Feb. 27 – Landform Cross Sections

Today we finished our look at landforms and how they came about.

Learning Goals: Understand what processes shape Canada’s natural environment.

Success Criteria: You can use the geological processes to describe how certain landforms in Canada were formed.

Handouts: 

• Cross Sectional History
• Geological Processes

We went through the cross sections step by step and discovered how they formed into Canada's landscape.  See the PowerPoint for the completely labeled cross sections.  We also coloured in certain sections to make the diagrams more clear.

PowerPoint: Landforms and Geological History

The second handout, on Geological Processes is for you to make your own review notes on.

A reminder that you must tell me what you will do for your Take Action Project this Friday!

Feb. 26 – Rock Cycle

Today we continued with the powerpoint from yesterday.  Here's the link again for you:

PowerPoint: Landforms and Geological History

Here's a link to the article about the world's oldest rock: Oldest Piece of Earth Found

Today you also told me which other students you would be working with and what organization you would work with for your Take Action projects.  Most of you already have an idea of what you will do.  If you have not decided yet, please do so ASAP!  You must contact the organization and find out if they need volunteers this week, so that you can work on your pamphlets next week.

Good luck!

Feb. 25 – Canadian Landforms and Plate Tectonics

Want a way to remember the provinces and Capitals?  Check out this song!

Then we moved on to talk about landforms...

Learning Goals: Understand the major landforms in Canada and how they formed.

Success Criteria: You can describe the major landforms and explain how they formed.

Here is the powerpoint and handouts.

Presentation: Landforms and Geological History

Handouts: 

• Earth's Interior
• Landforms Map

Here are the videos that go with the presentation:

Plate tectonics:

Coke vs. Lava

Throwing a "person" into a volcano.

Feb. 24 – Unit 2

New Unit!

Unit 2: Physical Geography

The main question in this unit is: How does the natural environment interact with humans on a local and global scale?

Today we started by looking at the natural environment and what it means to have different regions.

Learning Goals: What is the natural environment and how do we study it?

Success Criteria: You can identify what a natural environment is and explain what a region is.

Here is the powerpoint from today: Environmental Regions

We discussed what the natural environment is and different ways we can define the regions of Canada.  How much do you know about these regions?

Handout: Regions Diagnostic

Where are these places in Canada?

Take a guess and we'll see how well you do tomorrow!

Homework

Complete the regions diagnostic and find your own images of Canada to try and stump people!

Feb. 21 – Go Canada Go!

Today team Canada beat USA in men's ice hockey at the Olympics, just as we finished up our "I Am Canadian" project.  How appropriate!

At this point your projects must be handed in.  Please see me if there were any problems.

We also carried on our Current Affairs presentations.  Everyone needs to work on their presentation skills.  Remember, when you present your news stories, try to do it in a way that would be interesting to your classmates.  Don't read your notes out!  How would you feel if you were in the audience?  What would keep you engaged?  We will continue to work on this as a class.

Next we did a pop quiz on the provinces and territories.  Surprise!  How did you do?  If you were working on your maps and paid attention, you should have no problems with the quiz.

On Monday we begin a new unit.

Have a great weekend!

Feb. 18 - 21 – I Am Canadian Map Assignment

This week will be work periods for you to continue working on your maps.  We have computer lab time booked as well as in class work time.

We will also be continuing with our current events presentations each day.  Please see me with any questions you might have.

Also, this week, please let me know which groups you will be working in for your Take Action project.

Feb. 14 – I Am Canadian

Watch this...

What symbols does Classified use to show that he is Canadian?  What symbols would you use?

Today we discussed the "I Am Canadian" assignment.

Handouts 

• I Am Canadian Assignment
• I Am Canadian Rubric

I also handed out a large map for you to do your project on.  We also looked at examples from students in the past.

Here's the link that will help you format your sources into APA format.

Link: http://www.bibme.org/

Gather your materials and news stories this week and we will have class time for you to put it all together.

Have a safe long weekend!

Feb. 13 – I Am Canadian

Watch this...

What symbols of Canada did you mention?  What does it really mean to be Canadian?

Here are the slides from the powerpoint that highlights famous Canadians and the top 10 Canadian inventions as chosen by a CBC show.

