Lesson Plan

Grade/Subject:

Grade 4 Social Studies

Unit: Albertas Geography
Lesson Duration: 1 hour 15 min

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES

General Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge and Understanding 4.1.2: Students will: examine, critically, the
physical geography of Alberta by exploring and reflecting upon questions and
issues.
Specific Learning Outcomes:
Where is Alberta located in relation to the other provinces and territories of
Canada?
What are the major geographical and natural vegetation regions, landforms
and bodies of water in Alberta (e.g., prairie region, forests, rivers, hoodoos,
Rocky Mountains, oil sands)?
What are the factors that determine climate in the diverse regions of Alberta
(e.g., latitude, mountains)?
What are the significant natural resources in Alberta, and where are they
located (e.g., mineral deposits, coal, natural gas and oil, forests)?
How are Albertas provincial parks and protected areas and the national parks
in Alberta important to the sustainability of Albertas natural environment?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this lesson, students will:
1. Identify the physical geographic regions of Alberta.
2. Locate Alberta in relation to other provinces in Canada.
3. Identify key features of each of the physical regions of Alberta.
ASSESSMENTS
Observations:
Students participate in
classroom discussions.
Students complete activities
and worksheets.

Key Questions:
What are Albertas physical regions?
What are the parts of a map?
What physical characteristics
distinguish each of Albertas regions?

Written/Performance Assessments:
Web Quest Worksheet
Map Assignment
Student participation
LEARNING RESOURCES CONSULTED
Resource #1: Alberta Grade 4 English Social Studies Program of Studies
Resource #2: Our Alberta (Book #1)
Resource #3: Learn Alberta (Zooming In Albertas Regions)
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

 Travel Alberta Video

Computers (18)
Map Worksheet (18)
Web Quest Worksheets (18)
Textbooks (18)
PROCEDURE
Introduction (15 min.):
Hook/Attention Grabber/Assessment of Prior Knowledge: Travel Alberta Video
Do: Introduce the class to our new topic in social studies for the next few
classes.
Say: We will be talking about Albertas geography. Geography is the study of
the earths surface and the environment. This can be landforms, bodies of
water, climate, plants, and animals. We are going to watch a short video.
While you watch the video I want you to write down as many different things
you see.
Do: Show Travel Alberta: Remember to breath YouTube video to the class
twice to allow them to make as many observations as possible.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThFCg0tBDck)
Say: What physical characteristics of Alberta did you see? (mountains, grass,
forests)
Do: Go through the screen shots from the video with the students and point
out physical characteristics of the land.
Say: Not all of these features are found everywhere in Alberta. We can divide
Alberta into six sections called Geographic or Physical Regions.
Do: Post the region names on the board.
Ask: Can anyone guess what features are in any of these regions just based
on their names?
Advance Organizer/Agenda:
Say: Today we are going explore the regions more!
Transition to Body:
Say: First you guys are going to color a map and then we are going to learn
more about each of the regions.
Do: Ask the students to take out their pencil crayons.
Body (55 min):
Learning Activity #1: Mapping Activity
Do: Give each student a copy of the map worksheet.
Do: Go over the parts of a map and discuss the importance of each one with
the students.
Ask: Why do we have a title on a map? (tells us what the map is about) What
does the compass tell us? (which direction the map should go) What does the
legend tell us? (which color or shape on the map goes with which title) What
does the scale show us? (distances on a map)
Say: Now that we know what the regions are called we need to learn where
they are. You guys are going to use your textbook to color your map of
Alberta based on the geographic regions. You can use the map inside the
front cover of your textbook or on the back wall.
Do: Give the students time to color their maps.

Assessments/Differentiation:
Circulate the classroom and observe students to make sure they are on task.
Make sure they understand the assignment and give assistance when
needed.
Learning Activity #2: Web Quest Activity
Do: Put the students into partners and ask them to grab a Chromebook. Put
the Zooming In Albertas Regions link up on the projector. Have the
students type in the link.
Say: Now we are going to use this website to learn more about Alberta and
the regions. While you learn about each region, you need to fill in the blanks
on this worksheet (show the worksheet).
Do: Watch the introduction video together. Demonstrate how to go through
each of the regions online. Hand out the worksheet.
Do: Give the students time to complete their worksheets in pairs or
individually.
Do: If time allows, go over the worksheet as a group.
Assessments/Differentiation:
Circulate the classroom and observe students to make sure they are on task.
Make sure they understand the assignment and give assistance when
needed.
Sponge Activity:
Alberta Word Search If the students finish early, give them a copy of the
word search to work on independently.
Closure (5 min.):
Consolidation/Assessment of Learning:
Do: Collect students worksheets and maps. Remind them to put their names
on them.
Feedback From Students:
Ask: Can anyone name one of Albertas regions?
Feedback To Students:
Say: Great job today everyone. You worked really hard on your assignments.
Transition To Next Lesson:
Tomorrow we are going to learn more about the physical regions of Alberta.

Albertas Geographic (Physical)

Regions
Fill in the Blanks
Rocky Mountain Region
This region has incredible
_____________________ ranges.
It has harsh environments with strong
_________, pounding ________________
and ____________________.
There are quiet ______________ with
flowers.
A wide variety of wildlife including
_________, __________, cougars,
___________, and trout live here.
Foothills Region
The foothills are made of a series of
flattened ________ leading up to the
Rocky Mountains.
___________ forests of evergreen and
deciduous trees almost entirely
__________ the Foothills.
A wide ______________ of animals
travel through the Foothills as they
______ between Rocky Mountain and
Boreal Forest regions.
Grassland Region
The Grassland Region is known for
its gentle rolling ________.
It is the ____________, driest, and
_______________natural region in
Alberta.

 Flats, ________________, and badlands are home to pronghorn

________________, burrowing ___________, scorpions, hognose
______________, black widow spiders, and prickly
_______________.

____________

Parkland Region
Parkland regions are found only in
___________ ____________________.
Parkland covers less than _______ of
the province.
Most of Albertas __________
population lives here.
There is limited space for __________
and _______________.
It is known as the ________
of North America because of its
wetland
nesting grounds.

Boreal Forest Region

The region covers almost _______ of
Alberta.
The Boreal Forest has millions and
millions of _________________
__________.
__________, wolverines, and pitcher
plants are found here.

Canadian Shield Region

 The region is actually an ancient __________________ range.

_________ found here are unique in Alberta.
__________________ has left behind debris and ____________.