Space Awareness
Let's Map the Earth
Before maps went mobile, people actually had to learn how to read maps. Pupils look at map elements in order to understand how to read them and locate specific locations. Finally, young cartographers discover how to make aerial maps.
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Aerial Photographs
In this geography worksheet, students read an excerpt about aerial photographs and how they are taken. Then they identify shape, size, tone, shadows, and other hints that might be seen. Finally, students respond to 5 short answer...
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What do Maps Show: How to Read a Topographic Map
Students identify the characteristics of topographical maps. Using examples, they practice reading them and describing the information they gather from them. They also discover how to use the website from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Royal Geographical Society
An Introduction to Maps
First graders are introduced to a variety of maps such as globes, street maps, atlases, and different types of floor plans. The focus of the lesson requires individuals to create their own plan of the classroom using the PowerPoint...
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Second Graders on the Map
Second graders explore the various types of maps. They examine the differences between street maps and aerial photographs. Students identify various features on each map. They use cardinal directions and the compass rose. They write...
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Topographic Mapping Skills
For this geography worksheet, students read an excerpt about topographic maps and why they are useful for various jobs. They also respond to eleven questions that follow related to the excerpt and locating specific map points on the map...
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Aerial Photography
Eleventh graders compare the artistic values of Terry Evans' photography with LandSAT images and other images made for purely scientific, government and commercial purposes. They consider the artistic choices made in aerial photography.
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Ecology Explorers
Middle schoolers create accurate, detailed map showing physical features, plants and trees, and other details of three school sites.
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Interpreting Aerial Photographs
Students interpret aerial photographs. They view aerial photographs or satellite-produced images to locate and identify physical and human features. They study satellite images and label their images for bodies of water, clouds,...
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Land Use Change Over Time
Young scholars use historical aerial photographs and current aerial photographs to compare the change over time to the land. In this land changing lesson plan, students analyze, compare, contrast, and list the land change in their own...
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A VIEW FROM THE TOP
Students explore the idea of aerial photography through the story of Amelia the Pigeon. They view an actual aerial photograph of their school or home, and then write a story describing what Amelia would see if she flew over their school...
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Scale Skills
In this mapping skills activity, students read an excerpt that describes three different types of scales and how to calculate distance on a map. They respond to two short answer questions using the map provided on the sheet and to...
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Solving the Puzzle
Students create a map showing the United States borders at a specific period in history and produce three questions to be answered by examining the map. They also write a productive paragraph explaining who, what, when, where, how/why a...
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Map Your Local Watershed!
Students study how to map their local watershed from a topographic map. They find the watershed on an aerial photograph and use maps and aerial photos from the Web to identify the human activity within the watershed, as well as various...
Messenger Education
Look But Don’t Touch—Exploration with Remote Sensing
Mars is home to the tallest mountain in our solar system, Olympus Mons. In this set of two activities, learners review geologic land formations through the analysis of aerial maps. They then apply this knowledge to aerial maps of objects...
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Images of Katrina
Students use maps and online data to find specific geographic areas. In hurricane Katrina lesson students use aerial photographic imagery to see some impacts of hurricane Katrina.
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GIS Mapping: Special Instructions for Using Digital Orthophotos
Students practice cartography using GIS technology. They create a map of Austin using GIS and aerial photos.
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Eagle Creek Park (A Hike)
Students plot a hiking course using aerial photos and a topographic overlay and find the latitude and longitude of absolute locations. They measure the total distance of a hiked area and figure the area of the ground walked using Heron's...
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Exploring channel change using historic maps and field investigation
Students map historic flood induced channel change in the Gila River. In this investigative lesson students create a hypothesis and test it through field investigations.
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Schoolyard Geology
Discover that maps show information about an area and that they have common features like scales and legends. View an aerial map of your school and find features on the map such as the playground, roads, and trees. Trace the outline of...
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The Marsh Land as a Changing Environment
Sixth graders continue their examination of the state of Connecticut. After taking a field trip, they identify the types of birds, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates who make their home in the salt marshes. In groups, they identify...
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From Pirates to Pilots to Spies
Sixth graders enjoy this introduction to the world of map projections, globes, aerial photographs, and satellite images. This lesson instructs students on the advantages and disadvantages of each earthly representation.
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A Contouring We Go
Students examine the built environment and infrastructures of their community by constructing contour equipment, using the equipment, and comparing their results to current topographical maps of the same area
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U.S. History: What Happened Here?
Young scholars apply the global positioning system to create maps of local historical sites. By collaborating with local historical groups, they research events and relate them to broader, national history. In addition to writing...