- Definition
The Canadian Shield is a huge, rocky area that covers a large part of Canada, known for its very old rocks and many valuable minerals.
The rocky, lake-filled landscape of Muskoka in Ontario is a well-known part of the Canadian Shield.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Think of the Canadian Shield as the giant, old, rocky floor that a huge part of Canada is built on.
Ask your child: If you were flying over the Shield, what would you see below?
Common mix-up: Kids might think the Shield is just empty rock. It is actually a huge region filled with lakes, forests, animals, and communities.
Examples
- The many lakes and rivers found across northern Quebec and Manitoba are also part of the Shield.
- The valuable minerals like nickel and gold found near Sudbury come from the Shield's ancient rock.
Canadian Shield is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
