CBC Archives

In small groups, have the students identify any common object in the class and try to determine how many people and facets of industry it took to create the object. Have them list these to see how many connections they can find.

Ask these small groups to listen to and/or view clips 6 and 7, and the additional clip Urban Impact, from Devastating Dry Spells: Drought on the Prairies on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site.

Then ask each group to create a web that shows the interconnectedness of industries that are associated with farming. Encourage students to find as many connections as possible.

Ask each group to look at its web. Have students imagine that drought has destroyed the crops. What products of farming are affected? Have students draw a line through each affected product on their web. Ask them to draw another web demonstrating the impact of this hole in the web. Once completed, have each group write a statement about how important it is for Canada to have successful industries at all levels.

Groups can revisit their webs and choose another industry aside from farming. Have them subtract that industry from their web and evaluate the impact of that loss to all the other industries. Ask them to compare this new information with the previous information and state what similarities and differences they find.