Grade 7 · Social Studies · Unit 1 of 3
The North & the Pacific Rim
Circumpolar countries, the Pacific, and maps that tell different stories
What your child practises
Where the circumpolar and Pacific Rim countries are, how the environment shapes life in the north, why different maps tell different stories, and how countries work together on shared issues.
Saskatchewan Curriculum outcome: DR7.1–DR7.3, IN7.1 · maps, northern Canada and the circumpolar and Pacific Rim countries, and the connections between people and environments
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Why do Arctic and Pacific Rim countries need to cooperate on some issues?
🌍- borders stop all weather
- they all have the same laws
- they speak the same language
- oceans, wildlife and climate cross borders
Show answer
oceans, wildlife and climate cross borders
Hint: Shared oceans and migrating animals mean decisions in one country can affect others.
Question 2
What is one reason that few people live in the far north of Canada?
🧥- no sunlight in summer
- too many mountains of sugar
- the cold climate and long winters
- too much sand
Show answer
the cold climate and long winters
Hint: Environment affects where people settle.
Question 3
Why do many countries on the Pacific Rim have earthquakes and volcanoes?
🌋- tectonic plates meet along the edge of the Pacific
- they are close to the Arctic
- the moon is close
- they have lots of rain
Show answer
tectonic plates meet along the edge of the Pacific
Hint: The Ring of Fire follows plate boundaries.
Question 4
Why might rising seas threaten some Pacific islands?
🏝️- they are far inland
- they are very tall mountains
- they sit only a little above sea level
- they have no water around them
Show answer
they sit only a little above sea level
Hint: Low-lying islands are especially at risk.
Question 5
Is it a circumpolar (Arctic) country or a Pacific Rim country? Tap a country, then tap its basket.
Sort into: 🧊 circumpolar (Arctic) · 🌊 Pacific Rim
- 🇵🇭the Philippines
- 🇮🇸Iceland
- 🇯🇵Japan
- 🇨🇱Chile
- 🇸🇪Sweden
- 🇳🇴Norway
Show answer
🧊 circumpolar (Arctic): Iceland, Sweden, Norway · 🌊 Pacific Rim: the Philippines, Japan, Chile
Hint: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Russia border or reach into the Arctic. Japan, Australia, Chile and the Philippines border the Pacific Ocean.
Question 6
Which of these countries has land inside the Arctic Circle?
🌌- Norway
- Brazil
- Australia
- Egypt
Show answer
Norway
Hint: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Canada, the United States, Iceland and Denmark (through Greenland) are Arctic countries.