THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE QUEBEC – GRADES 6-8
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
How does climate change affect my pancakes?
Lesson Overview
Students will gain an understanding of how climate change may increase natural
disturbances that, in turn, may affect the production of maple syrup in Quebec.
Grade Level
Grades 6-8 (middle school)
Time Required
Teachers should be able to conduct the lesson in one or two classes.
Curriculum Connection (Province/Territory and course)
Quebec, Social Studies (Geography, History and Citizenship Education)
Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required
Large piece of paper
computer with projector or Smartboard (with internet access)
sentence strips (attachment 1)
anchor chart (copy of placemat)
placemat (attachment 2)
quick write (attachment 3)
rubric (attachment 4)
Main Objective
The primary goal of the lesson is for students to explore the importance of the maple sugar
industry in Quebec as well as understand how climate change may increase natural
disturbances that may, in turn, affect the maple sugar trees.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
Identify the needs of a healthy maple sugar tree;
Understand that maple sugar trees create a valuable product for the Quebec
economy;
Understand the importance of maple syrup in Quebec tradition;
Identify several natural disturbances that may increase in frequency or severity in
Quebec due to increased global temperatures; and
Identify possible solutions to the reduced production in already-established maple
sugar farms in Quebec.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE QUEBEC – GRADES 6-8
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
The Lesson
The Lesson
Teacher Activity Student Activity
Introduction Before the lesson teacher may wish to introduce Walk into the
new vocabulary. classroom and read
the question as
Write “How will climate change affect my they pass.
pancakes?” on a large piece of paper and tape it
on the floor in the entrance to the classroom.
Ask: “Can you name something that is made in
Quebec that is naturally sweeter than the rest?”
(maple syrup). Discuss and share
idea.
Ask students to think about how settlers to
Quebec might have found out how to make
maple syrup. Give some “think time” and then
ask students to share their idea with a
neighbour.
Show videoclip about First Nations people Watch video clip.
sharing tradition with settlers.
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10
128
Say: “Today we are going to learn about maple
sugar production in Quebec and how our global
changing climate is impacting the health of
sugar maples and how we harvest its sap.”
Lesson Write on board the 4 topics of interest:
Development
a) Healthy trees
b) Importance in Quebec
c) Affect of climate change
d) Possible solutions
Jigsaw: Split class into groups of 4. This is their Choose an expert
home group. Each student chooses to become topic and move to a
an expert on one of the four topics. Set out a new location.
working location for each “expert group”
(a,b,c,d).
Provide each expert group with cut out Select the correct
sentence strips that may or may not help information that
explain their topic (attachment 1). explains your topic
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE QUEBEC – GRADES 6-8
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
Once the students have selected the correct choice.
sentence strips have them glue the strips onto
a large anchor chart posted at the front of the Glue strips to
classroom. anchor chart and
then return to home
Circulate while students are discussing their group to explain
findings in their home group. findings to the other
group members.
Students record
information from
each “expert” onto
their own placemat
(attachment 2)
Conclusion Full class discussion to review findings. Participate in
discussion
Final task:
Students will use information from placemat to
complete a quick write (attachment 3). Use placemat to
Students must use NEW ideas from the lesson fully answer the
to answer the question “How will climate quick write
change affect my pancakes?”. question.
Show rubric (attachment 4) Review rubric
Lesson Extension
Students could visit a traditional sugar shack or arrange a pancake breakfast in class where
students assemble a meal with as many local ingredients as possible.
Students could brainstorm other local products that may be affected by climate change.
Assessment of Student Learning
Rubric (attachment 4)
Observation: Participation in discussion and group work
Further Reading
Canadian Geographic October 2010 issue: “Maple Syrup Forever” (page 21-22).
Link to Canadian National Geography Standards
Essential Elements
Environment and Society: Affects of human modification of the physical environment, and
Environmental Issues
Geographic Skills
Asking Geographic Questions, Acquiring Geographic Information, and Answering Geographic
Questions
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE QUEBEC – GRADES 6-8
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
STUDENT ACTIVITY – SENTENCE STRIPS
A maple sugar tree will be ready to tap for maple syrup when the day time temperatures
reach 5 degrees Celsius and the night time temperatures drop to -5 degrees Celsius.
Spring weather patterns must be consistent so that the sap will run well.
Healthy, deep, fertile soil is a sugar maple's preferred home.
Unstressed living conditions.
Well drained soil.
Clean air.
Growing conditions shift north as the average global temperature increases.
Risk of fire increases.
Infestations of insects can affect maple sugar trees.
Disease can take over the maple sugar forests.
More droughts mean less water available to the sugar maples.
Even more severe storms.
Acidic soil can limit tree growth as well as stop the trees from seeding altogether.
85% of maple syrup that is produced comes from Quebec.
Quebec's maple syrup production earned $354 million in 2009.
A family tradition that dates back hundreds of years.
Sugaring techniques were taught to settlers by the First Nations people of Canada.
People's jobs are based on the success of the maple sugar industry.
It is a typical Canadian breakfast treat!
Farmers can try to time the tapping of the trees to the best of their ability.
Use high tech techniques such as vacuums to draw the sap out.
Tap more trees to increase the total amount of sap produced.
Use pellets to reduce the acidity of the soil that can limit tree growth.
Attachment 1
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE QUEBEC – GRADES 6-8 www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
Importance to Quebec Needs of a Healthy Tree
Maple Sugar
Trees
Effect of Climate Change Possible Solutions
Attachment 2
Name: _______________
How does climate change affect my pancakes?
Use new ideas and vocabulary from your placemat,
video, discussions and readings to answer the question.
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Attachment 3
Student Name:_________________
Rubric for Quick Write Final Task
Student does not successfully discuss possible affects of climate change to the maple sugar industry.
Student does not include examples from the placemat. Student does not express any personal opinion
1 or connections.
Student mentions possible affects of climate change on the maple sugar industry. Student includes
examples from two or less of the sections of the placemat. Student does not express any personal
2 opinion or connections.
Student satisfactorily explains some possible affects of climate change on the maple sugar industry.
Student includes strong examples from two sections of the placemat. Student may include some weakly
3 connected personal opinion.
Student explains the possible effects of climate change on the maple sugar industry. Student includes
examples from three sections of the placemat. Student may include some personal opinion or
4 connections.
Student thoroughly explains the possible effects of climate change on the maple sugar industry. Student
includes examples from all four sections of the placemat. Student expresses strong personal opinion or
5 connections.
Attachment 4