Finders Keepers
Avery and Weeks Islands

TITLE: Finders Keepers! Weeks 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.

SUBJECT AREA: Geography

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School


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 STANDARDS
            SI-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, Weeks, Louisiana
            1963/80 1:24,000 Topographic Map, Weeks
            1994 1:24,000 Topographic Map, Weeks
            Magnifying glass
            Topographic symbols chart

SUGGESTED PROCEDURE:

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 the Weeks1:24,000 topographic map
            Locate a power line.
            Locate a benchmark.
            Locate a cemetery.

Using the Weeks1:24,000 topographic map
            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 the drawbridge over Bayou Patout to the school on Weeks Island.
            What is the straight line distance?
            What is the distance by road?                                       

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
Oil storage tanks Near center of map
Plantation Lake Near Center of map
Railroad Across center of map

Section 2:             On the 1995 Aerial Photograph:
                                    a.             Locate Cypremort.      
                                    b.             Locate a cypress logging area.
                                    c.             Locate some marsh.

Section 3:             On the 1995 Aerial Photograph and topographic map:
                                    a.             Note the difference in marsh and swamp.
                                    b.             Find some locations where the marsh has been burned.
                                    c.             Note the difference in the number of buildings between the map and the photo on the southern part of Weeks Island. 

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