Geography Skills
Unit II
Enduring Understanding:
Visual representations of geographic information
provide an organized way of seeing the many
elements in a place.
Essential Question:
What makes geography the “science of plac
Explore: What type of geographic information is displa
Connect: How is each image organized to provide geog
Learn: Go to LOC.gov to find additional examples of
as visual representations of geographic inform
Collections in American Memory, the Geograp
Room, and Portals to the World.
Grade 8: Unit II- Geography Skills
Library of Congress Resources Used:
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority of Washington, D.C. (1991).
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Map.
Library of Congress: Geography and Maps: An Illustrated Guide.
Survey of Egypt. (1932). Topographic Map of Egypt. Library of Congress:
Geography and Maps: An Illustrated Guide.
U.S. National Cancer Institute Mapping Program. (1987).
Cancer Mortality by County in North Carolina. Library of Congress:
Geography and Maps: An Illustrated Guide.
Earth Observation Satellite Company Collection. (1980).
Amazon River Landsat Image. Library of Congress: Geography and Maps:
An Illustrated Guide.
Notes:
The Metro System Map outlined in red was designed to be housed in illuminated
display cases in subway-station mezzanines.
The map outlined in yellow is a hand-drawn topographic map of Egypt showing
the Giza Pyramids along the Nile River in northern Egypt.
The computer-screen map outlined in green shows the mortality statistics for
white males from lung, trachea, and pleura cancers in the state of North Carolina.
The Landsat image outlined in blue shows the merging of the Rio Negro and the
Amazon River in Brazil. Generated from a mapping satellite orbiting 438 miles
from earth, this computer-generated image derives its coloring from reflected
energy. The deep red indicate dense vegetation of the Amazon rain forest, while
the lighter reds following the linear patterns of the road network reflect areas of
deforestation. The Rio Negro is shown in black and the Amazon appears in blue.
For additional Primary Source-Based Learning Experiences, go to:
www.PrimarySourceLearning.org
Access this poster online:
http://www.pslearning.org/program/step2/s_s/posters/index.shtml
Grade 8: Unit II- Geography Skills
Introductory Activity:
Ask students to consider what tools Geographers use to study the earth. Have
them list as many different types of tools as possible. After individual reflection,
share and discuss as a class. While maps and globes are the most obvious
tools, what other type of resources might be used in Geography? Refer students
back to the images on the poster to help them recognize how pictures, drawings,
graphs, charts, databases, and cultural artifacts help us study our world.
Extension Ideas: (based on primary sources)
1. Group Discussion:
Discuss the different types of geographic information displayed in the four
images. What does each image tell you about the place it represents? What
inferences could you make about the place based on the information on the
image? What additional resources could you use to better understand the place
being represented? For instance, in the map of North Carolina, why are most
cases of lung cancer found in the eastern portion of the state?
2. Individual Response:
Imagine who might use each of these images. Write a paragraph describing who
might use each of these images and how they would use it. Be as creative as
possible.
Library of Congress Item Used:
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority of Washington, D.C. (1991).
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Map.
Library of Congress: Geography and Maps: An Illustrated Guide.
One of thirty-three translucent maps donated to the Library by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority of Washington, D.C.,
in 1991, it was designed to be housed in illuminated display cases in subway-station mezzanines. (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority Maps)
Library of Congress Item Used:
Survey of Egypt. (1932). Topographic Map of Egypt. Library of Congress:
Geography and Maps: An Illustrated Guide.
Representative selection of large-scale, multisheet series maps issued by official government
mapping organizations:
A detail of a topographic map (1/25,000) of Egypt, by the Survey of Egypt, showing the Giza Pyramids along the Nile River in
northern Egypt in 1932.
Library of Congress Resource Used:
U.S. National Cancer Institute Mapping Program. (1987).
Cancer Mortality by County in North Carolina. Library of Congress:
Geography and Maps: An Illustrated Guide.
This computer-screen map, which shows mortality statistics for white males from lung, trachea, and pleura cancers in the state
of North Carolina, is representative of the more than 100 million images that can be generated from the National Cancer
Institute Mapping Program. This digital data base is stored on sixteen computer discs. (U.S. National Cancer Institute Mapping
Program)
Library of Congress Item Used:
Earth Observation Satellite Company Collection. (1980).
Amazon River Landsat Image. Library of Congress: Geography and Maps: An Illustrated Guide.
The confluence of the Rio Negro and the Amazon River in Brazil is shown on this Landsat image. Unlike a
conventional photograph, this is a computer-generated image derived from reflected energy collected by a
mapping satellite orbiting the earth at a distance of 438 miles. A false color image, the deep reds indicate
the dense vegetation of the Amazon rain forests, while the lighter reds following the linear patterns of the
road network reflect areas of deforestation. The heavily sedimented Rio Negro is shown in black while the
Amazon appears in blue. (Earth Observation Satellite Company Collection)