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 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: 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