Program Outline: Map with GIS 7

Purpose

This program has been designed to introduce students to ArcMap Online (Geographic Information Systems mapping software licensed by the TDSB) by using the software and appropriate data sets to create small scale maps of Canada and large scale maps of the community around their school; teachers are encouraged to use the local maps in the classroom for follow-up activities.

Before the Program

• divide students into pairs (max: 16 pairs) --- please partner the students up so that at least one of the two is a relatively strong computer person and has good reading skills; this is essential as ArcMap is very powerful, professional software; it is not particularly intuitive and instructions must be followed exactly to be successful
• all other work is completed “on the day” at TUSC

Program Outline

• following a brief introduction to GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and a review of basic mapping concepts students are introduced to the software

• there is one assignment in the morning:

  Web Map - students learn how to construct an outline map of tectonic plate boundaries, fault lines, earthquake and volcano locations
• for students who finish early, there is a "bonus game" on geoguessr.com

• NOTE:

   the map making is accompanied by activities where students use the map information

• there is one assignment in the afternoon:

  Story Map Journal - the map from the morning is used as a "basemap" in the journal; students are locating 3 specific earthquakes and 3 volcanoes (randomized as we hand them out), and doing some basic research on each, including choosing an appropriate image