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 Ideas for using the Boreal Forest Poster Map from Canadian Geographic magazine and The National Atlas of Canada (submitted by CCGE chair, Dick Mansfield)
THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS AN INITIAL 'BRAINSTORMING' of ideas on how this poster map might be used in an elementary or secondary school classroom. The various questions and suggestions have not been designated by grade as most teachers will take an idea and, if it is appropriate, adjust it up or down to meet the needs of the students they are teaching. The answers to all of the fact questions posed can be found in the text, maps, graphs, photographs, or charts on the poster map.Some 'research' type questions are also included.
- Examine the globe on the map to determine which other countries of the world have boreal forests. Plot this pattern on a base map of the world. (NB- base map of the world required) Draw some conclusions regarding the pattern that can be observed. What factors might help to determine this pattern?
- What is the meaning of the term 'Boreal Forest? Who was
the term 'Boreal' named after?
- What are the 'natural forces' which impact on a forest?
- What are the 'human forces' which impact on a forest?
- What percentage of the world's closed canopy forests are boreal
forests?
- What are the main coniferous species of trees which make
up the bulk of the boreal forest?
- Describe the variation of forest type and species as one
moves from the far north to the southern most parts of Canada
—what one might see as they travelled in one direction or
the other.
- Explain what is meant by the terms 'ecosystem' and 'ecotones'
- Explain how the hardy trees of the boreal forest are so
well adapted to the north
- Why is genetic diversity a bonus in this kind of a forest?
- Identify the eight (8) major species of trees in the boreal
forest
- Research the habitat of any one of the wildlife species
from the Boreal forest illustrated on the poster
- Identify the various forms of vegetation cover found within
the boreal forest. Is there any of this type of vegetation
cover near where you live?
- Identify the various forms of vegetation and land cover
outside of the boreal forest. Is there any of this type of
vegetation or land cover in your area? Explain where
- Examine the coloured dots in the legend in the box at the
bottom of the page. Determine the meaning of each colour.
Examine the map of Canada and determine any 'patterns' as
to where the various coloured dots tend to be grouped. Draw
some conclusions regarding the significance of the forest
industry to various provinces or parts of provinces. Which
provinces would benefit or would be hurt if there was a major
expansion or reduction of the forest industry in Canada?
Why?
- Examine the map of Canada and the legend with the classification
of the forest and land cover. What is the variety of forest
and land cover in the part of Canada that you live in? Which
type of land cover (vegetation) is dominant in your province/territory?
- Why was the boreal forest so very important for our 'first
peoples'?
- Using the timeline at the top of the page, develop a graph
to illustrate the same type of information in a different
style or type of visual format
- In geologic terms the boreal forest is relatively new -
when did the boreal forest, as we know it, begin to take
on it's present form?
- At the present time what is Canada's largest natural resource
industry?
- Which country is currently the worlds greatest exporter
of of wood products?
- What are some of the issues that have to be taken into
consideration under 'good forest management' programs?
- What is the National Forest Strategy? When did it come
into existence?
- Who controls most of Canada's forests? What do each of
the various levels of government (Federal and Provincial)
contribute to forest management?
- How many of Canada's major 'ecozones' are covered within
the Boreal forest areas of our nation? Identify each of these
ecozones. Using the information on the Canada map, generate
your own map of Canada and on it label the various ecozones.
(NB - need a handout base map of Canada)
- define the terms Taiga, Cordillera, and Shield
Please turn the map over for more suggestions and activities!!
- Read how various artists, poets, and authors have described the boreal forest regions of Canada- pick out key words from these descriptions to generate an image (collage) of this region
- How many forest fires are there , on average, in Canada
each year? How large an area is, on average, burned each
year? How much forest area is cut commercially each year?
- Why is the wind the ally of the forest fire? What are the
fire fighters best two friends? Why?
- Describe what it might be like working as a fire fighter
in the boreal forest
- Examine the map showing forest fires in Canada between
1980-89. Study the pattern shown. Identify the provinces
or territories where the bulk of the fires have been reported
- Study the map at the top of the page. Examine the purple
'protected areas'. Go to a more detailed map of the various
provinces and territories (eg. Atlas, special purpose maps,
or prov./terry. road maps) to determine what the name is
for these special protected areas
- How significant is lightning to the outbreak of forest
fires in Canada each year?
- Find out what the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity
is
- What is the aim of Canada s National Forest Strategy?
- find out the meaning of the term 'silviculture'
- What are 'model forests'? How many of these are there in
Canada? Where are they located? (clue look on the small map-
lower right)
- What is meant by the terms 'accessed' and 'non-accessed'
forest land?
- How do some species of boreal forest trees protect themselves
from the impact of the very cold winters?
- what do scientists project about our boreal forests in
Canada if the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increase
significantly?
- Examine the photo-chart in the centre of the page. What
are the various steps that must be included to ensure a 'Sustainable
Forest'? Why should these steps be followed? Are these steps
fair to the people in the forestry industry?
Check out the Canadian
Forestry Association and learn how they are making a difference!
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