Our Amazing Place: Learning About Alberta!

Grade 3 Social Studies – Time and Place
This week in Grade 3, we continued exploring one of our big Social Studies themes: Where do we live, and what makes Alberta unique? We used maps, songs, loose parts, and hands-on inquiry to help us learn about our place in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BmLUgfX_EQ

Where Do We Live in Canada?

Outcome Connections:

3.1.1 – Use geographic tools to ask questions about the world and Canada
3.1.2 – Identify Canada’s provinces, territories, and capital cities

We began by locating Canada on a map, then zooming in to find Alberta, our home province.
Students also learned about the two major oceans that border Canada:

The Pacific Ocean on the west coast
The Atlantic Ocean on the east coast

This helped students understand the size and diversity of our country.

Where Is Alberta Located?

Outcome Connections:

3.1.2 – Identify and locate Alberta on a map
3.1.3 – Identify major geographical and political regions

We discovered that Alberta is surrounded by:

British Columbia (west)
Saskatchewan (east)
Northwest Territories (north)
Montana, USA (south)

Students discussed how Alberta fits into Canada’s political boundaries.

Alberta’s Physical Regions

Outcome Connections:

3.1.3 – Distinguish the different physical regions within the political boundaries of Alberta
3.1.4 – Describe natural features, plants, and animals of each region

Alberta has five major physical regions, and we explored each one:

1. Rocky Mountain Region

Found in western Alberta, this area has tall mountains, snowy peaks, deep valleys, and famous national parks like Banff and Jasper.

2. Foothills Region

Located just east of the mountains, the foothills have rolling hills, forests, and many natural resources.

3. Grasslands Region

Southern Alberta is home to wide open prairies, sunny skies, farms, and prairie wildlife like pronghorns.

4. Parkland Region

A mix of forests and grasslands, this region has fertile soil, lakes, and wildlife. Many communities live near or within parkland areas.

5. Boreal Forest Region

Northern Alberta is covered in thick forest, wetlands, lakes, and rivers. Wildlife such as moose, wolves, and beavers live here.

6. Canadian Shield Region (in the far northeast)

A very small part of Alberta touches the Canadian Shield, an area of ancient, rocky land. It has thin soil, many lakes, and unique wildlife.

Investigating Natural and Created Features of Alberta

Outcome Connections:

3.1.1 & 3.1.5 – Use maps to identify natural and human-made features and understand how geography affects communities
3.1.6 – Interpret information on maps and globes

Students explored:

Natural features: mountains, rivers, forests, lakes, and prairies
Created features: cities, highways, bridges, railways, and farms

We practiced reading map legends, symbols, compass roses, and color codes on both political and physical maps.

Hands-On Learning Highlights

🗺 Loose Parts Mapping

Students used rocks, fabric, LEGO, sticks, and other materials to create 3D maps of Alberta’s regions. Many created miniature mountains, forests, rivers, and towns.

🎶 Alberta and Canada Songs

We listened to and learned songs that helped us remember the provinces, oceans, and Alberta’s regions. Music made reviewing geography fun and memorable!