Canadian Mapping Grades 2–3 builds students’ geographic understanding through hands‑on mapping activities that explore Canada’s shape, location, landforms, provinces, territories, and communities. Students learn to read and interpret a wide variety of maps—including political, physical, thematic, and mobility maps—while developing skills in using symbols, legends, grids, scale, latitude, longitude, and directional indicators. They also locate Canada on globes, identify hemispheres, and compare different map representations, including satellite images.

The resource extends learning into real‑world applications by having students create maps of kitchens, neighbourhoods, aqua plexes, and their own communities. Students compare provinces and territories, identify major landforms and bodies of water, and distinguish between urban and rural communities. With clear teacher information, rubrics, and a wide range of activities, this resource strengthens spatial reasoning, geographic vocabulary, and inquiry skills while deepening students’ understanding of Canada’s geography.

Five Full-Colour Maps

1. Outline Map of Canada
2. Political Map of Canada
3. Political Map of Canada
4.  Outline Map of the World
5. Outline Map of North America 

Introduction and Teacher Planning Information:

• At A Glance TM – Learning Expectations
• Teacher Rubric
• Student Rubric
• Teacher Notes
• Five Full-Colour Maps
• Glossary of Geographic Terms for the Students
• Answer Key for each section

TOPICS COVERED:

CANADA'S SHAPE AND LOCATION

Canada in the World - 1 (Locating Canada on a World Map)

Canada in the World - 2 (Locating Canada on a World Map)

Canada in North America (Map of North America)  

Our Country Canada (Map)  

Canada on a Globe - 1 (Locate Canada and the Hemispheres)  

Canada and the Hemispheres (Find the Equator and Hemispheres)  

Canada Sort (Read and Interpret Globe: Find Equator, Poles, and Hemispheres)  

Canada on Many Maps - 1 (Locate Canada on Different Maps)  

Canada on a Globe - 2 (Locate Canada on a Variety of Globe Representations)  

The Continents (Locate Continents on Globes)  

Canada from Space! (Satellite Image)  

Explore Canada From Space (Internet Activity) 

CANADA MAPS AND MAP FEATURES

Neighbourhood Map (Map Legend and Symbols)  

Pictures, Maps, and Symbols (How Symbols are Helpful)  

Mapping Our Kitchen - Making Symbols (Create Own Symbols)  

A Map of My Kitchen (Create a Map Using Symbols)  

Canadian Cities - Using Symbols (Symbols for Cities on a Map)  

Finding Canadian Cities - Using Symbols (Locating Canadian Cities)  

Compare Two Provinces - Using Symbols (Symbols can Provide Information)

Compare Two Territories - Using Symbols (Symbols can Provide Information)

Colours on a Map (Colour Denotes Political Boundaries)  

Colouring Canada (Colour on a Map of Canada)  

What Way? (Using Cardinal and Intermediate Directions)  

My Pencil's Journey-All Around Canada (Using Cardinal and Intermediate Directions) 

Using a Map Legend - Map of Canada - 1 (Interpreting Symbols on a Canada Map)

Using a Map Legend - Map of Canada - 2 (Interpreting Symbols on a Canada Map)  

Be an Aquaplex Designer! (Draw a Simple Map with Specific Elements)  

My Aquaplex Design (Draw a Simple Map with Specific Elements)  

Map of Canada - Measuring Distance - Using Scale (Using Standard Units of Scale)  

Map of Ontario - Measuring Distance - Using Scale (Using Standard Units of Scale)

 Map of Quebec and Labrador - Measuring Distance - (Scale Using Standard Units)

 Canada's Funland - Using Map Scale (Use Simple Scale with Standard Units)

What Are Those Lines? (Parallels of Latitude)  

Parallels of Latitude (Map of Canada)  

Find the Equator and the Poles on a Globe (Teacher Page)  

Globe Exercises (Game)  

Up and Down - Introducing Longitude (Introduction)  

Using Meridians of Longitude on a Map of Canada (Canada Mapping Skill)  

Canada on Many Maps - 2 (A Variety of Maps and Their Uses)  

Canada on Many Maps - 3 (A Variety of Maps and Their Uses)  

Mapping Canada (Getting Information from Maps)  

More Mapping Canada (Getting Information from Maps)  

