This interactive map was developed by Canadian Geographic and the Canadian International Development Agency to assist teachers in helping their students apply critical thinking skills and understand the concepts of international development and global responsibility. It uses the Robinson projection, which shows the world in a less traditional perspective—with Africa in the middle, rather than North America or Europe.

Your students can explore global issues from a thematic point of view or from a country-focused perspective. They can also follow links to hundreds of reputable websites with up-to-date information. See How to use this website for more information.

A series of map-related lesson plans geared to provincial and territorial curricula are now available online.

The lesson plans are aimed at Grades 6–8, and/or Grades 9–12, and include specific teacher and student activities and handouts. They have been developed by teachers, for teachers, with the assistance of the Canadian Council for Geographic Education.

We hope these lesson plans will help teachers explore with their students such concepts as international development and poverty, while also meeting the essential elements and geographic skills identified for these grade levels in the Canadian National Standards for Geography.

We encourage you as well to check out the Teacher Zone where you will find a wide selection of Canadian teaching resources and ideas, all designed to encourage the active exploration of international cooperation issues.

View complete list of lesson plans.

This inspiring website will help you bring the world into your classroom. It offers a searchable database on existing Canadian educational products that meet provincially-mandated curricula. It links to the Global Classroom Initiative which offers support for the development of school-based global education resources and activities. And it includes monthly features on new educational resources, interviews with teachers involved in international development and notices about upcoming events of interest to educators. Don’t wait, visit CIDA’s Teacher Zone now!