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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:

• 2004 Aerial Photograph, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• 1995 Baton Rouge West, LA, USGS Topographic Quadrangle
• 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 1995 Baton Rouge West, LA, USGS Topographic Quadrangles:

Locate a lock.
Locate a benchmark.
Locate a cemetery.
Locate a storage tank.

Using the 1995 Baton Rouge West, LA , 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 flag on Baton Rouge High School to the radio tower (WBRZ-TV).

What is the straight line distance? ___________________________

What is the distance by car following city streets? _______________

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
State Capitol	North center of map
Louisiana State University Stadium	Center of map
Port Allen Lock	Left center of map
National Cemetery	Northeast quadrant of map

Section 2: Identify on the 2004 Aerial Photograph:

a. An area of swamp.
b. A golf course.
c. An oil and gas refinery.
d. Sugar cane fields.

Section 3: On the 2004 Aerial Photograph:

a. What time of day was the aerial photograph taken?
b. Locate some areas of recent commercial development and recent subdivision development.

Section 4: A comparison using Topographic map and Aerial Photograph

c. Identify areas of change along the Mississippi shoreline.

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
http://www_nmd.usgs.gov