How do modern mapping tools help us to understand the world we live in? Confluence Activity * Use the following slides to facilitate this enrichment activity in class. If your students need a review of absolute and relative location or how to read theme maps, conduct the lessons 1 & 2 from Geography Alive! Regions and People. Learn more about that program here: Preview: Which of the following tools would is best to research an exact location? Be prepared to share which tool (no right answer) and why. Teachers Curriculum InstituteA. Printed Map C. Hand-held GPS B. Compass D. Computer/Tablet Lets review: Teachers Curriculum Institute Lets review: Teachers Curriculum Institute Vegetation Zones of the World Lets review: Together, latitude and longitude create a global grid that allows geographers to find absolute location. Teachers Curriculum Institute Vegetation Zones of the World A confluence is defined as a flowing together; a meeting place (often of rivers). In our case a degree confluence is the exact spot where an integer degree of latitude and an integer degree of longitude meet, such as 4300'00"N 7200'00"W.4300'00"N 7200'00"W Teachers Curriculum Institute All of the 64,442 possible confluences have been assigned to one of three categories: Land (21,543) Water (38,409) Ice Cap (4,490). Teachers Curriculum Institute In this activity, you will use a confluence website: to take you to an absolute location. You will see several pictures as well as background information on the location. From the search, you will use the website along with vegetation zone maps to complete a matrix of degree confluences. Teachers Curriculum Institute 1.Each person needs a copy of the matrix of degree confluences. 2.From your teacher, get a copy of one degree confluence that gives an absolute location. 3.Locate the place using either the theme maps around the room (arranged by region) or from the website:To search an exact location using the website click on the left side where it says search on the navigation menu. Teachers Curriculum Institute 4.Study the images and information on the website for that location. 5.Study the regional vegetation map of this location. 6.Complete the appropriate row for that location on your matrix. Teachers Curriculum Institute ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinentExtra Credit 1. How did the photographer get here? 2. What happened to the photographers car? 3. This confluence is north and west of Los Angeles. What city is that? 4. What is the population density here according to the report? 5. What did the photographer say you need in order to find a confluence? 6. Why cant you see very far in these photographs? 7. What famous meridian is this confluence on? 8. What are the three colors of the three explorers of this confluence? 9. What gave the photographer trouble getting to this confluence? 10. What can happen to your lips in this environment? 11. What language is this post written in? 12. Name four countries that staked a claim here. broadleaf evergreen forest / chaparral / coniferous / deciduous forest / desert / desert scrub / highlands / ice cap / mixed / temperate grassland / tropical grassland / tundra DesertLibya Africa Your Answer Here 23 o N, 23 o E 7.Return the slip with absolute location to your teacher and receive a new one. Repeat process. (They might be out of numerical order, so be sure you write in the correct location on your matrix). 8.Be prepared to share your responses with the class after some time. Teachers Curriculum Institute Confluence Images ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 123 o N, 23 o EDesertLibyaAfrica ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 231 o S, 129 o EDesert scrubAustralia ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 335 o N, 120 o WChaparralUnited States, CANorth America ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 443 o N, 100 o WTemperate grasslandUnited States, NENorth America ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 515 o S, 27 o ETropical grasslandZambiaAfrica ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 63 o S, 59 o WBroadleaf evergreen forestBrazilSouth America ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 751 o N, 0 o DeciduousEnglandEurope ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 857 o N, 121 o WConiferousCanada, BCNorth America ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 937 o N, 138 o EMixed (coniferous, deciduous) JapanAsia ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 1030 o N, 90 o EHighlandsChina/TibetAsia ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 1168 o N, 76 o ETundraRussiaAsia ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinent 1290 o SIce cap * * * * * * * * *Antarctica Processing * Print the following pages back to back and give as an out-of-class assignment. Processing Assignment 1.Using the websiteas a tool, research the closest confluence to your home.http://confluence.org 2.Prepare a placard that has: An image of the location. The absolute location (coordinates). A brief description of the place including details about the vegetation zone. Teachers Curriculum Institute Confluences Slips *Make two three copies and cut out. It is not necessary for pairs of students to work in numerical order. 23 o N, 23 o E 31 o S, 129 o E 35 o N, 120 o W 43 o N, 100 o W 15 o S, 27 o E 3 o S, 59 o W 51 o N, o 57 o N, 121 o W 37 o N, 138 o E 30 o N, 90 o E 68 o N, 76 o E 90 o S Student Handout *Make a copy for each student. ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinentExtra Credit 1. How did the photographer get here? 2. What happened to the photographers car? 3. This confluence is north and west of Los Angeles. What city is that? 4. What is the population density here according to the report? 5. What did the photographer say you need in order to find a confluence? 6. Why cant you see very far in these photographs? 7. What famous meridian is this confluence on? 8. What are the three colors of the three explorers of this confluence? 9. What gave the photographer trouble getting to this confluence? 10. What can happen to your lips in this environment? 11. What language is this post written in? 12. Name four countries that staked a claim here. broadleaf evergreen forest / chaparral / coniferous / deciduous forest / desert / desert scrub / highlands / ice cap / mixed / temperate grassland / tropical grassland / tundra Answer Key ConfluenceVegetation ZoneCountryContinentExtra Credit o N, 23 o E DesertLibyaAfrica How did the photographer get here? In jeeps/Land Rovers o S, 129 o E Desert scrubAustralia What happened to the photographers car? It got a flat tire o N, 120 o W ChaparralUSA, CANorth America This confluence is north and west of Los Angeles. What city is that? Santa Barbara, CA o N, 100 o W Temperate grasslandUSA, NENorth America What is the population density here according to the report? 2 to 20 people per square mile o S, 27 o E Tropical grasslandZambiaAfrica What did the photographer say you need in order to find a confluence? A real good explorer/guide to go with you o S, 59 o W Broadleaf evergreen forest BrazilSouth America Why cant you see very far in these photographs? Because the rain forest is so dense o N, o Deciduous forestEnglandEurope What famous meridian is this confluence on? Prime meridian o N, 121 o W ConiferousCanada, BCNorth America What are the three colors of the three explorers of this confluence? Grey, orange, blue o N, 138 o E Mixed (coniferous, deciduous) JapanAsia What gave the photographer trouble getting to this confluence? Dense, almost jungle-like grass o N, 90 o E HighlandsTibet/ChinaAsia What can happen to your lips in this environment? The cold and altitude can make them swell o N, 76 o E TundraRussiaAsia What language is this post written in? Russian o S Ice Cap* * * * Antarctica Name four countries that staked a claim here. USA, Britain, Chile, Argentina, France, Germany broadleaf evergreen forest / chaparral / coniferous / deciduous forest / desert / desert scrub / highlands / ice cap / mixed / temperate grassland / tropical grassland / tundra Vegetation Zone Maps *Print 1 copy of each out and tape up around the room.