atlas map-reading skills

Suggested grade levels and subject areas

Grade 7 – Geography
Grade 8 – Geography
Grade 9 – Geography of Canada

Materials

• all six ice storm 1998 maps
• atlas
• group report organizer sheet
• base map of region with 40, 60, 80, 100 mm of ice thickness isobars superimposed (should also contain the census division boundaries).

Classroom instructions

1. Show CBC 'news in review' film (or equivalent) as preparation for the activity.
2. Divide class into six groups. Supply each group of three to five students with a minimum of one colour copy of each of the theme maps (population and power failure). Each group will be responsible for the description and analysis of its assigned theme map.
3. Carefully explain how each group will use an organizer sheet and ice storm region base map to both describe and analyse the assigned theme.
4. Once organizer and base map are completed by the group, have each group post both on the board. Then have a spokesperson do a three-minute 'show and tell' to the class.

Please e-mail comments or examples of how you used this exercise in your class.