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

 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.

 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:   2003 Aerial Photograph, St. Louis, MO.

                           1:24,000 scale 1998, Granite City, Il/MO USGS Topographic Quadrangles           

                           Magnifying glass

                           Topographic symbols chart

                           String

 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 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, Granite City, Il/MO USGS USGS Topographic Quadrangle

            Locate a jetty/breakwater

            Locate a benchmark.

            Locate a cemetery.

            Locate a wooded marsh

 Using the  1:24,000 scale 1998, Granite City, Il/MO., USGS Topographic Quadrangle

            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 McKinley Bridge in the center of the river channel to the south end of Lock No. 27.  

                     What is the straight line distance in feet?  ___________________________     

Using a piece of sting, determine the distance in feet from the McKinley Bridge in the center of the river channel to the south end of Lock No. 27.  You are in a boat so you must follow the river channel.

                      What is the distance in feet by boat following the river channel.___________

Section 1:    Given the table below, first find the object listed on the 1998, Granite City, Il/MO USGS Topographic Quadrangle map and then locate the identified site on the aerial photograph.

                  Object                                           Location                                 

                  McKinley Bridge                          West center of map

                  Lock No. 27                                  Northwest quadrant

                  Horseshoe Lake                            East center of map

                  Semicircle of Tanks                       St. Louis side of the river between McKinley and Merchants Bridges           

Section 2:     On the Aerial Photograph, St. Louis, MO.

  1. Gateway Racetrack

  2. Granite City Steel Mill

  3. Dome in downtown St. Louis

Section 3:     On the Aerial Photograph, St. Louis, MO.

  1. What time of day was the aerial photograph taken?

  2. Identify some of the areas of wetlands from the Granite City topographic map on the aerial photograph.

  3. Can you identify any other changes that have taken place between 1998 and 2003? 

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 SITE:     

            http://evlweb.eecs.uic.edu/pape/vrml/etopo