Mapping+Altitudes

A great way of using maps in the classroom is to have your students map the altitudes they were at along a recent trip. Below I've posted an example with suggestions for which tools to use.

Before beginning ask students to consider:
 * 1) What was the highest point they think they were at? Where was it and how high?
 * 2) What was the lowest point? Where and what level?

Start with a google map Have students place makers along their route. It's easiest to start with large cities and then to move to smaller cities later.

Use a site that gives altitudes Weather Underground ([|http://www.wunderground.com/)] is a great resource for finding altitudes. Have your students find the altitudes of the cities they placed markers in and label the markers with these altitudes.

Customize their maps Give them an opportunity to place pictures, text, audio, etc. on their place markers that describe the cities or places they've marked. Ask them to change the color of the marker for the highest and lowest points of the trip.

Use a data visualization software to graph the trip Use software such as Microsoft Excel or InspireData to visually show the gains and loss in altitude during the trip

As students study their trip ask them to consider whether there are areas where they notice a large difference in altitude from one point to the next. If so, perhaps they'll want to put a marker between the two points and check the altitude of that marker. Ask them why they think there was such a drop in altitude? Do they remember what it looked like out the window in that area?

[| Example of a trip from Lansing, MI to Greenville, SC]