TEACHER MATERIALS
How can maps contribute to our understanding of local water quality issues?
“What Are Maps For?”
In this activity, the students will consider the many ways we use maps to make our lives better. As part of a discussion about using maps to visualize data, you may want to show the students a short video about GIS. As part of a discussion about different types of maps, you may want to show them a short video about map types.
“What Makes a Map?”
In this activity, the students will decide what a good map looks like by analyzing some poor examples. First, they will look at some “bad” maps. Later on in the activity, they will read an article about how some maps “lie,” either intentionally or unintentionally.
“Examples of Bad Maps” sources
“Google Maps: Identifying Test Sites”
In this activity, the students will identify local bodies of water on a map and answer questions about them on a corresponding handout.
“Identifying Testing Sites” handout
“Learn to Use Geospatial Mapping Tools”
In this activity, the students will learn how to use the map-making tools that they will use throughout the rest of the lesson. The format of this activity will depend on what kinds of map-making tools you want your students to use. Helpful resources are provided below.
“Top 10 Alternatives to ArcGIS”
“Learn to Do the Tests and Use the Tools”
In this activity, the students will learn about new water testing methods and mapping tools, in preparation for testing a local body of water. In particular, it is important that your students learn to use some sort of GPS coordinate tracking app; a list is provided below.
“Correlation and Causation”
In this activity, the students will learn about the difference between correlation and causation. First, they will read about examples of data correlation and answer corresponding questions. Later, they will read about different kinds of correlation, as well as the mistakes people often make when trying to interpret correlations, and answer corresponding questions. Finally, you may want to extend the activity by exploring the Spurious Correlations website.
“Tales of Correlation” handout
“Geographic Correlation and Causation” article
“The Basics of Correlation and Causation” handout
“Exploring Data Correlations”
In this activity, the students will explore how well sets of publicly available data correlate with the water quality data they collected. Throughout the activity, the students will use online databases (and other resources) to access data sets.