Mobile Bay
TITLE: Finders Keepers!
OVERVIEW: This introductory activity is used to familiarize learners with the information found on Aerial Photographs and Topographic Maps. The use of two time periods provides the means to identify changes to an area over a short period of time.
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.
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: 1996 Aerial Photograph, Mobile, Alabama
1982 1:24,000 Topographic Map, Mobile, Alabama
Magnifying glass
Topographic symbols chart
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?
Purple colored features represent?
Using the topographic symbols chart:
Identify the symbol for marsh.
Identify symbol for a power line.
Identify symbol for a dual highway with median.
Identify symbol for a school.
On the Mobile 1:24,000 topographic map:
Locate a school
Locate a railroad
Locate a dock for ships
Locate the U.S. Quarantine Station
Using the 1:24,000 Mobile 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 the largest building on McDuffie Island to the Federal building in the downtown of Mobile. What is the distance in feet?
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
Three Mile Creek Northwest quadrant of the map
Oil Storage tanks at Center, North edge of the map
Magazine Point
Battleship USS Alabama Center, East edge of the map
Magnolia Cemetery Southwest quadrant of the map
Section 2: Locate:
1. The City of Mobile
2. The Mobile Bay Delta
3. I-10 Causeway
Section 3: Explore the map and aerial photograph to determine the difference in representation for the following features:
Object Location
Pinto Pass Center, East of the map
Little Sand Island Southeast quadrant of the map
Bridge Center, North edge of the map
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 an objects.
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.
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