Unit 1: Introduction to Geography

Unit 1 - Introduction to Geography

• Canada is divided into time zones, essential for understanding spatial patterns
• Three main branches of geography: physical, human, and environmental
• Essential mapping elements: scales, projections, and types of maps
• Map scales can be converted to real-world distances using mathematical calculations
• Canada consists of 10 provinces and 3 territories, each with their own capital cities
• Map projections: methods of representing the Earth's surface on a flat map, e.g. Mercator and Gall-Peters
• Three main types of maps: physical, political, and thematic
• Major lines of longitude: Prime Meridian and other longitudinal lines
• Major lines of latitude: Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle, and Antarctic Circle
• Canada is surrounded by lakes, rivers, and oceans
• Compass rose: a directional indicator on maps
• Seven continents, each with unique features and characteristics

Unit 2 - Changing Populations & Livable Cities

• Three main types of immigrants: economic, family, and refugees
• Immigration point system: assesses criteria for immigration to Canada
• Historical waves of immigration have shaped Canada's population
• Urban and rural areas have distinct characteristics and interactions
• Total growth: total population change over time
• Net migration rate: difference between immigration and emigration rates
• Birth and death rates influenced by fertility rates, life expectancy, and other factors
• Traditional notion of neighborhoods has evolved over time
• Natural increase rate: rate of population growth due to births and deaths
• Immigrants, emigrants, and refugees have distinct definitions and characteristics
• Push, pull, and intervening factors influence migration patterns
• Population density: population per unit area
• Population distribution: geographical spread of population
• The Baby Boom: a post-World War II demographic phenomenon

Unit 3 - Physical Geography

• Canada divided into three main landform regions: Canadian Shield, mountains, and plains
• Earth composed of three layers: crust, mantle, and core
• Canada has two main climate regions: continental and maritime
• Rock cycle: process of rock formation and transformation
• Continental drift: movement of continents over geological time
• Plate tectonics: theory of Earth's crustal plates
• Three main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
• Factors affecting climate: latitude, ocean currents, wind, air masses, elevation, relief, and nearness to water (LOWERN)
• Geologic eras: geological time periods
• Continental and maritime climates have distinct characteristics

Unit 4 - Industry & Natural Resources

• Canada's largest trading partners: countries with which Canada trades the most
• Imports and exports: goods and services brought into and sent out of Canada
• Transnational corporations (TNCs): significant impact on the economy
• Fisheries: an important aspect of Canada's economy, require management
• Trade: exchange of goods and services between countries
• Globalization: increasing interconnectedness of economies and societies
• Sweat shops: labor conditions in manufacturing that raise concerns
• Fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas
• Three main types of industry: primary (extractive), secondary (manufacturing), and tertiary (services)
• Natural resources: renewable or non-renewable
• Child labor: a global issue that raises concerns about exploitation