Texas City/Virginia Point

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 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: 1992 Aerial Photograph, Clear Lake/Johnson Space Center

1982 1:24,000 Topographic Map, League City

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 school.

Identify symbol for a dual highway with median.

On the League City 1:24,000 topographic map:

Locate a school

Locate a railroad

          Locate a cemetery

Using the 1:24,000  League City 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 Loyola. University to Lee Circle in downtown New Orleans.

What is the straight line distance?

What is the distance following St. Charles Avenue?

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.

Section 2: Using the Topographic map and aerial photo, identify:

a. Pipeline corridor, northwest quadrant

b. Power plant intake canal

c. Power plant outflow canal

d. Vegetation along Mud Lake

Section 3: Identify one area of urban development around shores of Clear Lake.

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 an objects.

2. 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.

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