Lesson 2. Using GIS Maps to Make Comparisons Over Time

Learning Objectives

• Manipulate and analyze population information across multiple GIS data maps to begin to understand the travel patterns of early Americans expanding Westward.

Teacher Materials

• Projector connected to a lab computer (to lead discussion with GIS map)

Student Materials

• Completed Handout 1 from Lesson 1
• Handout 2
• Handout 3
• Handout 4

Activities

1. Reflect on the first assignment: Any unresolved issues? What was challenging about using the GIS software?
• Put students who are not finished with Handout 1 (or need further assistance) together. Ask them to work on it together for the first few minutes until you can address their needs.
2. Anticipatory Set
   • Ask students how often censuses are taken in the United States (every ten years).
   • On the projector, show students how to change the census decade by clicking on the different years. As a preview, ask students to watch the screen as you slowly click from the 1790 census to the 1840 census.
   • Encourage students to share what they saw as the decades changes.
3. Pass out Handout 2 and have students begin working independently or in pairs. As they complete these questions, they should proceed with Handout 3 and Handout 4. The handouts should be self-explanatory, and the activity should help students become independent in finding information in the GIS. The 3 handouts should take about 30 minutes to complete
4. Help students individually as they have questions with the activities. If a particular problem, question, or interesting observation comes up that is worth sharing, use the projector to share it with the class.
5. Wrap-up by debriefing today's activity:
   • What do the changes in the data tell us about US Expansion in the early 1800s?
   • What kinds of things are the data not telling them about Westward Expansion in the early 1800s?
   • How could we "fill in the blanks?"

Homework

Assign readings (found in the DOCUMENTS tab of the web site) to students in preparation for the jigsaw activity the next day. Students who have not completed todayÕs tasks should also complete them for homework.