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What in the World? Level 2 Issue 8

Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT

Before Reading (p. 4)

Have students watch the following news report about Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT:

Questions for online exploration (p. 13)

1. Watch Prime Minister Carney announce Canada's plan to defend, build, and transform the North:

2. Learn more about Operation Nanook-Nunalivut from Canadian Rangers, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, and the Government of Canada website:

3. Learn why Arctic sovereignty may be at risk:

4. Listen to Canadian Rangers describe their training to defend the Canadian Arctic:

5. Learn how Canada’s military is training to defend our sovereignty in the North:

6. Review this photo journal of Operation Nanook-Nunalivut:

7. Check out these infographics related to the Canadian Arctic, and the effects of climate change and increased shipping on the region:

The Canadian Arctic: Canada's largest ocean area

Climate Threat to the Arctic

Growth in Arctic Shipping is Bad News and the Result of a Destabilised Arctic Environment

Manitoba Eyes New Social Media Law

Before Reading (p. 15)

Have students view the following video that shares arguments from both sides on a social media ban for youth:

Questions for online exploration (p. 20) 

1. Learn more about Manitoba’s plan to ban social media for youth:

2. Hear from youth in Manitoba about what this proposed ban means for them:

3. Explore some of the challenges in enforcing this ban:

4. Learn more about Australia’s efforts to ban social media for youth and the progress they’ve made with this initiative:

5. Learn why social media bans are becoming more common:

6. Learn what health organizations say about the potential dangers of social media for youth:

The ‘Beautiful Game’ Comes Calling

Before Reading (p. 24)

Next, have students watch this promotional video for the event from Sport Canada:

Questions for online exploration (p. 29)

1. Visit the official site of the FIFA World Cup 2026:

2. Explore the profiles of the teams competing at the FIFA World Cup 2026:

3. Learn more about the 16 host cities and take a guided video tour of each city with a local spokesperson:

Cities:

Video tours:

4. Meet the Canadian Men’s National Team and its coach:

5. Watch these interviews with team captain, Alphonso Davies, and coach, Jesse Marsch, speaking about Canada’s chances this year:

6. Check out this infographic showing the full schedule of play:

The Boss Is Back In Banff

Before Reading (p. 33)

1. Divide the class into small groups and write "bears" on the board. Give students a few minutes to brainstorm as many types of bears as they can. This link may be helpful:

2. Show this video to confirm their guesses: 

Questions for online exploration (p. 38)

1. Meet award-winning nature photographer Jason Leo Bantle who’s been tracking "The Boss" for years:

2. Meet "The Boss’" rival "Split Lip" and learn how he got his name:

3. Learn more about the habitat, social behaviour, and current populations of grizzly bears in western Canada:

4. Compare and contrast the physical characteristics of grizzlies and black bears:

5. Explore how climate change is impacting polar bear habitats:

6. Learn more about the Kermode bear and the Grolar bear:

7. Check out these infographics showing populations and locations of various bear species in Canada and the Arctic region:

Resource Page for Students

Inquiry Project (p. 44)

Check out these short videos to learn how to check the credibility and reliability of websites:
How to evaluate sources for reliability: 

How to check if a website is credible: 

Inquiry Project

Helpful Teacher Resources on Inquiry-based Learning (p. 48)

Check out Trevor MacKenzie’s website with links to podcasts, blogs, social media links, and other resources on Inquiry‑based learning: 

His book, Dive into Inquiry: Amplify Learning and Empower Student Voice, offers a scaffolded approach to student inquiry: structured, controlled, guided, and free inquiry. It is a practical resource if inquiry-based learning is new to you.

John Spenser is another educator whose videos, blogs, and resources offer practical strategies and structures for engaging students in inquiry. Here are two to get you started:

“Helping Students Ask Better Questions by Creating a Culture of Inquiry”

“Using a Wonder Week to Spark Inquiry-based Learning”

Edutopia has a number of articles on student inquiry, including:

“What the heck is Inquiry-based Learning?”

“Resources and Downloads to Facilitate Inquiry-based Learning”

The Canadian Reader Issue 7

British Columbia Won’t “Fall Back”

Internet Connections (p. 11 )

1. Read more about this news story:

2. Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of time change:

3. Discover the history behind Daylight Saving Time:

Teacher's Corner (p. 12) 

1. U-shaped discussion:

2. Examples of timelines:

3. How to create a timeline:

Migrating Monarchs

Internet Connections ( p.p 19-20 )

1. Learn more about this news story:

2. Find out more about the migration:

3. See how the microchips are attached to monarchs:

4.Watch these videos about the migrating monarch butterfly:

5. Discover the lifecycle of a monarch butterfly:

Teacher's Corner ( p. 20 )

Monarch images:

Monarchs hibernating:

Map showing migration routes: 

Monarchs in flight: 

Kindness in Action

Internet Connections (p.p 27-28)

1. Read more about this news story:

2. Visit the Kindness and Smile Zone website:

3. Learn more about the Kindness and Smile Zone:

Teacher's Corner (p. 28)

