Red River

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.

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 environment

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: 1998 Aerial Photograph, Shreveport, Louisiana

1998 Bossier City, LA /1980/1992 North Highlands, LA, USGS
Topographic Quadrangles

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 1998 Bossier City, LA / 1980/1992 North Highlands, LA, USGS Topographic Quadrangles:

Locate a power line.
Locate a benchmark.
Locate a cemetery.

Using the 1998 Bossier City, LA / 1980/1992 North Highlands, LA, USGS Topographic Quadrangles:

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 the center of the I-20 bridge to the center of the I-220 bridge.

What is the straight line distance? ________________________________

What is the distance by boat following the river? _____________________

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

Long-Allen Bridge Southeast quadrant of map
Cross Bayou Southeast and southwest quadrants of map
Shreveport Downtown Airport Center of map
Power Plant Southwest quadrant of map

Section 2: On the 1998 Aerial Photograph:

a. Locate some forested wetlands.
b. Locate some gravel/ sand pits.
c. Locate some oil wells.

Section 3: On the 1998 Aerial Photograph:

a. What time of day was the aerial photograph taken?
b. Draw a profile (side view) of each of the three bridges that cross the Red River at downtown Shreveport.

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