Unit 1

1. Unit 1 Louisiana's Physical and Cultural Geography

2. Lessons1-3 Objectives • I can use time zones in the United States or the International Date Line to • I can interpret a map or representation of a globe and calculate current times in different places? • I can locate major landforms and geographic features, places, and bodies of water/waterways on a map of Louisiana? • I can students construct a map based on narrative information? • I can students construct a chart or diagram to display geographical information in an organized way? • I can describe and analyze the distinguishing physical and/or human characteristics of Louisiana regions? • I can describe ways in which location and physical features have influenced historical events in Louisiana and the development of the state? • I can explain how or why specific regions are changing as a result of physical phenomena? • I can identify and describe factors that cause a Louisiana region to change?

3. Lesson 1 Basic Map Skills

4. Lesson 1: Basic Map Skills • Recognize basic parts of a map • Understand basic map skills—longitude, latitude, scale, etc. • Examine different geographical features of Louisiana

5. What’s on a map? • Maps have a lot of information. • You need to know how to read them. • There are several parts to a map which explain details and help you really see where you are and where you're going.

6. Parts of a map • Legend • Compass Rose • Cardinal Directions • Scale

7. Legend • Help you decode the symbols used on a map. • Also called a key. • The “clues” on this map include symbols for parts of a fairground.

8. Compass Rose • The compass rose shows the cardinal directions on a map: north, south, east, and west.

9. Scale • The scale helps you measure the distance between two places. When you know the distance you can calculate how long the trip will take.

10. Types of Maps Some Types of Maps are: • Political–shows boundaries, states, countries, that are man made • Reference • Physical –shows natural features, i.e., water, landforms, etc. • Historical • Economic • Road map

11. Location and distance are stated using a system known as latitude and longitude. Two Types: absolute location for a place is the exact spot on the earth’s surface where a place is found. The line of latitude is always read first followed by the line of longitude. Relative location: explains where a place is in relation to another place or places. Location

12. Latitude • Parallels measure a location’s distance N or S. of the equator and run from E to W. • Latitude is measured in degrees from 0 to 90. • Famous line of latitude is the equator and it is 0 degrees. It runs around the center of the earth and divides the earth in half.

13. The tropic of Cancer and Capricorn got their names thousands of years ago due to the sun’s position in relation to the Earth at two different times of the year. (winter and summer)

14. Longitude • Meridians measure a location’s distance E or W of the prime meridian and run from N to S. • Longitude is measured in degrees from 0 to 180. • Famous line of longitude is the Prime Meridian and it is 0 degrees. It runs around the center of the earth through Greenwich, England and divides the earth in half.

15. Time Zones • Earth has 24 time zones. • United States has six. • Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern are the four time zones in the contiguous (connected) United States.

16. The earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours. For this reason, the earth is divided into 24 standard time zones, one time zone for each hour in the day. • The earth rotates towards the east, which means that if you cross into the next time zone to the east, it is one hour later. If you cross into the next time zone in the west, it is one hour earlier.

17. The International Date Line plays an important role in time zones. It is located at 180 degrees longitude. • If you are standing on the east side of the International Date Line it is one day (Monday); however, on the west side, it is a day ahead (Tuesday). • Louisiana (LA) is in the central time zone. • Add an hour as you move east. • Subtract an hour as you move west.

18. Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography

19. Add an hour as you move east • Subtract an hour as you move west

20. Lets Review “What's your zone”

21. Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography

22. Create a time zone question for a partner, switch questions and see if they get the correct answer. 2 minutes go! (you can use loose leaf) Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography

23. Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography

24. Lesson 1 Closure Objective: Can students use time zones in the United States or the International Date Line to Interpret a map or representation of a globe and calculate current times in different places? Did we meet the objective for today? • I can locate major landforms and geographic features, places, and bodies of water/waterways on a map of Louisiana? • I can construct a map based on narrative information?

25. Louisiana’s Geography

26. States that border LA • Mississippi—East (33ْ N) • Texas—West (94ْW) • Arkansas—North (33ْ N)

27. Waterways that border LA East • Upper east--MS River • Lower east-- Pearl River West • Toledo Bend • SabineRiver South • Gulf of Mexico

29. Pangaea

30. Gulf Coastal Plain • During the Ice Age, much of the world’s water was trapped in glaciers. • Ocean levels were about 400 feet lower than today. • The glaciers froze and melted several times. • As the glaciers melted, the Mississippi River flooded the Louisiana coastline. • Mississippi River deposited sediment into the Gulf of Mexico, filling in part of it. • Sediment: suspended particles of dirt and sand carried by rivers • Coastal plains developed. • Coastal plain: relatively low flat region built up by river sediment • Continental shelf: the edge of landmass where the Gulf’s floor drops off into very deep water • The Gulf Coastal Plain is formed of layers of river sediment. • Louisiana lies entirely on the Gulf Coastal Plain.

