Geography: Grade 7 - The Themes of Geographic Inquiry

In Grade 7, students begin to study geography as a separate discipline. They are introduced to the essential themes of geographic inquiry -- that is, location/place, environment, region, interaction, and movement -- as well as the tools and technologies used in the study of geography. Topics in the news will also be used to capture students' interest and to illustrate concepts.

Overall Expectations (O.E. column below)

1. demonstrate an understanding of geographic inquiry;
2. use the five themes of geography (location/place, environment, region, interaction, movement) to focus their inquiries;
3. use a variety of geographic representations, tools, and technologies to gather, process, and communicate geographic information.

Site Name	Online	O.E.	Description
Education Network of Ontario: MET Demo Site Website Introduction to the Grade 7 & 8 sample Units:		1,2,3	This site contains a sample unit for each of the topics for Grade 7 & 8 in both History and Geography.
El Nino Theme Page		2,3	This is an outstandingWorld Wide Web Theme Page focused in a specific topic. It includes relevant data, graphics and forecasts, historical perspectives and in-depth analysis.
Five Themes of Geography and Current Events		1,2,3	A lesson plan where students will use the five themes of geography; 1) location, 2) place, 3) human interaction and the environment, 4) movement and communication, and 5) regions, and relate it to current events.
5 Themes Awareness of Current Event Issues		1,2,3	A lesson plan where the 5 themes of Geography are used as a multi-pronged approach to analyzing and thinking critically about current events.
Goliath - Landmines - the Invisible Goliath		1,2,3	This site discusses the history of land mines and includes maps where landmines are known to exist. It explores the numerous societal problems that landmines create.
Images of Canada		1,2,3	An outstanding site that has current images of Canada that can be use in many curriculum areas.
Lightning Injury Homepage		1,2,3	There is much that is not known about these injuries, both from an electrical engineering and atmospheric physics standpoint as well as from the medical physiology and cellular damage level.
Making an Illustrated Dictionary with Geographic Terms		1,2	As a result of this activity, students will be able to apply geographic terms in describing and understanding the specific places of study in the world.
Map Making		1,3	This activity acquaints students with some of the problems associated with map making.
National Hurricane Center (NHC)		1,2,3	The National Hurricane Centre is one division of " The National Weather Service ™ (NWS) which provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas.
Otto Sverdrup Centennial Expedition		1,2,3	Follow the Otto Sverdrup Centennial Expedition as it explores the Canadian Arctic. A terrific site where students from Canada and Norway can share ideas and thoughts about this voyage.
Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada		2,3	This site is a zoomable map of plant hardiness zones.
Themes of Geographic Inquiry		1,2,3	Students are introduced to the tools, technologies, and conceptual framework of Geography. To capture the students’ interest, current news topics are used to illustrate the concepts and practice the skills. The geographic organizers (i.e., location/place, environment, region, interaction, and movement) are introduced in this unit and will be revisited in the other units in Grades 7 and 8. (16 20 hours)
Water Here, There and Everywhere		2,3	A comprehensive look at this topic.
What Do Maps Show		3	Introduction and Activities related to this topic. The material appears translatable to Canadian maps. Just substitute your own maps for those of Salt Lake City
You Can Find It!		1,2	This activity was designed to give students an opportunity to use longitude and latitude to locate various locations.
About Geography		1,2,3	A comprehensive geographic site which provides current information and links to many related pages.
A Brief History of Canadian Lighthouses		2	As the name suggests, this site provides information on Canadian lighthouses, a topic of interest to both historians and geographers.
Canadiana -- The Canadian Resource Page		1,2,3	This is a page dedicated to everything and anything Canadian.
Canadian Communities Atlas		2,3	This site provides schools the opportunity to create an Internet-based atlas of their community.
