Enhancements

1. Applying the Dot Planimeter to Air Photos of Students’ Neighborhoods.

A computer with connections to the World Wide Web (WWW) will be necessary for this activity. The students may open an air photo and examine the land uses in the vicinity where they live (http://maps.google.com) and enter address (select satellite). The teacher should review the WWW site prior to assigning it to students to make certain it is functioning properly. The analysis of the land-use near the students’ home should follow steps similar to the lesson. The air photos may be printed using an ink jet printer or the blank sheet of acetate may be placed directly on the computer monitor screen. The outlines of land uses and land cover may be traced on the acetate. Use great care not to mark on the monitor screen. Students should complete their analysis of the land use/land cover near where they live. The data may be presented in poster sessions. The collection of posters from the class will permit students to compare the different land uses/land cover in the enrollment area of the school.

2. Researching Local Land Use. 

The teacher may identify several addresses from the community that have different land use patterns. They may be assigned to the students to research and report. The Terra Server may be used to access and map the data. The comparative samples will enable students to discuss the question: How do land uses differ in our community?

Extensions

1. Investigating Land Use Globally. 

Land use is an issue in many countries of the world. Air photographs from various countries are available on the World Wide Web. For example, air photos of Canada can be found at http://www.globalairphotos.com/; air photos from many areas can be found at http://maps.google.com/ and select satellite. Choose or have students choose a location to examine and find an air photo of that location; point out the location on a world map. Discuss some of the issues that people might face in that country or region and speculate on how those issues might affect land use. Students can use the same procedure for analyzing the land use and land cover patterns that were introduced in this lesson to analyze the photo they have selected. The land use data may be compared with the data from the air photo of Michigan. With students, summarize land use issues that are present in Michigan and the other country, as well as those unique to Michigan and the other country.

2. Land Uses—There Are So Many! 

In this lesson from the curriculum This Land Is Your Land: Lesson Plans for Land Use (United Growth for Kent County and the Michigan State University Extension), students put together zoning pieces on a puzzle board to design a smooth-running community. They then list land uses on sticky notes and categorize them into each of the zones, competing in a contest to see who can put the most types of land uses on the community puzzle board. This lesson is available at http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/236/66856/landuse.pdf and on the MEECS Land Use CD.