31. Gulf Coastal Plain Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography

32. Go to prezi/youtube videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc8_I_9Bdbs Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography

33. Lesson 2Rivers and Coastal Erosion Objectives • Appreciate the geography of Louisiana • Identify problems/ propose solutions for Louisiana’s wetlands and coast • Understand the impact of natural disasters on Louisiana and the effects of them

34. Rivers Floodplains • Rivers’sediment creates the land. • Rivers’movement shapes the land. • A floodplain is a low flat valley with swamps, lakes and deciduous trees. It also serves as a reservoir to hold excess water when the river floods. Deltas • Formed when a river flows into an ocean • Mississippi Delta: where the river enters the Gulf of Mexico

35. Coastal Marshes • Wet grasslands formed by river sediment deposited along the coast. • Freshwater, saltwater, or brackish (mixture) depending on nearness to the ocean.

36. Coastal Erosion • One of Louisiana’s biggest ecological problems • More than 35 square miles of land is lost each year. Going…Going…Gone? Causes of Coastal Erosion • As the river abandons its original delta, sediment no longer rebuilds the coastline. • Poundingwavesand severe storms accelerate erosion. • Global warming causes ocean levels to rise, which causes coastal marshes to disappear. • Levee systems force sediment into the deep waters of the Gulf, where it cannot settle and rebuild the coastlines.

37. Coastal Area At Risk

38. Human Interference Damaging Practices • Dammed rivers create reservoirs that trap the sediment that would otherwise refresh the marshland. • The search for oil involves the construction of pipelines and canals that allow saltwater intrusion, which kills the marsh grasses that hold soil in place. • Marshlands may sink because of vast holes created by underground drilling for oil and/or salt. Preservation Measures • Grasses are being planted to keep soil intact. • Sand is pumped onto barrier islands to reinforce them.

39. What are wetlands? Wetlands- swamps, marsh, and other areas that have a natural supply of water and are covered or soaked with water at least part of the year.

40. Uses of LA’s wetlands • Recreational opportunities • Thriving habitats • Wildlife pantry • Water filter (maintains water quality) • Storm buffer/controls flooding • Economic resource Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography

41. Problems facing LA Wetlands • Coastal Erosion • Flooding • Natural Causes: subsidence, wave erosion, salt water intrusion, sea level rising, tropical storms/hurricanes • Human Causes: because of our ever-increasing population, humans have eliminated or converted millions of acres of wetlands for other uses. We drain wetlands to create more land for agriculture and urban development. Louisiana’s wetlands are disappearing at a rate of one football field EVERY 30 MINUTES

42. Louisiana animals are losing their habitat.

43. What can we do to help? • Get Involved! • Save Water (reduced amount of water going through sewage treatment plants) • Dispose of household products, pesticides, and other chemicals carefully • Help to control soil erosion (reduce hard surfaces around your home) • Recycle your Christmas Trees! • Conservation • Regulate Use • Restoration Projects (EX: replanting marsh grasses)

44. Closure Lesson 2 Can students describe and analyze the distinguishing physical and/or human characteristics of Louisiana regions? Can students describe ways in which location and physical features have influenced historical events in Louisiana and the development of the state? Can students explain how or why specific regions are changing as a result of physical phenomena? Can students identify and describe factors that cause a Louisiana region to change?

45. Lesson 3Louisiana’s Natural Resources • Appreciate the natural resources found in Louisiana • Identify Louisiana’s natural resources and locate them on a map

46. Louisiana’s Natural Resources • Mississippi delta is rich with natural resources. Sulphur: • Closely associated with salt domes • Used to make acids, fertilizer, rubber, paper, and other products • One of Louisiana’s important minerals Oil: • Oil production has been the most important part of our economy for many years. Coal: • Created when organic material is compressed by layers of sediment

47. Physical and Cultural Geography Geography: the study of places, their locations, and their physical and human characteristics Physical geography: the study of landforms, oceans, weather, and climate Cultural geography: the study of how people have interacted with, changed, and adapted to different places on the earth Louisiana’s physical geography has shaped its cultural geography.

48. Geographic Location • Southern or southeastern part of the country • Resembles a boot • Florida Parishes stretch from Baton Rouge to Hammond to Bogalusa • Of the 50 states, LA ranks 31st in size • 3,600 square miles of water (1/4 of the state is wet)

49. Boundaries Four natural boundaries: • Mississippi River to the east • Pearl River to the east • Gulf of Mexico to the south • Sabine River to the west Three artificial boundaries: • 33 north latitude: Separates Louisiana and Arkansas • 31 north latitude: Separates the Florida Parishes from Mississippi • 94 west longitude: Separates Louisiana from Texas

50. Louisiana’s Boundaries