Canadian Geographic Online		1,2,3	GeoMaps, GeoNews + Join Canadian Geographic Online every few weeks as they reveal the intricate and fascinating stories behind some of Canada's land forms.
Canadian Issues		1,2,3	This site includes many pertanent Canadian issues such as those related to the aging population.
Center for International Earth Science Network : Information for a Changing World		3	CIESIN: Information for a Changing World is a Web researcher entry point for natural resource and environmental information gathered using remote sensing and other technologies.
Country at a Glance		1,2,3	This United Nations site provides a short statistical overview including area, population, largest city etc. of member nations.
CNN Interactive Newspaper		1,2,3	This is a news site that is updated throughout the day. Its stories link to related stories and sites. It includes text. photos, graphics, sounds and movies.
Data & Images from Canada Centre for Remote Sensing		1,2,3	The 1996 Saguenay Flood Radarsat, Landsat, NOAA, and Aerial images shown with interpretation from Canada Centre for Remote Sensing.
The Discovery Channel Canada - Online		1,2,3	NATURE HOMEPAGE and the ADVENTURE HOMEPAGE which provide a continually changing series of topics related to Canadian geography.
E Conflict World Encyclopedia and Simulation		1,2,3	This site has almanac-style listings, clickable maps and MIDI recordings of National anthems.
Earth View		2	Take a look at our Earth from outer space--in real time!
ESRI Schools and Libraries Program		1,2,3	This is a teacher resource and information site for Geographic Information Systems, specifically ESRI’s ArcView.
Gary's Geographical Gnome		1,2,3	This site has aids in researching topics related to geography, earth science and environmental studies.
Géographica		1,2,3	Un magazine de géographie physique et humaine d'environnement, de découverte et d'aventure • Chroniques • L'Explorateur • Portages • Azimuts • Points cardinaux • Langue de mon Boutique, Calendrier, Géo-cartes, Liens Internet
Infonation		1,2,3	This United Nations site allows students to select up to 7 nations and  4 data items to be used to create excellent comparison tables and graphs.
Ice Storm damage tallied		1,2,3	This is a site focusing on the damage that resulted from the ice storm of 1998.
Interpreted Data (Geomatics Canada)		1,2,3	Look at interpretive data of flood damge that has occured by some Canadian rivers.
MapBlast		2,3	This site allows you to obtain maps of locations all around the world
The Map Machine		3	A great page for maps of the world.
National Earthquake Hazards Program		2,3	The goal of the National Earthquake Hazards Program is to understand the causes of, and hazards associated with earthquakes in Canada. This site includes teaching tools with good question and answer sections.
Natural Resources For Kids Only		1,2,3	This site features games & information about Canada's natural resources, and Images of Canada
The Odyssey -World Trek for service & education		2,3	Visitors to this site can follow the adventures of 6 explorers who are travelling to Mexico, Latin America, the Middle East, India and China.
Ontario Weather		1,2,3	EXCEPTIONAL!! This was produced by a resident of Fergus, Ontario and provides comprehensive information about weather issues.
Real-Time Weather From West Hill Secondary School		2,3	Real-Time Weather From West Hill Secondary School in Owen Sound, Ontario (Canada) Lat: 44° 33'N Lon: 79° 57'W Elev: 751' (AWS system)
Real-Time Weather From John Diefenbaker Secondary		2,3	Real-Time Weather From John Diefenbaker Secondary in Hanover, Ontario, Canada Lat: 44° 09'N Lon: 81° 02'W Elev: 930' (AWS system)
Sabrina’s Lightning Safety Page		1,2,3	There are thousands of lightning strikes every day. Explore this page to research saftey issues related to this pertanent topic.
U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration		1,2,3	“NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts our seas and skies, guides our use and protection of ocean and coastal resources.
Volcano World		1,2,3	This site provides research and information of the world's currently erupting volcanoes.
Water Resources Branch of Manitoba Natural Resource		1,2,3	This site gives a good overview of the Red River Flood Management program and a look at the 1997 Flood.
The Weather Network		1,2,3	Tis site is complete source of weather and environmental issues on the web.