PowerPoint: Geographic Connections

Now, what do you know about each region of Canada? We tried our best to fill out this map of the different regions.

Handout: Regions of Canada

Then we discussed a few categories of geographic connections.  Here are the notes:

Geographic Connections

• People have an impact on the natural environment.
• Example: in 2010 an oils spill at Deepwater Horizons caused 4.9 million barrels of oil to leak into the Gulf of Mexico.

• Nature has an impact on people.
• Example: River Thames in England flooded last week damaging 1700 homes.

• People's actions may affect other people.
• Example: War in Syria causes 11 000 refugees to flee to Lebanon each week.  The total number is close to a million.

Finally I handed out the next assignment.

Handout:

• I AM CANADIAN Assignment
• I AM CANADIAN Rubric

Homework

Finish the 50 goals assignment.

Reminder: The 50 Goals Assignment is due tomorrow!

Feb .12 – Cartography and Formative Map

Today we finished up our discussion of cartography.  Here are the slides:

Powerpoint: Cartography Slides (slides 19-31)

We then played GeoGuessr, a fun game where we got to look at images and try to guess where they are on a map.

Here's how we did as a class: http://url.geoguessr.com/6pwn

Play the game and try to do better than the class!

• http://geoguessr.com/

Then we did a formative map of Canada.

Handout: Canada Map

No groups were able to get four perfect maps.  Better luck next time!

Feb. 11 – 50 Goals

Today I introduced the Take Action assignment.

Handout: Take Action

The first part of the project, 50 Goals, is due on Friday, Feb. 14.

The second part, Pamphlet & Proposal, is due on Thursday, Mar. 6.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next we watched this video:

We each picked 3 places and then found the exact location of these places using atlases.  If you did not finish it is homework!

Homework

• Find the exact location of three places.
• Start your 50 goals assignment.

Feb. 10 – Cartography Continued

Today we did our first Current Events presentations.  We discussed what made for good questions and good presentations.

Next we corrected the "What's wrong with this map" practice.

Handout: Map with mistakes

Then we continued with the powerpoint on cartography.

Powerpoint: Cartography Slides (longitude and latitude, slides 9-18)

Here's a link to the cartoon with the map projections that I showed in class:

• http://xkcd.com/977/

Feb. 7 – International News and Cartography

Today we shared some international news stories:

1. People sent to Germany and France to find evidence for a murder investigation of Luka Rocco Maggotta.

Why is this important?: People should be aware of such cases.  Shows that justice is working.

2. Initiation camp that forces girls into sex.  In Malawi, girls age 10 are taken advantage of and forced into child marriages.  One girl escaped.

Why is this important?: Show how different life is for girls in different countries.

3. Females students death on campus spurs Saudi debates on segregated universities.  Paramedics couldn't save a girl because men were not allowed into university.

Why is this important?: Shows how different life is for girls in different countries.

4. California lost power due to Canada's extreme cold.  Canada supplies California with natural gas, but couldn't do so because of the cold.

Why is this important?: Affects a lot of people.  Shows how Canada can impact the US.

5. Police arrest 7 in gang rape case in West Bengal state.  

Why is this important?: Brings attention to how serious the issue of rape is.

Once again, these stories brought up important discussions and debate about what is important and what is not.

We then further discussed the Current Events Assignment.  If you have any questions, or not sure about when you must present, please see me to clarify.

         ====================================================

Then we turned our attention to cartography.

Learning Goals: Understand the conventions to cartography.

Success Criteria: You can properly label a map.

Powerpoint: Cartography PowerPoint (slides 1-8)

Handout:

• Maps Checklist
• Map with mistakes

See if you can find all the mistakes in that map.

Feb. 6 – News and Current Events Project

Today we continued with our news stories, but now on a national level.  Here's what the class found:

1. Saskatchewan Mom's Kids on school bus that hit and killed her.

She was driving.  Bus hit truck and hit her.

Why is it important?: Accidents can happen to anyone.

2. Raising minimum wage can rescue the economy.

Kathleen Wynn, president Obama, and Stephen Poloz all want to raise minimum wage.

Why is it important?: Could help many Canadians that are earning minimum wage that have trouble supporting their families.

3. Harper tries to make peace.

Two weeks ago Stephen Harper talked to Israel about world peace.

