Web Quest

Chapter 2

THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF ONTARIO

TASK CONTEXT

This task links the mathematics students have learned in Chapter 2 with Social Studies. Students are told that The Find-your-Way Map Company has decided to create a map of your county that will tell travelers about your small towns and villages. They want to show many of these small places on the map, along with their populations. Students will use the Statistics Canada website to investigate the populations of small villages and towns. They will sort and order them on a chart under the headings 100's and 1000's.

GOALS

Understand and compare numbers to 10 000.
Communicate about ordering numbers.

MEETING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS

Some students may be challenged to add a third column titled 10 000's to the recording chart.
Some students may need assistance in determining where some places should be put on their map. Point out map hints (landmarks such as Georgian Bay, large cities, etc...) and allow students to work with a partner while completing the map.

INSTRUCTIONAL SEQUENCE

Have students talk about places they have visited in Ontario. Ask students if each place has a small or a large population and how they know. Have them estimate the population of some small towns or villages they know. Discuss what a county is and name the county in which they live.
Introduce students to the Statistics Canada website. Tell them that the government counts the population every 10 years and tells us about the cities, towns and villages that are in Canada. Show students how to find the information on the site.
Place students into pairs to complete the research task.
Have students complete the Populations of Ontario Towns & Villages recording sheet at the computer or provide hard copies.
Prepare copies of the blank map of the county from the Reference Maps website. Have students mark each small town or village on the map with its population.

Key questions to ask while students work:

"Describe how you know where to place each village or town on the chart."

"What was the smallest population you found? What was the largest population that you found for a town with less than 10 000 people."

" A sign outside of a village says that the population is 450. Do you think there are exactly 450 people living in the village? Explain what you think."

RESOURCES

Websites:

Population Counts for Canada, Provinces and Territories
Reference Maps

Files:

Populations of Ontario Towns & Villages

Materials:

Atlas
Coloured pencils (optional)

ASSESSMENT

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Understanding Place Value Concepts

• Recognizes and reads numbers up to 10 000 with significant errors.

• Compares and orders numbers up to 10 000 with significant errors.

• Recognizes and reads numbers up to 10 000 with a few errors.

• Compares and orders numbers up to 10 000 with a few errors.

• Recognizes and reads numbers up to 10 000 with no errors.

• Compares and orders numbers up to 10 000 with no errors.

• Recognizes and reads numbers up to 10 000 and higher with no errors.

• Compares and orders numbers up to 10 000 and higher with no errors.

Communication about Place Value

• Explanations of their thinking when ordering populations is unclear. Place value language rarely used.

• Explains their thinking with some clarity when ordering populations, using some place value language.

• Clearly explains their thinking when ordering populations, using place value language.

• Clearly explains their thinking when ordering populations, using concise place value language.