Research Activity: Discovering Canada’s Physical Diversity

Grade 9 Academic Geography

In this activity, you will choose one of several pre-determined locations in Canada and research valuable
information (Society, Economy, and Environment) for that location. Next, you will design a creative PowerPoint
Presentation and feature the most essential information, based on your research. PowerPoint will include
research information such as pictures and key facts. Please use the following as a checklist to complete your
research activity.

Requirements
1. Select your city from the list.
2. Create a PowerPoint that demonstrates a logical and creative lay-out (organization of pictures, etc.)
* NOTE: Two- three sentences per slide in PowerPoint with a matching picture.
Use proper font size! You may use as many slides as you wish to present for 10- 15 minutes.
* You are also encouraged to include video clips up to 3-4 minutes in length.
3. Print-out of all PowerPoint slides using regular 8.5’ x 11’paper – no bigger, no smaller.

Introduction: (approx. 1- 3 slides)

1. Name of location (i.e., your city’s name) prominently displayed.
Use the class wall map to show the class where your city is located.
* Please practice this in advance so that you know where you are going J
2. Pictures that show LANDFORMS (mountains, plains, lakes, etc.) of your selected area.
3. Pictures that show VEGETATION (types of trees, shrubs, flowers that grow naturally) of your selected area.

Part #1: What to do there? (Society) (approx. 5 - 10 slides)

Research and explain details about the types of recreational activities and tourist sites available in or around your
city (Must be recreational activities, cultural activities, traditional events, or other societal activities). Try to
include relevant information in an interesting and/or humorous way and be sure to include at least 5 activities.
This information will be gathered through internet research.

Part #2: Landforms, Natural Resources and Vegetation (Environment). (approx. 8 - 15 slides)
A detailed description of the landforms, natural resources, and vegetation located in or around your city. You
will use a map to determine the landform region your city is located in. Next research your city’s landforms,
natural resources, vegetation and use this information to help complete your description for this section.

Part #3 How are people economically sustainable? (Economy). (approx. 5 - 10 slides)

A detailed description of the economy located in or around your city. You will use the internet resources to
determine the economy in your region/city and establish inter-relationships between the environment and the
economy. E.g. Do the landforms influence the economy? Does vegetation influence the economy? Or Are there
Natural Resources that influence the economy?

Part #4: Unique Fact about your City. (approx. 1 - 3 slides)

Include a “weird” or “unusual” facts or characteristic about your city. Also, provide the nickname/slogan of
your location. Explain the meaning of this nickname.

Important: Provide valuable information that would allow your audience to make connections on how
the natural environment influences the activities, jobs, and any other human interactions in the city you
have researched.

Name: ____________________

Partner`s Name: ____________________ Partner`s Name: ____________________

City: _____________________

Due date for Power Point and Presentation: ________________________________________

 City Research Activity of: Landforms, Natural Vegetation and Recreational Activities.
Name: _____________________ Name: _____________________ Name: _____________________
Level 1-/1/1+ Level 2-/2/2+
Knowledge/ - Able to explain the
landforms of your
Understanding region with limited
detail and accuracy
using a few examples.
- Able to explain the
vegetation of your
region with limited
detail and accuracy
using a few examples.
Thinking/ - Able to explain the
several types of
Inquiry recreational or
economic activities
you experienced
within your region
with limited detail and
accuracy using a few
examples.
- Did not fully connect
recreational or
economic activities to
your region's society,
economy,
environment
Communication - PowerPoint shows
limited creativity.
Organization and
neatness of
PowerPoint is limited.
- PowerPoint contains
a high degree of
grammatical errors
and is limited in
detail.
Application - Visuals lack
relevance and are not
- Individual use of explained well in your
legend.
time in and outside
of class: - Included all/some of
the paragraphs with
Student 1: limited detail.
________________
- Limited use of time in
Student 2: and outside of class
________________ to prepare for project.
Student 3:
Level 3-/3/3+
- Able to explain the landforms
of your region with some
detail and accuracy using
some examples.
- Able to explain the vegetation
of your region with some
detail and accuracy using
some examples.
- Able to explain the several
types of recreational or
economic activities you
experienced within your
region with some detail and
accuracy using some
examples.
- Limited connection of
recreational or economic
activities to your regions s
society, economy,
environment.
- PowerPoint shows some
creativity. Organization and
neatness of PowerPoint is
limited.
- PowerPoint contains many
grammatical errors and is
limited in detail.
- Visuals contain some
relevance and are explained
well in your legend.
- Included all/some of the
paragraphs with some detail.
- Limited use of time in and
outside of class to prepare for
project.
Location: ____________________
Level 4-/4/4+
- Able to explain the
landforms of your region
with good detail and
accuracy using many
examples.
- Able to explain the
vegetation of your region
with good detail and
accuracy using many
examples.
- Able to explain the several
types of recreational or
economic activities you
experienced within your
region with good detail and
accuracy using many
examples.
- Good connection of
recreational or economic
activities to your regions s
society, economy,
environment.
- PowerPoint shows good
creativity. Organization and
neatness of PowerPoint is
good.
- PowerPoint contains some
grammatical errors and
contains good details.
- Visuals are relevant and are
explained well in your
legend.
- Included all the paragraphs
with good detail.
- Effective use of time in and
outside of class to prepare
for project.
- Able to explain the landforms
of your region with a high
degree of detail and accuracy
using many notable examples.
- Able to explain the vegetation
of your region with a high
degree of detail and accuracy
using many splendid examples.
- Able to explain the several
types of recreational or
economic activities you
experienced within your region
with a high degree of detail and
accuracy using many splendid
examples.
- Excellent connection of
recreational or economic
activities to your regions s
society, economy,
environment.
- PowerPoint shows a high
degree of creativity.
Organization and neatness of
PowerPoint is excellent.
- PowerPoint contains few
grammatical errors and
contains a high degree of
detail.
- Visuals are extremely relevant
and are explained well in your
legend.
- Included all the paragraphs
with a high degree of detail.
- Highly effective use of time in
class and additional time
outside of class to prepare for
project.