Lesson Plan: Geographic Scavenger Hunt

SC Science Standard: 8-3.9 Identify and illustrate geologic features of South Carolina and other regions of the world through the use of imagery (including aerial photography and satellite imagery) and topographic maps.

Materials:  Each student group should get multiple aerial images. Each of the following should be present at least once: mountains, rivers, tributaries, lakes, farmland, forests, Carolina bays, coastal features.  A transparency or sheet protector for each image  Wet-erase markers (at least 4 colors)

Hook: Who has flown in an airplane before? Discussion: Did you look out of the window at all of the roads and house on the ground? Did things look a lot different from above? How did things look different from above than they do on the ground? How could you tell what things were?

Separate students into groups and give each group a set of aerial images, either in sheet protectors or with transparencies. Also give groups black wet-erase markers. Tell students to lay the transparency on top of the image and use the marker to outline any geographic features they see. They do not have to know what the geographic feature is called but they should use symbols or patterns to distinguish between different features and create a key on a sheet of notebook paper. If they do not know what a feature is called they can make a hypothesis. You can guide them some by telling them to look for areas of land that have different colors, shades, or textures.

When students have found most of the distinct features, show them the geographic landforms PowerPoint. Explain how to identify landforms from aerial images, how scientists use aerial images, and how they relate to other types of maps. Students should take notes so that they can use the information to correct their maps and complete the scavenger hunt. Have students modify their map key to include the new things they’ve learned.

Give each group a copy of the Scavenger Hunt Student Handout and the rest of the wet- erase markers. Scavenger Hunt Student Handout

Dr. Smith is a veterinarian at an animal rescue hospital. She takes care of wild animals and pets that have been injured and then releases them to safe habitats or homes. Things are really busy at the animal hospital right now and she needs your help to find suitable habitat for some of her patients. Use the information provided about each animal and the aerial images to find a good area for each animal to be released. Under your key write an explanation for why you chose each site.

1. Black Bear: He needs a lot of space to roam and look for food. He should be as far away from roads as possible so a car doesn’t hit him! He needs wooded areas and he loves the thick bushes and berries found in Carolina bays. Mark the best places for him to live on the aerial image with a green X. 2. Alligator: The Ocean is way too salty for her tastes! Freshwater rivers and lakes are much better, though she may travel into slightly salty water from time to time. She is exothermic (cold-blooded) so she assumes the temperature of her surroundings. She needs to keep warm so the mountains are way too cold! Make sure you don’t put her too close to anybody’s house. Mark her best options for a home with a red X. 3. Dolphin: This dolphin likes to spend his time in inlets attached to the ocean where the water is salty and fish are easy prey. Keep him away from areas with a lot of houses or buildings nearby because a lot of humans means a lot of boat traffic. Those propellers are dangerous for a dolphin. Mark the areas best for him with a blue X. 4. Labrador Retriever: She is a very active dog and needs a lot of room to run. She is very obedient and protective and would be perfect for a family that lives on farmland. Mark her best options for a new home with a green circle. 5. Carolina chickadee: He would do well in an area with mountains. Keep him away from areas with a lot of houses. He doesn’t get along well with pet cats. Mark the best places for him with a blue circle. Pre-Activity

1. Which area of the aerial photograph shows the least amount of human activity, A or

B? How can you tell?

2. Match the letters on the aerial photographs to the name of the feature they indicate

and explain why you think this is true.

Carolina bay

Forest

Mountains

Farmland Post-Activity