Why is it important?: Shows that Canada is on Israel's side.

4. CSEC's collation of metadata.

Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) collects data on people's communications.

Why is it important?: Takes away privacy from many Canadians.  They tried to keep it a secret.

5. Air Canada issues travel alert due to unexpected snow storm.  All Air Canada flights were cancelled from Toronto.

Why is it important?: Effects a large number of Canadians and their family members.

6. Canadian forces soldiers who admit stress are at risk of being kicked out of the army.

1700 soldiers are being released due to mental stress.

Why is it important?: Canadian soldiers risk their lives and are suffering from depression.  They need our help.

7. In Sochi there is a possible terrorist attack.  People are smuggling bombs in a toothpaste bottles.

Why is it important?: Canadian athletes are going there to complete.  We have the most athletes there.  

• Which story do you think is the most significant?
• What does this say about you and your values?

I then introduced the current events assignment.

Handout: Current Events Assignment

You were divided into groups and we set up a schedule.  If you are not sure on which day you are presenting, please let me know.

Here are some great sources for national news:

• http://www.cbc.ca/news
• http://www.ctvnews.ca/
• http://www.nationalpost.com/
• http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

For your Current Events assignment, you can also look at local or international news.  Here are some sites for international news.

• http://www.nytimes.com/
• http://www.bbc.com/news/

The are of course many other sites for news.  You can also watch TV or listen to the radio for other news sources.

Homework: Those who are away or did not complete the homework from the past two days, you need to find 3 international news stories.  (If you already have a total of 6 stories from the previous days, you get a break!)

Feb. 5 – Diagnostics Quiz

Today we reviewed our news stories you found for homework.  Here are the top stories from each group:

Top Local News Stories

1. Boy chained to a bed.

A 10 years old boy was found dead and chained to bed back in 2011.

Trial starts this week.

Brampton.

What makes it important?:  Unusual.  Victim was close to our age.

2. Cat shot 17 times.

Stray cat was shot with a pellet gun in the head.

Cat is still alive, lost his eye.  No shooter found.

Sunday, East of Sarnia.

What makes it important?:  Shows that animal abuse still occurs.  More awareness needs to be brought to animal abuse.  Animals have no advocates.

3. A judge is supporting a rule to remove 13 children from a community (Lev Tahor).

The children were being abused.

Feb. 3, 2014.

What makes it important?:

4. City staff are recommending taking down Gardiner expressway.  Mayor disagrees.

Would cost 235 million to repair.

Could add bike lanes.

replace it (1 billion dollars)

Currently cost 12-15 million to maintain.

People think it's ugly, but could cause traffic chaos.

What makes it important?:  One of the biggest highways in Canada.  Affects a lot of people.

5. A 24 year old woman was sexually assaulted after getting off a TTC bus in Etobicoke on Sunday, Feb. 2.   She escaped, suspect has not been identified.

What makes it important?:  Inform citizen about safety and well being.  Tells city officials to increase safety precautions.

We then debated about which one was the most important.  Most of the class decided that story #4 was the most important, while some decided #2 was most significant.  There was a fierce debate!

Homework:

Find 3 NATIONAL news stories.

Stories that are significant to all of Canada.

Next we did a diagnostic quiz.  This was not for marks, but was a way for us to find out what we know already.

Handout: Diagnostic Quiz

We then went over and discussed all the answers.  How did you do?

First Class

Welcome to Grade 9 Geography!

This is the official blog of Dr. G's grade 9 geography class.

Learning Goals: Understand what you will be learning this term.

Success Criteria: 

• You can describe what the study of geography is.  
• You know where to find all the information you need for this course.

Today we got to know each other a little better with student information sheets and got to know everyone's names.

Handout: Student Information Sheet

Then we discussed the course itself.

Handout: Course Outline

Then we did some trivia questions just to see how much you know about Canada.  Have a look at this powerpoint:

PowerPoint: What is Geography?

Next you all tried to draw your own map of Canada from memory... hmm... that was tough!

Homework:

Find three LOCAL news stories.  Jot down this information for each story:

• Title:
• Who:
• What:
• When:
• Where: GTA
• Why: What is that makes this story important?

We will discuss this in class tomorrow.