Over-Arching Cascading Curriculum
Over-Arching Inquiry
Create a textbook about Alberta that is relevant, informative and visually appealing.
Launch: You have been asked to create a textbook to teach other students about Alberta which will be shared.
Cascading Inquiry 1:
What are the most
defining characteristics
of regions in Alberta?
EofL:
Create pages for your
textbook which
demonstrate the defining
characteristics of regions
in Alberta.
What factors have been the most influential to Albertas Identity?
Over-arching Curriculum Challenge
Cascading Inquiry 2: Cascading Inquiry 3:
Which of the Which celebrations and
contributions of the challenges have been most
following of groups are influential in Albertas
significant in shaping identity?
Albertas identity
(Metis, First Nations, EofL:
British, French & other
Create a series of two page
European)?
spreads about Albertas
EofL: celebrations and
challenges.
Create a book for other
grade four students
which shows the
contributions of various
groups to Albertas
identity.
 Cascading Inquiry 1
Over-Arching Inquiry 1

What are the most defining characteristics of regions in Alberta? (4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.3.4)

Over-arching Curriculum Challenge

Create pages for your textbook which demonstrate the defining characteristics of regions of Alberta

Launch: Show the Travel Alberta video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThFCg0tBDck then have students sort
pictures to identify Alberta landscapes.

Focus Inquiry 1: Focus Inquiry 2: Focus Inquiry 3: Focus Inquiry 4:

Rank the most
significant features in
each region.
EofL:
Create a topographical
map with information
cards which will be
included in the textbook
as a picture.
(4.1.2, 4.1.2B, 4.1.3,
4.1.3B, 4.1.4, 4.1.4A,
4.1.4B, 4.1.4C, 4.1.4D)
How do Albertans
interact with the
environment?
EofL:
A. Create a survival
guide for 1-2 regions
representing seasonal
activities appropriate to
the geography and
climate.
B. Create a two page
spread about one
community to show
how geography/natural
resources determine a
communitys growth.
(4.1.4, 4.3.4, 4.3.4B)
Where in Alberta would you
go to have the greatest How can we mostly effectively
possibility of finding oil, coal capture the defining
or fossils? Which resources characteristics of Albertas
should be developed?
regions?
EofL:
A. Create a series of cross-
EofL:
sections diagrams to see what Create a title page for the A
is below the surface in each
Sense of the Land section of the
region in Alberta.
B Use a ranking ladder to text book that is relevant,
informative and visually
show which resources are the
best to develop in Alberta. appealing.
Criteria: ease of extraction,
impact on environment (4.1.2, 4.1.4, 4.1.3)
(competing land use), ease of
processing, breadth of use
(used in many ways)
(4.1.3, 4.1.3A, 4.1.4, 4.1.4C,
4 1 4D 4 1 4E)
 Cascading Inquiry 2
Over-Arching Inquiry (Inquiry 2)

Which of the contributions of the following of groups are significant in shaping Albertas identity
(Metis, First Nations, British, French & other European)? (4.2.2)

Over-arching Curriculum Challenge

Create pages for your textbook that illustrate the contributions of each group using pictures and/or written work to justify your
thoughts.

Launch: Students select three images to best represent their three greatest contributions at home or at school.

Focus Inquiry 1: Focus Inquiry 2: Focus Inquiry 3: Focus Inquiry 4:

Rank the three most
significant contributions
to Alberta from the First
Nations people.
EofL:
Create ma two page
spread including a
thank you
letter/postcard.
(4.2.2, 4.2.2A, 4.2.2B,
4.2.2C)
How similar/different
were the contributions
to Albertas identity of
the British and French?
EofL:
Create a two page
spread with a Venn
Diagram to show how
similar or different the
contributions of the
French and British are
on Albertas identity.
Which was the greatest
contribution of the Metis
people: inventions, guiding
or translating and
transportation?
EofL:
Create a two page spread
using a Ranking Ladder to
show the greatest
contributions of the Metis.
(4.2.2, 4.2.2F)
Select a valuable contribution to
Albertas identity from other
cultural groups.
EofL:
1- Create a two page spread
including an infographic which
shows the significance of the
impact. 2 What am I page
including three picture clues to
show a valuable contribution
(4.2.2, 4.2.2I, 4.2.2J)

(4.2.2, 4.2.2D, 4.2.2E,

4.2.2G, 4.2.2H, 4.2.2K)
 Cascading Inquiry 3
Over-Arching Inquiry (Inquiry 3)

Which celebrations and challenges have been most influential in Albertas identity? (4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.4)

Over-arching Curriculum Challenge

Create a series of two page spreads about Albertas celebrations and challenges.

Launch: Mini critical challenge Alberta Has Changed over Time (see Google folder for slide show)

Focus Inquiry 1: Would
Albertans from the past view
key events as challenges or
opportunities?
EofL: Create a voice from the
past page to take on a
perspective on each of the
Lines of Inquiry
Focus Inquiry 2: How
similar/different is Alberta in
1905 and present?
EofL: Create a two page
spread demonstrating
changes in Alberta since
1905 through pictures,
Focus Inquiry 3: How have
Focus Inquiry 4: How can
Albertas people changed over
recreational spaces be designed so
time?
that they reflect Albertas heritage,
strengthen communities and
EofL: Create a two page spread
that depicts multiculturalism in
minimalize conflicts in the
environment?
Alberta using pictures and
evidence form a cultural event EofL: Design a tourist destination for

following issues: Alberta graphs and words using a that takes place in Alberta (e.g.,
joining confederation, the Antelope Hill based on the criteria for
dashboard to indicate Heritage Days, Latin Fest,
Anticipatory

dirty 30s and the discovery of an effective tourist destination in

similarities and differences.
oil.
(4.3.3, 4.3.3A, 4.3.3B, 4.3.3C,
(4.3.2, 4.3.2A, 4.3.2B, 4.3.2C)
4.3.3D)
Stampede, Global Fest).
Alberta.
(4.3.3, 4.3.3E, 4.3.3F, 4.3.3G,
(4.3.4, 4.3.4A, 4.3.4B, 4.3.4C, 4.3.4D)
4.3.3H)

Focus Inquiry 5: How can we mostly effectively capture which celebrations and challenges have been most influential in
Albertas Identity?

EofL:

Create a title page for the Celebrations section of the text book that is relevant, informative, visually appealing.

(4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.4)

Alternative Activity

Cascade 1

Cascade 2

Focus Inquiry 1

Who Am I? Riddle Book for first nations group in Alberta.

Focus Inquiry 4

Each student chooses an immigrant group to research other than British or French. Create a suitcase containing
pictures of 5 items of cultural significance and/or contributions to Albertas identity.

Cascade 3