SHIRLEY TODD

"BIG APPLE" HERE WE COME!

GRADE 7 - 12

LOCATION; MOVEMENT; ACQUIRING, INTERPRETING, AND ANALYZING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION:

Traveling to the Mainland for the very first time is very exciting. Imagine seeing the big cities with skyscrapers that seem to reach the sky, and riding the subway that you read about in books. You will take an imaginary trip with your family to the mainland and after you arrive in San Francisco, you will rent a car and drive to Washington, D. C. You will make seven stops along the way.

OBJECTIVE:

The student will be able to:

1. Calculate the distance between Hawaii and San Francisco and between each of the cities on the itinerary.

2. Calculate the time it will take to travel from the point of origin to Washington, D. C.

3. Use maps analytically with a map scale to acquire and plot information on time, distance and establish relative location.

4. Describe the theme of Movement.

TIME REQUIRED: One or two class periods.

MATERIALS:

Azimuthal equidistant projection centered on San

Francisco that includes Hawaii and the U.S.

Mainland.

Individual desk maps of the U.S. with scales of miles.

Ruler.

Color pens or pencils.

Handout describing the theme of movement.

PROCEDURE:

1. Give each student of map of the U.S.

2. Discuss the theme of movement.

3. Discuss the relative locations of Honolulu and San Francisco and the distance between the two cities. On an azimuthal equidistant projection centered on San Francisco, show that the distance between the two cities would, extended eastward, reach within two hundred miles of the Atlantic Ocean.

4. Introduce the itinerary. Point out that they will make seven stops after they reach San Francisco. The stops will be in:

Las Vegas, Nevada;

Albuquerque, New Mexico;

Tulsa, Oklahoma;

Chicago, Illinois;

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

New York City, New York

Washington, D. C.

Tell students to mark the location of each city with a dot and to be sure to write the name of the city on their own maps. As an expedient, they can mark the location of Hawaii approximately 1 1/2 inches southwest of San Francisco.

5. Tell students to connect the dots, measure the distance between each stop beginning with San Francisco and record the mileage above the line.

6. After they find the mileage, tell students to calculate the time it will take to get from one stop to the next beginning with the leg between San Francisco and Las Vegas. The formula: it takes one hour to drive 50 miles. Below the line between each leg of the trip, have students record the estimated driving time. Finally, ask students to color their maps.

7. Tell students that traveling by car is one way to get to their destination and ask them, "How long would it take to get to Washington, D.C., by air? by train? by bus?

EXTENSION:

Find an AAA map of the U.S. that shows estimated driving times betewen cities such as those calculated by the students. Compare students' results with those given on the AAA map and speculate about reasons for discrepancies.