Canadian Arctic Landforms and Environment

Exploring the Frozen North Grade 5 Science - Earth and Space Systems Understanding How Environment Shapes Land

What Do You Know About the Arctic?

Think about what you already know Share your ideas with a partner What types of land might exist in Canada's far north?

Canada's Arctic Region

Major Arctic Landforms

Arctic Tundra - flat, treeless plains Glaciers and Ice Sheets - massive frozen rivers of ice Permafrost - permanently frozen ground Arctic Islands - land surrounded by icy waters Icebergs - floating chunks of glacial ice

How Environment Shapes Arctic Land

{"left":"Extremely cold temperatures year-round\nVery little precipitation (like a cold desert)\nStrong winds and harsh weather\nShort summer growing season","right":"Permafrost prevents deep plant roots\nGlacial movement carves valleys and islands\nIce and snow cover most surfaces\nFreeze-thaw cycles break apart rocks"}

Arctic Explorer Challenge

Match each landform to its description Draw or write how environment shaped it Work with a partner if needed I can explain how cold conditions create these landforms

Real Arctic Examples

Baffin Island - Canada's largest island with glaciers and tundra Ellesmere Island - northernmost land with ice caps Mackenzie River Delta - frozen wetlands and permafrost Arctic Archipelago - thousands of islands shaped by ice

Key Learning

The Arctic environment creates unique landforms through extreme cold, permafrost, and glacial action that cannot be found anywhere else in Canada.