Finders Keepers
Chadron
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 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.
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: 1982 Aerial Photograph, Chadron, Nebraska
1:24,000 Topographic Map, Chadron East/Chadron West, Nebraska
Magnifying glass
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 map symbols chart and the topographic map:
Blue colored features represent?
Green colored features represent?
Black colored features represent?
Purple colored features represent?
Using the topographic map symbols chart:
Identify the symbol for marsh.
Identify the symbol for a power line.
Identify the symbols for a school and a church.
Identify the symbol for an unimproved road.
Identify the symbol for a benchmark.
On the Chadron East/Chadron West 1:24,000 topographic map:
Locate a church and a school
Locate the benchmark on "C"- Hill
Locate a windmill
Locate a cemetery
Using the Chadron East/ Chadron West 1:24,000 Lookout topographic map:
Find the scale in feet
Find "0" on the scale. Why is there 1000 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 Kenwood School to the High School.
What is the straight line distance?
What is the distance by car?
What is the contour interval of the topographic map?
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
Sections 16,17,18,19,20,21 Center of map
Railroad through Chadron Near center of map
Chadron State College Near center of map
Greenwood Cemetery Near center of map
Section 2: On the 1982 Aerial Photograph
Locate the White River and floodplain
Locate Chadron Airport
Locate some snow
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 an objects.
2. If the materials have been laminated, students may label the objects or places in Sections 1- 2 using a washable marker.
3. Student journal entries on the objectives of the activity.
4. After completing the search and location tasks provided in Sections 1- 2, 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