Finders Keepers
Fourchon
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 Earths surface.
Essential Element 3. Physical Systems
Standard 1: The
physical processes that shape the pattern of Earths 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, Fourchon, Louisiana
1994 1:24,000 scale Leeville-Belle Pass Topographic Quadrangle
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 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
the1994 1:24,000 scale Leeville-Belle Pass Topographic Quadrangle
Locate a power line.
Locate a benchmark.
Locate a jetty.
Using
the1994 1:24,000 scale Leeville-Belle Pass Topographic Quadrangle
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 Belle Pass to the bridge on 3090 over the canal by Pass
Fourchon.
What is the straight line distance? _____________________________________________
What is the distance by boat? ________________________________________________
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 | |
Belle Pass | Southwest corner of map | |
Bay Champagne | Lower east side of map |
|
Pointe Fourchon | Northeast corner of map |
Section 2: On the 1995 Aerial Photograph:
a. Locate Cheniers.
b. Locate an impoundment.
c. Locate some marsh.
Section 3: On
the 1995 Aerial Photograph:
a. Note the boats and ships on Bayou LaFourche and in the Gulf of Mexico.
b. Find the pumping station and pipeline canals for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP).
c. What do you suspect are the brown dashed lines on the topographic map?
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