The Interior Plains

Unit 5 is about the Interior Plains region. As with the other regions, you will learn about its geography, climate, natural resources, history, and people.

Targets



Read the I Can statements to see what you will learn in Unit 5.

I Can…

  • Find the Interior Plains region on a map of Canada and name the provinces in it
  • Tell about the geography, landforms, and bodies of water in Interior Plains
  • Explain how landforms, bodies of water, and natural resources affect people’s lives in this region
  • Explain the factors that determine climate in the Interior Plains and how the climate affects the people’s lives
  • Explain how natural resources and the physical geography of the Interior Plains determine the establishment of communities
  • Tell about Aboriginal cultures and ways of life in this region
  • Tell about the North West Mounted Police and their effect on settlement and development of Western Canada
  • Provide information about the ways of life of European immigrants
  • Provide information about the ways of life of non-European immigrants
  • Discuss changes in the Interior Plains region over time and the reasons for those changes
  • Understand how natural resources are used, exchanged, and conserved in the Interior Plains 

Introduction


The Interior Plains are flatlands covered with tall prairie grass or crops that rise as you travel toward the Rocky Mountains. There are few trees except along rivers and creeks.   The region is drier due to lower rainfall.  Windmills pump water from wells which are common on farms located in the more southern parts of the Interior Plains. 

Dry soil conditions and wind led to many dust storms during the 1930s, causing the area to be called, "The Dust Bowl." 

Some of the best farmland in the world is located in the middle parts of the Interior Plains. Farmers grew, and still grow canola and wheat, crops that do not require a lot of rain.  The region became known as the "Breadbasket" of Canada once wheat became such an important export from the region.

Millions of buffalo once roamed this region. The buffalo were a source of food, clothing, shelter, and tools by the First Nations living in the area at the time.
Field of Canola, Alberta's main crop.


Watch the Introduction to Interior Plains Video:  The Great Plains

Library Books


Check out the library books for this unit.

Click here to download a PDF version of the Library List of Books.

If you are not able to find these library books, look for others about the Interior Plains region geography, climate, natural resources, history, and people.

Skill Builder


Click here to learn how to search for books in the library.

Notebook


Throughout this unit, you will keep a Notebook. The PDF downloads are the pages of your Notebook.

  1. Create a folder on your computer or in the cloud titled, “Unit 5 Notebook ”.
  2. Save all of the PDF downloads to this folder.

Whenever you see this icon you will be directed to use the “ Unit 5 Notebook ”  folder you created.