Georgia SS6G6.b

Social Studies6th GradeLatin America and Canada

The Standard

Explain the causes and effects of the extraction of natural resources on the Canadian Shield (e.g., mining and logging).

Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies · Explain the impact of environmental issues in Canada.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain why mining and logging occur in the Canadian Shield. They connect resource extraction to environmental effects and economic benefits such as jobs and income.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can build a clear cause-and-effect chain for mining or logging. They include specific effects such as habitat loss, water pollution, soil erosion, jobs, or new roads.
Common Misconceptions: Students may treat all resource extraction as harmful without recognizing economic benefits. They may also confuse mining effects with logging effects or assume damaged forests and waterways recover immediately.
How to Assess It: Give students this exit prompt: Explain one reason for mining or logging in the Canadian Shield and describe two effects, including one environmental effect.

Lesson moves

Give pairs a Canadian Shield map and resource cards, then have them place mines and logging sites and add likely environmental effects.
Ask students to write whether a town should approve a new mine that creates jobs but may pollute a nearby lake.
Run a cause-and-effect card sort using mining, logging, jobs, habitat loss, road construction, erosion, and water pollution.
Compare before-and-after satellite images of a Canadian mine or logging area and list visible land changes.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to SS6G6.b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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