Curriculum Page
These are draft activities for different GIS packages. Please e-mail Bob Kolvoord with questions/ suggestions. Each activity is in a .zip archive with the relevant directions and data.
Cabela's Activity - Revised 26 July 2007
In this activity, students use GIS to find the ideal location for a new Cabela's outdoor gear store in Virginia. Both the AEJEE and ArcMap versions are included in the zip file below.
World Demographics - Revised 26 July 2007
In this activity, students use GIS to explore the economies and standards of living of countries across the world. Both the AEJEE and ArcMap versions are included in the zip file below.
Disasters - revised 23 July 2007
In this activity, students use GIS to explore the impact of natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. on their local area. They also explore which health care facilities are important in the case of disaster. Both the AEJEE and ArcMap versions are included in the zip file below.
Energy - revised 23 July 2007
In this activity, students use GIS to explore the production and consumption of energy by countries around the world. By comparing energy use of different types, students explore energy sustainability. Both the AEJEE and ArcMap versions are included in the zip file below.
Drinking Water Activity - Posted 26 July 2007
In this activity, students use GIS to explore the source and quality of drinking water in their community by investigating local aquifers. They'll use the concentration of Arsenic and EPA-listed toxic discharge sites to help them compare the quality of their water with drinking water across the U.S. Both the AEJEE and ArcMap versions are included in the zip file below.
Watersheds - Revised 26 July 2007
In this activity, students use GIS to explore their watershed and how that watershed relates to other watersheds. This is a good follow-on to the water quality activity above. Both the AEJEE and ArcMap versions are included in the zip file below.
Carbon Footprint - Revised 2 September 2007
In this activity, students use GIS to explore the concept of carbon footprint and the its relationship to the population and size of different countries. It is part of the Environment series of activities. Both the AEJEE and ArcMap versions are included in the zip file below.
Bats in the Neighborhood - New 14 October 2007
In this activity, students use GIS to explore the habitats of bats in their state or region and compare/contrast the different species of bats. It is part of the Environment series of activities. Both the AEJEE and ArcMap versions are included in the zip file below.
Survivor Agriculture - New 28 November 2007
In this activity, students use GIS to explore the agriculture productivity of their state and determine if it could support the state's population in the wake of a large-scale disaster. Students also compare and contrast their state with neighboring states. It is part of the Environment series of activities. Both the AEJEE and ArcMap versions are included in the zip file below.
Farm Economics - New 15 January 2008
In this activity, students use GIS to explore the agriculture economics of their state and county and discover where high sales farms are located across the U.S. The students also construct a plan for creating a viable farm locally. It is part of the Environment series of activities. Both the AEJEE and ArcMap versions are included in the zip file below.
Invasive Species - New 15 Feb. 2008
This pair of activities focus on the spread of invasive plant and animal species in different parts of the USA. Students map the spread and predict what other areas are at risk. The activities can be done independently or as a pair. This is the final entry in the Environment sequence of activities. Both ArcGIS and AEJEE versions can be downloaded from the links below.
Podcasts
We have created some short video clips (podcasts) that you can use to review different GIS techniques. Right click the title to download a QuickTime movie "screencast".
- Symbolization (Graduated Colors) A review of how to symbolize a map layer by unique value, quantity, and how to normalize.
- Charts and Graphs This video shows how to use pie charts and bar graphs to symbolize a map layer.
- Queries - Part I Demonstrates a simple and complex query using the attributes of a layer.
- Queries - Part II This video explains how to do a simple and complex query by location rather than attribute.
- Adding Attributes A review of how to add an attribute field to an attribute table while preserving the original data. This video also illustrates how to calculate values using existing attributes.
- Joining Tables Shows how to join attribute tables, the merging of a data table to a layer using a common field.
- Digitizing This video explains how to digitize features by creating a feature class and using the mouse to outline features.