1. Colours of Courage by Ayona Jaswal:

Teaching students how to make deeper connections:

The Canadian Reader Issue 6

A Trip Around the Moon

Internet Connections (p.p 11-12 )

1. Read more about this news story:

2. Discover more about Jeremy Hansen’s mission patch:

3. Find out what inspired Jeremy Hansen’s participation in the Artemis II mission:

4. Meet the astronauts who will fly around the Moon:

5. Learn how the Artemis II crew will live in space:

6. Curious to know more about Canada’s role in this mission? Read on:

Teacher’s Corner (p. 12)

1. Pre-reading images:

2. Hometown hero tributes:

A Better Life for Marineland’s Belugas

Internet Connections ( p. 21 )

1. Read more about this news story:

2. Watch these news videos:

3. Find out more about beluga whales:

4. Learn more about the Whale Sanctuary Project in NS:

5. Discover more about whales and dolphins in captivity:

Teacher's Corner ( p. 21 )

Beluga images:

Canada at the 2026 Olympics

Internet Connections (p. 30)

1. Read more about this news story:

2. Visit Team Canada’s website:

Teacher's Corner (p. 30)

1. How to craft a great headline:

2. The Milano Cortina 2026 Medals:

What in the World? Level 2 Issue 3

Labour Dispute at Canada Post

Questions for online exploration (p. 9)

1. Read more about the Canada Post strike:

2. Learn about the changes that the government has proposed to Canada Post:

3. Prime Minister Carney has stated that Canada needs a viable postal service. Learn why Canada Post is an important essential service:

4. Watch this interview with the head of Canada Post, the head of CUPW, the mayor of a rural town, and a small-business owner all affected by the strike: 

5. Learn why some experts suggest that Canada Post should be privatized or shut down completely:

6. Explore the conditions that sparked the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919:

Canadian Pianists Shine at a Chopin ‘Olympics’

Before Reading (p. 12)

Tell students: “You are about to meet Kevin Chen. Kevin is from Calgary, he’s 20 years old, and he just won the silver medal in an international piano competition in Poland. He’s practiced six to eight hours a day for years to get to this level. He was one of 11 finalists in a field of 642 hopefuls. This video shows excerpts of the three pieces he played in the final round. Enjoy.”

Questions for online exploration (p. 17) 

1. Read about Kevin Chen’s silver medal win and enjoy excerpts from his performance in the finals:

2. Read about Eric Lu’s gold medal win and enjoy excerpts from his performance in the finals:

3. Visit the official site of the Chopin Competition to learn about its history and meet the 2025 participants in this prestigious contest:

4. Visit the official site of the Royal Conservatory of Music: 

5. Learn more about Poland’s most famous piano composer, Fryderyk Chopin:

Gold Rush 2.0

Before Reading (p. 19)

Have students watch this report on why gold is in the news these days: 

Questions for online exploration (p. 24)

1. Learn more about why the price of gold is so high:

2. Explore the factors that influence the price of gold:

3. What makes gold precious?

4. Learn more about the gold standard and how it works:

5. Learn more about gold mining in Canada:

6. Gold is a versatile metal. Learn how it can be used:

7. Learn more about the Klondike Gold Rush:

Graphic (p. 27)

Complete the table below to show gold prices since 2005 ($US). Use the last space to list the current price of one ounce of gold in U.S. currency. The following link may help:

A Battle Over Belugas

Before Reading (p. 29)

Share with students that the park is officially closed but that the fate of 30 beluga whales still at the park is in jeopardy. Have students view this summary of the current situation:

Questions for online exploration (p. 34)

1. Find out more about the beluga whales currently living at Marineland:

2. Learn why it is challenging to find a new home for the belugas:

3. Read about the PAWS act and how it is designed to protect animal welfare in Ontario: 

4. Visit the sites of a number of animal rights groups that are speaking out about the situation at Marineland:

Humane World for Animals  

World Animal Protection Canada 

Marine Mammal Research Unit 

5. Check out this fact sheet about beluga whales:

6. Explore how beluga whales use echolocation:

The Steps of an Inquiry Project (p. 39)

Check out these short videos to learn how to check the credibility and reliability of websites:

How to evaluate sources for reliability: 

How to check if a website is credible:

Helpful Teacher Resources on Inquiry-based Learning (p. 42)

1. Check out Trevor MacKenzie’s website with links to podcasts, blogs, social media links, and other resources on Inquiry‑based learning: 

2. John Spenser is another educator whose videos, blogs, and resources offer practical strategies and structures for engaging students in inquiry. Here are two to get you started:

“Helping Students Ask Better Questions by Creating a Culture of Inquiry” 

“Using a Wonder Week to Spark Inquiry-based Learning”

3. Edutopia has a number of articles on student inquiry, including:

“What the heck is Inquiry-based Learning?”

“Resources and Downloads to Facilitate Inquiry-based Learning”