Geography: Grade 7 - Natural Resources

The study of natural resources focuses on the different ways people use resources and the environmental implications of their actions. Students learn that the value of resources is influenced by demand and accessibility. They come to recognize that wise use of resources is the responsibility of all citizens.

Overall Expectations (O.E. column below)

1. demonstrate an understanding of how Canada's natural resources have contributed to its economic development;
2. identify factors that affect the use and value of natural resources (e.g., supply and demand, technology);
3. demonstrate an understanding of how human activity (e.g., canal building) affects people and the environment.

Site Name	Online	O.E.	Description
Arctic Dawn - The Journeys of Samuel Hearne		1	Arctic Dawn - The Journeys of Samuel Hearne is the odyssey of the first European to explore the western Canadian arctic.
The Columbia River Basin: Rivers Run Through It		2,3	This site is an introduction to this valuable resource.
Great Canadian Parks		3	Great Canadian Parks explores the diverse natural and human histories within one of the most comprehensive parks systems in the world.
Images of Canada		1,2,3	This is an outstanding site that has current images of Canada that can be use in many curriculum areas.
Ministry of Forests, B.C.		1,2,3	The Forest Service manages BC crown land for many uses, including recreation, forage, timber, and wilderness, and, in cooperation with other agencies, for water, fish, wildlife, tourism, heritage, and minerals.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)		2	A page about OPEC and the 11 nations which belong to it and who currently supply more than 40 per cent of the world's oil and possess about 78 per cent of the world's total proven crude oil reserves.
Otto Sverdrup Centennial Expedition		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	This site is a zoomable map of plant hardiness zones.
Rideau Canal Waterway		1	This is an excellent site covering the historical and recreational use of the Rideau Canal.
Water Here, There and Everywhere		2	This site offers a comprehensive look at this topic and the hydrological cycle.
Women in Natural Resources		2,3	This is the web site for the WiNR magazine journal designed and written by women in forestry, fisheries, wildlife, range, recreation, soils and the environmental and social sciences as they relate to natural resources.
Wood Show Durham,Ontario		1,2,3	The Durham Wood Show was started in 1984 to encourage excellence in woodworking. They feature different trees found in the area or those which are used in woodworking.
Abitibi-Consolidated		1,2,3	A page about the world's largest newsprint company and a global force in the groundwood paper industry.
About Agriculture		1,2,3	This site contains plenty of Canadian and International content as well as several links.
About Environment		1,2	Use the search at the bottom of the page to obtain articles about such topics as “sustainable development”. (The quotation marks are necessary when searching for a specific word combination or phrase.)
About Forestry		1,2,3	This site has good Canadian content but a bit more US oriented than the Agriculture site. Agroforestry.
About Geography		1,2,3	This is a comprehensive geographic site which provides current information and links to many related pages.
Alcan Aluminium Limited		1,2,3	Alcan has become one of the largest aluminum companies in the world and one of the largest multinational companies based in Canada.
Bob’s Rock Shop		2	This site provides an opportunity for students and teachers interested in rocks and minerals and the rock cycle.
The Bruce Trail Association		1,2,3	The Bruce Trail Association is an organization dedicated to the preservation of nature and conservation of the environment, particularly of the Niagara Escarpment.
Canada’s Forest Network		1,2,3	This site provides information on Canadian forests, products, services, organizations, events, issues, statistics and publications
Canadian Geographic Online		1,2,3	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 pertinent Canadian issues and also adds an interactive mapping tool that assists in examining those issues.
Canadian Museum of Nature		2,3	There are a number of virtual exhibits here and a great deal more including a Kids Guide to Biodiversity.
Canadian Trails		3	This page is maintained by the Trail Studies Unit at Trent University. It provides links to trail organizations and government trail information across Canada.
The Canadian Wildfire Network		2,3	This web site was designed by, for and about those people directly or indirectly involved in forest fire fighting in Canada.
Center for International Earth Science Network : Information for a Changing World		2,3	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.
CNN Interactive Newspaper		2	This is a news site that is updated throughout the day and includes text, photos, graphics, sounds and movies.
The Discovery Channel Canada - Online		1,2,3	Nature Homepage and the Adventure Homepage provide a continually changing series of topics related to Canadian geography are of particular interest.
DOFASCO (Dominion Foundries and Steel Companty)		1,2,3	Dofasco is one of North America's most progressive, fully integrated steelmakers and this is their website.
Energy		1,2,3	An energy industry overview is presented by this Government of Canada site.
ESRI Schools and Libraries Program		1,2,3	This is a teacher resource and information site for Geographic Information Systems, specifically ESRI’s ArcView
Fishery Products International		1,2,3	In the twelve years since FPI was formed from several independent companies in Newfoundland, the company has developed into one of the world's largest vertically-integrated seafood suppliers, overcoming quota reductions by developing new sources and diversifying into new markets.
Gary's Geographical Gnome		1,2,3	This site assists 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 Courrier,  Abonnement, Boutique, Calendrier, Géo-cartes, Liens Internet.
The Green Lane - Environment Canada		1,2,3	This site features a science-based government department whose business is helping Canadians live and prosper in an environment that is properly protected and conserved.
The History of the Northern Cod Fishery		1,2,3	This site features a comprehensive look at the rise and decline of this industry.
Hydro Quebec		1,2,3	Hydro-Québec's mission is to supply power and to pursue endeavors in energy-related research and promotion, energy conversion and conservation, and any field connected with or related to power or energy
INCO (International Nickel Company)		1,2,3	Demand for Inco's products keeps growing as living standards around the world improve, not only in developed nations, but also in emerging markets.
The James Bay Hydroelectric Project		2,3	James Bay is located at the southern tip of the Hudson Bay. This taiga ecosystem on the Quebec-Labrador Peninsula is the habitat of approximately 100 bird, 20 fish and 40 mammal species.
Kids’ Stuff Gulf of Mexico Program		3	This large interactive site contains data, activities and ideas to facilitate exploration of the impact of human activities on people and the environment.
L'ÉcoRoute		1,2,3	L'ÉcoRoute de l'information est un projet réalisé par l'Union québécoise pour la conservation de la nature (UQCN) grâce au soutien financier du Fonds de l'autoroute de l'information (FAI). L'ÉcoRoute de l'information se dégage de toutes responsabilités concernant le contenu des sites hébergés.
MacMillan Bloedel Ltd		1,2,3	The products of MB and its affiliated companies are marketed throughout the world and include lumber, panel boards, engineered lumber, containerboard and corrugated containers.
Mapblast		2	This site allows you to obtain maps of locations all around the world
National Atlas on SchoolNet		1,2,3	Interactive learning about Canada and its geography is featured at this site.
Natural Resources Canada		1,2,3	This site contains data and statistics on Energy, Forests, Geology, Mining, Minerals and Metals and Remote Sensing.
Natural Resources For Kids Only		1,2,3	Games & information about Canada's natural resources, and Images of Canada.
Parks Canada		1,2,3	This site provides information on natural resources found in Canada and helps us focus in on wise uses of these resources.
Swan Hills Waste Treatment Plant		2,3	This site presents a great debate based on environmental issues spurred by an explosion at his plant.
Uranium Mining In Saskatchewan		2,3	This mine, opened in 1982, is the largest uranium operation in the world which is presently being mined. It consists of two open-pit mines.The ore is milled on site at Key Lake and the resulting yellowcake is exported from the province.
World Wildlife Federation		2	This site which is in both English and French provides information on conservation in Canada, endangered species and spaces as well as wildlife toxicology.