Students are introduced to air photos. They first view a neighborhood from a bird’s-eye view, a photo taken from a kite. They next compare two air photos of Shelby Township, MI. The air photos show the land use change during the period from 1980 to 2010. The students compare, contrast, and use evidence from the air photos to explore the changes.

Students answer these essential questions: 

How was the air photo taken? 

What does the air photo show?

Subject/Target Grade

Social Studies and Science/ Upper Elementary (4-6)

Duration

50 minutes – Classroom setting

Materials

per class

• A Bird’s-eye View (optional teacher resource) 

• Understanding Air Photographs (transparency master) 

• 1980 A-1 Air Photo Discussion in Pairs (answer key) 

• 1995 A-2 Air Photo Discussion in Pairs (answer key) 

• Google Maps (Internet access)

per pair of students

• Kite View Air Photograph (student resource) 

• Shelby Township, MI, 1980 Air Photo (student resource) 

• 1980 A-1 Air Photo Discussion in Pairs (student activity) 

• Shelby Township, MI, 1995 Air Photo (student resource) 

• 1995 A-2 Air Photo Discussion in Pairs (student activity) 

per student

• Keeping Track (student activity) 

• hand lens (optional)