Student Work Sheet: Climate Change

Canadian GeographyClimate Change Ms. Ripley
and how we as
Canadians can slow it down

Student Work Sheet: Climate Change

How it impacts Canadians and what we can do to slow it down

This is an introductory activity that will introduce you to what climate change is and how climate change affects selected Canadian regions. You will investigate these two questions by referring to the Canadian Atlas Online at

Please follow the instructions below and complete the activities that follow.

Click on Explore by themesClick on The IssuesClick on Climate Change

A. Click on Basics and read the introduction to answer the questions below:

1. According to this reading selection, what are the two reasons whyCanada is an important area to do research on climate change?

a.

b.

2. What are the two factors that can and are leading to climate change?

a.

b.

3. While climate change seems inevitable, what are the two responses that people will have about climate change?

a.

b.

B. In order to get a better understanding of the effects of climate change, we need to have evidence. This evidence can be found by examining a short video clip on mass wasting of glaciers as they melt before your eyes and change the landforms of our earth.

Click on the picture at

This picture is a graphic illustration of how climate change affects Canada’s Arctic region. Explain this statement in your own words. [For an enhanced version of this clip, you may also go to the following web site:

Click on MultimediaArctic Ice melt

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Canadian Council For Geographic Education

Canadian GeographyClimate Change Ms. Ripley
and how we as
Canadians can slow it down

C. Click on Changing Landscapes and use the reading selections to complete the table below.

MELTING POLAR
ICE
(if applicable) / EFFECT ON COASTAL AREAS / MELTING ALPINE GLACIERS
(if applicable) / EFFECT ON INTERIOR LANDSCAPES
NORTH
WEST
PRAIRIES
ONTARIO/
QUEBEC
ATLANTIC PROVINCES

D. Click on Human Impact and use the reading to complete the table below.

ECONOMIC EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE / CULTURAL EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
NORTH
WEST
PRAIRIES
ONTARIO/
QUEBEC
ATLANTIC PROVINCES

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Canadian Council For Geographic Education

Canadian GeographyClimate Change Ms. Ripley
and how we as
Canadians can slow it down

E. Tuktoyaktuk represents one example of the effects of climate change. Using the following website, examine the photographs and describe how they show climate change.

F. It has become clear to you from your research on climate change that human activity and the burning of fossil fuels in the form of industrial activity and personal use of the automobile are major contributors of climate change. Alberta’s tar sands play an important role in this process. Explain how. Please visit

G. Examine the effects of climate change in the Prairies. Go to and click on the interactive map. Describe the changes you can observe. Plot these changes on your handout map given to you by your teacher or use the map on this handout.

Factoids:

• Since 1979, more than 20% of the Polar Ice Cap has melted away. Source:
• Rising permafrost temperatures – causing roads, railroads and building foundations to buckle and deteriorate Source:

Thinning ice- Polar bears can’t hunt, losing weight, losing cubs Source:

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Canadian Council For Geographic Education