CGF3M – Forces of Nature: Physical Processes and Disasters

Course Description 

Students explore physical processes related to the earth’s water, land, and air. They investigate how these processes shape the planet’s natural characteristics and affect human systems, how they are involved in the creation of natural disasters, and how they influence the impacts of human disasters.  Students apply the concepts of geographic thinking and the geographic inquiry process and use spatial technologies to analyse these processes, make predictions related to natural disasters, and assess ways of responding to them.

Course Strands with links

• A. Geographic Inquiry and Skill Development
• B. Spatial Organisation: Spheres of the Earth  
• C. The Physical Environment: Sustainability and Stewardship
• D. Systems: Interactions and Interdependence 
• E. Impacts of Change

The Content

The course runs for a total of 110 hours. The lessons outlined below are all structured for 100 minutes of instruction time, unless otherwise stated.

The 110 hours also includes additional time that may be allocated for assignments, tests and the independent study unit, at the teacher’s discretion.

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The first and second lesson are free! Then individual lessons are priced at $5 or the whole course at $105. If you buy individual lessons then decide to buy the whole course, make your purchase, contact us, and we will refund the individuals.

$315.00 $105.00Add to cart

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• Introduction Materials
  • First Day Handout [see whole course resources below]
  • Independent Study Unit [see whole course resources below]
• Unit 1 – The Earth: A Vibrant Planet. Students will begin looking at physical geography, what it is and what it means for global development and population settlement. The Unit will set the foundation for various terminology used to analyse spheres of the globe, and include the interpretation of a variety of current articles and historical documents.
  • Lesson 1 – Components of the Earth (Free)
  • Lesson 2 – Exploring Earth’s Regions  (Free)
  • Lesson 3 – Global Circulation
  • Lesson 4 – Motions of the Earth
  • Lesson 5 – Plate Tectonics
• Unit 2 – The Lithosphere. Students will study how the continents of the Earth were formed and analyse landforms, minerals and rocks, as well as a variety of environment physical processes on a global scale. Throughout this unit, students will focus on the work of natural elements such as wind and water in shaping our landmasses.
  • Lesson 1 – Plate Boundaries
  • Lesson 2 – Intraplate Volcanism
  • Lesson 3 – Earthquakes
  • Lesson 4 – Impacts of Earthquakes 
  • Lesson 5 – Volcanoes 
  • Lesson 6 – Yellowstone DME
• Unit 3 – The Atmosphere. Students will analyse properties of the atmosphere, and the threats of ozone depletion. In this unit, students will also analyse changing technologies of energy generation and conservation as well as learn about weather forecasting practices. Climate change and its positive and negative effects on the environment will also be looked at in some detail.
  • Lesson 1 – Layers of the Atmosphere
  • Lesson 2 – Atmospheric Circulation
  • Lesson 3 – The ITCZ
  • Lesson 4 – Tropical Storms 
  • Lesson 5 – Impacts of Tropical Storms 
  • Lesson 6 – Park’s Disaster Model 
  • Lesson 7 – The Distribution of Drought 
• Unit 4 – The Hydrosphere. Students will investigate the hydrosphere and global natural disasters related to water flows around the world. Students will learn about river patterns, flooding in Canada, and changing technologies designed to improve natural disaster prevention in changing physical environments.
  • Lesson 1 – Ocean Currents 
  • Lesson 2 – El Nino
  • Lesson 3 – The Power of Waves 
  • Lesson 4 – Tsunami’s
  • Lesson 5 – Flooding and Hydrography 
  • Lesson 6 – Impacts of Flooding
  • Lesson 7 – Hydropolitics 
• Unit 5 – The Biosphere. Students will analyse climates of various regions across the world, and their respective biospheres and ecosystems. Students will learn about resource management and natural disaster prevention methods in challenging environments, as well as explore topics such as ecotourism and agriculture within regions that experience seasonal limitation.
  • Lesson 1 – Defining Biodiversity
  • Lesson 2 – Distribution of Biodiversity
  • Lesson 3 – The Value of Ecosystems
  • Lesson 4 – Threats to Biodiversity
  • Lesson 5 – Threats to Ecosystem Processes
  • Lesson 6 – Biodiversity Loss and Economic Development
  • Lesson 7 – Sustainable Yield
  • Lesson 8 – Key Players in Managing Biodiversity

Assignments

• Assignment 1.1 Physical Geography Scrapbook
• Assignment 2.1 Plate Tectonic Map
• Assignment 2.2 Earthquake Lab Activity
• Assignment 2.3 Yellowstone Investigation
• Assignment 3.1 GIS and Tropical Storms
• Assignment 4.1 El Niño and Teleconnections
• Assignment 4.2 Rivers of the World
• Assignment 5.1 The Value of Ecosystems

Whole Course Resources