Unit 6

What Are Our Connections to the Past?

Place Names: 5 Ws Focus on Where

What secrets are in a name?


In this part of the lesson, you will read and classify information. When done, you will have the opportunity to research the origins of place names near where you live.

Activity


Click each coloured row for information about the activity.

Place Names

Think about why people and places have the names they have.


Consider your name:

  • Where does it come from?
  • Were you named after someone?
  • Why was your name chosen for you?
  • What does your name mean?

Ask someone the above questions and record your answers on the Place Names Chart.





Document: Place Names Chart
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  1. Download the document Place Names Chart.
  2. IMPORTANT NOTE: When the download screen opens:
      • Click the "Open with" button.
      • Select "Adobe Reader".
      • Click "OK".
      • You will then be able to view the document Place Names Chart.
      • Can't view the file? View Skill Builder: Saving Dynamic PDFs.
Websites

Websites

If you don't know what your name means, you can look it up here: Origins of Names.

Websites

Websites

Look at these websites showing Alberta and British Columbia (view the maps as PDFs).

Think about the origins of some of the place names you see.


  • For example, there is Fox Lake in northern Alberta and Rocky Mountain House in western Alberta.
    • If we were to classify these place names, we may make a category called Wildlife and Natural Features.
  • Another example is from the map of British Columbia: there is a place called Osoyoos in southern British Columbia.
    • If we were to classify this name, we might make a category called First Nations Names.

Look at pages 158 and 159 of Literacy in Action 6B. Preview the map and the illustrations, then predict the category for two place names and put these predictions on the Place Names Chart.

Place Names Category

Before reading the selection, consider how to discover meanings of unfamiliar words (and in this selection, unfamiliar place names).


You have been practising crack the code word work in this unit: looking for words you know within an unfamiliar word. You can do the same with unfamiliar place names.

  • For example, Aroostook River: Aroos took – the word took is in that word. You can also try dividing the word into syllables: A/roos/took.

Remember, despite your best efforts, it is often difficult to properly pronounce words in other languages.


Here's a pronunciation guide for some of the words in this selection:

  • Wetaskiwin (wi-task-i-win)
  • Grise Fiord (greese-fee-ord)
  • Puvirnituq (pu-veer-ni-took)
  • Portage Kamushkuapetshishkuakanishit (ka-moosh-kwa-pay-tshish-kwa-ka-nee-sheet)

Read the text on page 157. Compare the categories there with the ideas you had.

Then, read the labels on pages 158 and 159 and decide on a category for the name. Write the category you choose on the Place Names Chart.

Answer the final section of questions on the Place Names Chart.


Save

How to save a file:

  1. Have the file open and select Save As from the File menu.
  2. Name your Place Names Chart file in this format: jsmith_placenames and save the file to your Documents folder.