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Canada's immigration patterns, 1955 to Present

Overview

This E-STAT activity examines how the source of immigrants to Canada has changed. In 1955, most immigrants to Canada came from Europe, while today, the majority come from Asia.

Contributor: Chris Drummond, Statistics Canada Support Teacher.


Objectives

  • To introduce students to retrieving and graphing multiple CANSIM tables.
  • To impress upon students the ever-changing cultural diversity of the population.
  • To have students understand some of the reasons for immigration and emigration.

Suggested grade levels and subject area

Intermediate
Geography of Canada, Human Diversity Unit


Outcomes

Students will

  • access E-STAT data on the computer;
  • produce two line graphs;
  • analyse the two line graphs; and
  • answer the questions based on the data shown in the line graphs.

Vocabulary

Emigration — to leave one's own country to settle in another.
Immigration — to become a permanent resident of a country other than one's native land.


Materials

  • This activity assumes that E-STAT is available. If computer access is limited, students can work from teacher-generated tables.
  • Student worksheet (Retrieving immigration data, using CANSIM Table 051-0006 in E-STAT)

Resources

  • Computers with Internet access.

Classroom instructions

  1. Distribute copies of the worksheet to your students.
  2. Review the definitions in the vocabulary list.
  3. Using a projection unit with your computer, review the E-STAT procedures required to complete this exercise.
  4. Have students enter E-STAT and complete the worksheet.
  5. Teach students about possible reasons for emigration and immigration.
  6. Optional — students can hand in their worksheets for grading.

Evaluation

Grade the students' line graphs.
Grade the students' answers to the four questions on the student worksheet.


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



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