Columbia Bottom
TITLE:
Finders Keepers!
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 were selected to introduce the use of different styles
and symbols.
SUBJECT AREA:
Geography
To
introduce topographic maps and the representative colors and symbols used.
To
provide exposure to the skills of aerial photographic interpretation.
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.
Mathematics: Comparing scale
Language Arts: Communication
Art: Development of pattern recognition
Earth Science: Identification of surface features and processes
Teacher: 30 minutes for preparation of material packets
Class time: one 50 minute class
MATERIALS:
Student:
2003 Aerial
Photograph,
1:24,000 scale 1998,
Topographic
symbols chart
String
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.
Using the topographic
symbols chart and the USGS Topographic Quadrangle:
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
1:24,000 scale 1998,
Locate a jetty/breakwater
Locate a benchmark.
Locate a cemetery.
Locate a wooded marsh
Find the scale in feet.
Find "0" on the scale.
Why are there 1,000 feet to the left and 1,000 feet to the right of "0"?
Using the edge of a
piece of paper, determine the distance in feet from the
What is the straight line distance in feet?
___________________________
Using a piece of sting,
determine the distance in feet from the
Section 1:
Given the table below, first
find the object listed on the 1998,
Lock No. 27
Northwest quadrant
Horseshoe
Semicircle of
Section
2:
On the Aerial Photograph,
Gateway Racetrack
Granite City Steel Mill
Dome in downtown St. Louis
Section 3:
On the Aerial Photograph,
What time of day was the aerial photograph taken?
Identify some of the areas of wetlands from the Granite City topographic map on the aerial photograph.
Can you identify any other changes that have taken place
between 1998 and 2003?
ASSESSMENT:
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.
If the materials have been laminated, students may label the objects or places in Sections 1- 2 using a washable or erasable marker.
Student journal entries on the objectives of the activity.
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.
http://evlweb.eecs.uic.edu/pape/vrml/etopo