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Riding Mountain National Park GIS Lesson Series in 9.x

The rich wilderness of Riding Mountain National Park in the midst of Manitoba's prairie landscape covers 3,000 km2 of rolling hills and valleys. Bold boreal forest, expanses of meadows and lakes, lofty heights and deep gorges of the Manitoba Escarpment is home to wolves, moose, elk, black bears, hundreds of bird species and even a captive bison herd.

This group of 6 lessons will help newcomers to GIS become familiar with the software by following step-by-step instructions to create maps while learning about reintroduction of species, public safety, invasive species and prescribed burning.

With these teacher-tested lessons, you will be able to:

• Choose a lesson with an appropriate level of difficulty.
• Use real-life data from Riding Mountain National Park.
• Incorporate the accompanying resources into your lesson plan to provide context and to incorporate outcomes in other subjects at various grade levels - Social Studies, Science, Sustainability, Creative Arts, and languages.
• Consult the Extension Options document to see how the GIS lesson can lead to other activities.

A fictional first-person scenario helps set the scene for each lesson and detailed instructions will guide you and your students in the creation of a map.

Download the lessons below.

You can also order a free copy of the Riding Mountain National Park GIS Lesson Series DVD. Orders and general enquiries - education.rmnp@pc.gc.ca, or call 1-204-848-7275 and ask for the Public Outreach Education Coordinator. Note: Lesson series on the DVD are written for ArcView 3x and ArcGIS 9x, in French or English.

1. Focus on Fire**
   Students create a map of prescribed burns that have happened in RMNP since 2000. 
   • Data and Docs
     
2. Intruder Alert
   Students will map occurrences of two exotic invasive plant species within RMNP, as well as zones that may be susceptible to their spread.
   • Data and Docs
     
3. Weasel Waypoints
   A study of the movements of pine martens reintroduced to Riding Mountain National Park in the 1990's.
   • Data and Docs
     
4. Roadkill Retrospect
   A look at the effects on animals of vehicle traffic through Riding Mountain National Park.
   • Data and Docs
     
5. Tracing Trails**
   Designing a proposed extension to the Arrowhead Trail in Riding Mountain National Park.
   • Data and Docs
     
6. Prairie Mountain
   Explore hiking and camping options on the Manitoba Escarpment.
   • Data and Docs
     

   **Colour Orthophoto rmnp_0625.ecw
   This file is necessary for the following lessons. However it can also be used to enhance the other lessons.

   • Focus on Fire
   • Tracing Trails