• Human migration - Human migration has influenced developments on Cape Breton Island for hundreds of years and continues to do so. The human migration affecting Cape Breton Island is a continuation of the human migration that has taken place throughout history.
• Culture - What is culture, where does it come from and why does it change?
• Community changes - What has influenced change in the past and what might we expect in our communities in the future?
• Technology - The impact of technology. Examples of how technology has hurt or helped communities on Cape Breton Island.
• Interconnectedness - Throughout its history Cape Breton Island has been affected by events in other places. The same is true for other places.

Using We are an Island

Sequence
The resource meanders along an imaginary path around Cape Breton Island, beginning in Richmond County and ending in Cape Breton County. There is a gradual buildup of vocabulary and information as lessons progress, but it is not necessary to proceed in any specific order. Each lesson is self-contained. Many vocabulary words appear in several Word Preview boxes, so that they will be accessible to learners with no prior knowledge.

Dictionaries and Atlases
Dictionaries and atlases should be in the classroom and available to students during all social studies lessons. The Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County has dictionaries and copies of The Nystrom Canadian Desk Atlas at all sites for this purpose.