Wallops Island

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.

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:

• 2005 Aerial Photograph, Washington DC
• 1965/1982 Washington West, DC-MD-VA USGS Topographic Quadrangle
• 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 1965/1982 Washington West, DC USGS Topographic Quadrangles:

Locate a church.
Locate a benchmark.
Locate a cemetery.
Locate an area of woodlands.

Using the 1965/1982 Washington West, DC USGS Topographic Quadrangle:

Find the scale in feet.
Find "0" on the scale.

Using the edge of a piece of paper, determine the distance in feet from the center of the plaza in front of Union Station to the eastern apex of the Pentagon. .

What is the straight line distance? ___________________________

What is the distance by car following city streets? _______________

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
White House	center of map
Union Station	Center (east side) of map
Theodore Roosevelt Island	center (west side) of map
Tidal basin	Left Center quadrant of map

Section 2: Identify on the 2005 Aerial Photograph:

a. An area of forest.
b. The Ellipse.
c. An primarily composed of residents.
d. A golf course.

Section 3: On the 2005 Aerial Photograph:

a. What time of day was the aerial photograph taken?
b. Locate areas of major government buildings.

Section 4: A comparison using Topographic map and Aerial Photograph

a. How many bridges cross the Potomac River on the map and how many bridges cross the Potomac River on the Air Photograph?
b. Identify on the Mall between the topographic map and the aerial photograph.

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