Richard A. Shields Elementary School Fourth Grade Class and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Date
2004
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The fourth-grade students from Richard A. Shields Elementary School, led by Ms. Cunningham and Ms. Friends, participated in an exciting field exploration of the Lewes and Cape Henlopen area using GPS technology. Accompanied by parent volunteers and Ms. Roe, the class visited historical landmarks and explored Cape Henlopen State Park to locate where the Beacon Lighthouse fell in 1926. Despite the cold, windy weather, the students engaged in learning about maps, examining a USGS Quad sheet and an aerial photo of the region. They studied the differences in map data and discussed changes to the area over time, particularly focusing on natural events and human activities, such as beach erosion and canal dredging.
The students also delved into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) using ArcExplorer to analyze various data layers, including historical locations, roads, shoreline data, and hydrology. They explored the DataMIL system and Delaware's GIS framework layers to understand how technology can help measure and analyze geographic changes. By creating hand-drawn data layers, the students observed how the landscape had evolved from 1918 to 2002, noting significant changes like the widening of Canary Creek and the expansion of the Cape. The students were then introduced to more advanced GIS tools like ArcView to create their own data, further developing their understanding of geographic analysis and the dynamic nature of the local environment.