Page 87 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 AND 10 | Canadian and World Studies

E1.5 propose courses of action that would make a community more sustainable (e.g., improving community/neighbourhood amenities, establishing local markets, replacing individual ownership of equipment with cooperative ownership, sharing cars, introducing a rental bike network, expanding the amount of green space)
Sample questions: “What criteria could be used to evaluate a community’s progress in achieving environmental sustainability? What economic criteria would a plan to improve environmental sustainability have to meet in order to be practical to adopt and viable in the long term?” “Does your course of action support the cultural needs of the people living in the community?”
E2. Impacts of Urban Growth
FOCUS ON: Spatial Significance; Geographic Perspective
By the end of this course, students will:
E2.1 assess the impact of urban growth on natural systems (e.g., impact of urban sprawl, vehicle use, and waste disposal on water and air quality)
Sample questions: “How might the draining
of marshland for urban development affect drainage patterns, the microclimate, and/or wildlife?” “What impact might an increase in population density have on sewage treatment processes and on nearby bodies of water?” “What effects have increases in the amount of paved land had on groundwater? How have water bodies been affected by increased runoff from paved areas, and how might communities that use that water be affected?” “How do paved areas affect air temperature?”
Using spatial skills: Students can use aerial images to analyse changes in urban size and determine how much the area of urban sprawl has increased over time. Remote sensing images can be used to analyse the amount of vegetation growth in urban locations.
E2.2 analyse various economic, social, and political impacts of urban growth (e.g., cost of expanding infrastructure and public services; health impacts, such as faster spread of disease in densely populated communities, increases in asthma attacks as a result of poor air quality, and stress related to crowding; traffic congestion and related economic costs; conflict over development priorities)
Sample questions: “In what ways might urban growth influence the type of policing in a com- munity?” “What types of health care services might be needed in a large urban community? Why might they be different from those needed in a small town?” “How might the increased
migration of First Nations people from reserves to urban centres have an impact on both communities?”
E2.3 describe strategies that urban planners use to control urban sprawl (e.g., green belts, high density residential infill, gentrification), and analyse examples of their implementation
Sample questions: “How does the official plan for your community address urban sprawl?” “Should there be maximum size limits for cities?” “Should there be restrictions on the use of farmland for development or on other land uses near urban centres?”
Using spatial skills: Official plans provide abundant opportunities for examining planning strategies within a local context. For example, students can assess the extent to which features, such as green belts, park areas, and bike lanes, that reduce the impact of urban sprawl on natural systems have been incorporated in
the plan. They can analyse infrastructure needs and capacity (e.g., the number of access roads, water mains, gas lines, or sewage facilities) to determine whether existing infrastructure is sufficient to meet the needs of a locality, or whether infrastructure should be expanded or population growth capped. They can also create their own maps to determine where water and waste management sites should be located or transportation access provided.
E3. Characteristics of Land Use in Canada
FOCUS ON: Spatial Significance; Patterns and Trends
By the end of this course, students will:
E3.1 analyse the characteristics of different land uses in a community (e.g., size and distribution of transportation corridors, differences in residential types, location of industrial land), and explain how these characteristics and their spatial distribution affect the community
Sample questions: “What services does a city’s central business district or downtown provide? Why is a thriving central business district important to a city?” “How do the commercial land uses within a community help to unite
the community or divide it?” “What benefits do recreational spaces and facilities provide for this community? Are all age groups supported by the recreational spaces available?” “Do all neighbourhoods have equal access to parks and green space?” “Why is industrial land often located on the perimeter of the city?” “Why might the location of a specific kind of land use within a community change over time?” “How
LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES
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Issues in Canadian Geography
CGC1D