Course Overview

The Grade 6 course deals mainly with Canada’s relationship with her Atlantic neighbours, and complements the Grade 7 course which deals primarily with Canada and her Pacific neighbours.

The Atlantic countries suggested for study in Grade 6 are Canada (Eastern), U.S.A. (Eastern), Morocco, Nigeria, West Africa, Spain, France, Great Britain, Argentina, Brazil, Jamaica and Mexico.

Unit I - Location (physical geography)

Students will learn to interpret globes and maps in terms of natural geography (continents, oceans, elevation), political divisions (boundaries of countries, provinces, states), and cartographic markings (grid, map symbols and colours). In learning the relative location of the designated Atlantic region countries, students will focus on how location, climate, geographical features, and vegetation are interrelated.

Unit II- Interaction (historical geography)

In this unit students will study how the peoples of the Atlantic region have interacted over time. They will learn that historical information is communicated in different ways, and may be interpreted from various points of view. They will study briefly the precontact Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Europe and northwestern Africa. They will study the period of European exploration and trans-Atlantic migration patterns. Students will learn that the natural environment of the Americas provided a setting for new identities.

Unit Ill - Identity (cultural geography)

Students will study the current lifestyles of people from the designated Atlantic region countries, focusing on the identities of nations, minority groups, social organizations, and the students themselves.

Unit IV - Interdependence (economic/political geography)

Students will learn that nations are dependent on one another to have their needs met. They will study Canada’s role in global interdependence, and look at some specific linkage patterns between the Atlantic region countries under study. Students will become aware that interdependence requires nations and people not only to exercise their rights, but also to make responsible decisions.