Finders Keepers - Avery Island

OVERVIEW: This introductory activity is used to familiarize learners with the information found on Aerial Photographs and Topographic Maps. A variety of objects and locations was selected to introduce the use of different styles and symbols.

OBJECTIVES:
            To introduce topographic maps and the representative colors and symbols used.
            To provide exposure to the skills of aerial photographic interpretation.

STANDARDS:
            National Geography Standards
            Essential Element 1. The World in Spatial Terms
            Standard 1:    How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools and technologies to acquire, process and report information from a spatial                                     perspective.
            Standard 3:     How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth’s surface.
            Essential Element 3. Physical Systems
            Standard 1:      The physical processes that shape the pattern of Earth’s surface.

LOUISIANA SOCIAL STUDIES CONTENT STANDARDS:
            G-2A-M2             interpreting and developing maps, globes, graphs, charts, models, and databases to analyze spatial distributions and patterns
            G-1B-M3             identifying criteria used to define regions and explaining how and why regions change
            G-1D-M1             analyzing and evaluating the effects of human actions upon physical environments

LOUISIANA SCIENCE CONTENT STANDARD
SSI-M-A4 developing descriptions, explanations and graphs using data
SE-M-A4 understanding and evaluating the effects of human actions upon physical environments

CROSS CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS:
            Mathematics: Comparing scale
            Language Arts: Communication
            Art    Development of pattern recognition
            Earth Science: Identification of surface features and processes

TIME:
Teacher: 30 minutes for preparation of material packets
Class time: one 50 minute class

MATERIALS:
            Student:           1995 Aerial Photograph, Avery Island, Louisiana
                                  1963/80 1:24,000 scale Delcambre Topographic Quadrangle
                                    Magnifying glass
                                    Topographic symbols chart

As the students receive the materials packet, encourage group exploration and quick comparisons. Simple discussion questions should be used to have the students notice the use of colors, symbols, and labeling techniques. Use sections 1, 2, and 3 for this.

Introduction to color, symbols, and scale: Ask the following discussion questions and have the students identify and locate topographic symbols.

Using the topographic symbols chart and the topographic map:
            Blue colored features represent?
            Green colored features represent?
            Black colored features represent?
            Brown colored features represent?
            Purple colored features represent?

Using the topographic symbols chart:
            Identify the symbol for marsh.
            Identify symbol for a power line.
            Identify symbol for a school.
            Identify symbol for a dual highway with median.

On the1963/80 1:24,000 scale Delcambre Topographic Quadrangle
            Locate a school.
            Locate a church.
            Locate an oil well.
            Locate a railroad.
            Locate a benchmark.

Using the1963/80 1:24,000 scale Delcambre Topographic Quadrangle
Find the scale in feet.
Find "0" on the scale. Why are there 1,000 feet to the left and 1000 feet to the right of "0"?
Using the edge of a piece of paper, determine the distance in feet from Poufette to Ternell School on Avery Island.___________________________
Using the edge of a piece of paper, determine the distance in feet from Poufette to Ternell School on Avery Island following the railroad._____________________

Section 1: Given the table below, first find the object listed on the topographic map and then locate the identified site on the aerial photograph.

Object	Location
Salt Dome
Hayes Pond	Southeast quadrant of map
Large building at salt mine	South central part of map
Oil well canals
Large storage tanks	North edge of Avery Island
Saline Woods Pond	South edge of Avery Island

Section 2:             On the 1995 Aerial Photograph:
                                   Locate the marsh.
                                    Locate the upland forested vegetation.
                                    Locate the Tabasco Pepper fields. Where are these fields on the topographic map?_____________________________________

What is the white line along the canal leading into the southwest corner of Avery Island?_________________________________

Locate the pond in the center of the island, why is its water color different from the others?________________________________

Section 3:             On the 1963/80 Delcambre topographic map:
                                   The contour interval on the topographic map is 5 feet.
                                    Where is the highest point on Avery Island?________________
                                    What is its elevation?______________________________

ASSESSMENT:
            1.         The instructor will circulate throughout the room questioning each group to establish student mastery of the materials and to troubleshoot and
                        direct student attention to features and objects.
            2.         If the materials have been laminated, students may label the objects or places in Sections 1- 2 using a washable or erasable marker.
            3.         Student journal entries on the objectives of the activity.
            4.         After completing the search and locate tasks provided in Sections 1- 3, the student or cooperative group may select other objects or sites to                           develop peer quizzes.

EXPLORATIONS MAY INCLUDE:
Packets of local topographic maps and aerial photographs for the students to identify known and unknown sites.

Student construction of a school topographic map completed to scale and properly oriented.

INTERNET SITES:
http:// evlweb.eecs.uic.edu/pape/vrml/etopo; http:// www_nmd.usgs.gov