CANADA'S PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES

Canada's Provinces and Territories (Names and Shapes of Provinces and Territories)

Canada's Provinces and Territories (Names and Shapes of Provinces and Territories)  

The Names and Shapes of the Provinces and Territories of Canada  

The Names and Shapes of the Provinces and Territories of Canada (Games)  

The Names and Shapes of the Provinces and Territories of Canada (Games)  

Canadian Mapping Game Ideas for the Teacher (Teacher Page)  

Province and Territory Sort (Interpreting a Map) 

MAJOR LANDFORMS AND BODIES OF WATER IN CANADA

Landforms of Canada (Interpreting Physical Features of Canada)  

Are You Planning a Trip? (Interpreting Physical Features of Canada)  

The Oceans (Label the Oceans Around Canada)  

Canada's Big Water (Recognizing Canada's Major Bodies of Water)  

Be a Water Detective! (Recognizing Canada's Major Bodies of Water)  

Ontario's Big Water (Recognizing Ontario's Major Bodies of Water)  

Ontario's Landforms (Interpreting Physical Features of Ontario)

Landforms of British Columbia (Interpreting Physical Features of British Columbia)  

Comparing Two Provinces (Using a VENN Diagram) 

CANADIAN COMMUNITIES - URBAN AND RURAL

Where I Live (Locate Local Community on a Globe)  

Physical Map of Canada (What is it like near my community?)  

My Canadian Community (What is it like near my community?)  

Urban and Rural Communities - 1 (Comparing Urban and Rural Communities)

Urban and Rural Communities - 2 (Comparing Urban and Rural Communities)

A Car Trip in Canada (Urban and Rural)  

Canadian Curriculum Expectations Met 

 Canadian Curriculum Expectations Met

Ontario – Grade 2 & 3 Social Studies

Grade 2: Global Communities

• Identify Canada and continents on maps
• Use symbols, legends, grids, and directions
• Compare communities
• Read and create simple maps

Grade 3: Communities in Canada

• Identify provinces & territories
• Compare regions
• Use scale, grids, and map features
• Distinguish urban vs. rural

Direct evidence:
“Locate Canada’s provinces and territories.”
“Recognize urban and rural communities.”

British Columbia – Grade 2 & 3 Social Studies

Big Ideas & Content

• Relationship between people and places
• Use of maps, globes, and scale
• Physical and human features of Canada
• Urban & rural communities

Direct evidence:
“Identify major landforms of Canada.”
“Make and read maps of familiar areas.”

Alberta – Grade 2 & 3 Social Studies

Grade 2: Canada’s Dynamic Communities

• Provinces, territories, landforms
• Urban & rural communities
• Using maps to compare regions

Grade 3: Communities of the World

• Globes, hemispheres, continents
• Map features and spatial skills

Direct evidence:
“Recognize the major parallels of latitude.”
“Recognize the major meridians of longitude.”

Saskatchewan – Grade 2 & 3 Social Studies

Outcomes

• Understanding place and environment
• Mapping communities
• Using symbols, legends, grids, and scale
• Comparing regions

Direct evidence:
“Sort and classify information obtained from maps.” 

Manitoba – Grade 2 & 3 Social Studies

Clusters

• Canada’s physical and political features
• Communities and regions
• Using maps to gather information
• Landforms and water systems

Direct evidence:
“Canada’s Big Water… Recognizing Canada’s major bodies of water.”

Québec – Cycle 2 Social Sciences

Geography & Citizenship

• Territory, spatial organization
• Physical and political maps
• Latitude, longitude, hemispheres
• Urban vs. rural

Direct evidence:
“Canada and the Hemispheres (Find the Equator and Hemispheres).”

Atlantic Provinces (NS, NB, PEI, NL)

Grade 2–3 Social Studies Themes

• Provinces, territories, and regions
• Landforms and water systems
• Mapping communities
• Using map features

Direct evidence:
“Compare Two Provinces… Compare Two Territories.”

Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut

Territorial Outcomes

• Mapping northern communities
• Landforms, water, and climate
• Using maps to gather information
• Understanding Canada’s northern regions

Direct evidence:
“Locate oceans near Canada.”
“Landforms of British Columbia… Landforms of Ontario.”

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