2. A Term Project for 9th Grade Students at Oak Canyon
Create an Island
A Term Project for
9th Grade Students
at Oak Canyon

3. Just imagine an island where you decide . . .
where it is.
the shape.
how big it is.
what kind of physical features there are.
what kind of people live there .
what the people make and do.
the names of places.

4. Your only limitation is that. . .
The processes you show on your island reflect how the earth really works!

5. Project Objective: Through your study of Unit 1, you should be able to interrelate location, landforms, climate, vegetation, resources and human activity. This will be done by creating an imaginary island where the things mentioned above are integrated and illustrated.

6. Each person must make a colored drawing of the island
Part 1--Map
Each person must make a colored drawing of the island
(minimum size 11” x 17”)

7. A. Latitude & Longitude
Your island must be at least 100 miles away from any major real island or continent.
(1 degree latitude = 69 miles)
Show location on map by drawing one latitude and one longitude line on your map and label the degrees.
35* S
112* E

8. B. Compass Rose
In olden days, cartographers would decorate the margins of their maps and directional indicators to add a unique touch and add personality to their map.
Your compass rose should be more than a cross showing direction. Your compass rose should be unique and give your map personality. It should be related to the theme of your island and give the cardinal and intermediate directions.

10. C. Theme
In real life, people name things after things that are important to them. An island theme gives you a chance to have fun and be creative. Name the features of your island around your theme.
You can choose just about any theme (as long as it is legal for someone your age). Islands depicting alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, or other inappropriate themes will not receive credit!
Your island theme can represent any level of technology (past, present or future) as long as it is realistic.

11. D. Island Shape You can draw a single island or multiple islands.
You can have a whole archipelago!
Your shape may go with your theme, or could be any random shape.
Shade the water around your island(s).

12. E. Legend or Key
Part of your map should have a legend or key where the 20 physical and human features are listed and other symbols are identified
The legend should have three parts: physical features, human features and other symbols
Do not draw the legend on the back side of the map! It should be visible on the map.

14. F. 20 Natural Physical Features
Physical features are any naturally occurring landforms or water features.
Although you may have many of the same feature, the type of feature can only count once toward the 20. For example you may have 5 rivers, but the term “river” only counts once.
Each feature should be given a unique name that goes with the theme of your island.
Each feature should be identified on your map and listed by name in your key.
Note: Vegetation is not a landform. Plants grow on top of landforms

15. G. 20 Human (Cultural) Features
Human features are any recognizable, man made changes to your island
Although you may have many of the same feature, the type of feature can only count once toward the 20. For example you may have 2 highways, but the term “highway” only counts once.
Each feature should be given a unique name that goes with the theme of your island.
Each feature should be identified on your map and listed by name in your key.
Features should be “mapable.” Don’t choose things that move like cars or boats, or are too small to map like buoys.

16. H. Scale of Miles
Scale is one of the most difficult concepts in mapmaking. First, you must decide how big you want your island to be. Once you know how long your island will be, draw a bar scale to show distance on your island.
Will one inch be 1 mile? 10 miles? ½ mile?
Whatever you decide, you have to draw the rest of the features to that scale. If 1 inch=5 miles and you draw a building one inch long on your map, then the building will be 5 miles long!!

17. I. Boundaries
Clearly mark the boundaries of any human settlements (village, town, city, etc.) on your island with shading or colored boundary.

18. J. Street Inset Map of one settlement (city, town, village)
On your main map, draw a 4x4” or 5x5” box.
Draw a scale map of one of your settlements. (Boundaries should match the main map)
Should look like a street map of your settlement with features identified

19. K. Geographically Arranged
Features of your island cannot be randomly place about. Your island should show some geographic thinking!
All 40 features must be on the map.
Would you put a hospital 20 miles from the nearest town?
Can a river flow clear across your island from one shore to the other?
Will a tropical island have a ski resort?

20. L. Artistically Presented
You don’t have to be the best artist to earn full credit on your map. Remember that a map is not a picture of what something looks like, but a generalized representation. Anyone can have a neat, clean looking drawing.
Make sure there are no “empty” spaces in your drawing. There is no such thing as space filled with nothing. You can use colors or symbols to represent land covered with natural vegetation or human activities such as farming or pasture.

21. Part 2- Island Description and Specialty Maps
30 points

22. A. Introduction, Location and Size
Absolute location: Even though your map has your location draw, your written description should also give the absolute location
Relative location: Describe where your island is in relation to other places. How far away is it from other things?

23. Place (Physical and Cultural) and size
You should write at least two full paragraphs describing what your island is like.
How can you describe the physical characteristics of your island?
What cultural characteristics make your island unique?
Size: Describe how big your island is

24. Movement (People, Good, & Ideas)
How is your island connected to other places?
How do people, goods and ideas get around your island?
Is your island self sufficient or do they need to trade with other places?
What ideas come from your island or does your island use ideas from other places?

25. Human-Environment Interaction
All people use the environment to survive!
How do the people of your island use or change nature?
How are the people of your island impacted by the environment?

26. Region
There are many types of regions. Many visitors to Hawaii are surprised to find the islands have a wet side and a dry side. That is an example of a physical region.
What other types of regions can your island have?
What does your island have in common with other places?

27. Special Purpose Maps Natural Vegetation Population Density Rainfall
Elevation
Other Topics
Special Purpose Maps should be draw to scale and include a Title,
Scale, directional indicator, and legend—10 points each

28. Extra Credit
You may also earn up to 20 points extra credit by completing more objectives.

29. Something of your choice
Other Writing
Government and Laws
Economic activities
History
Something of your choice

30. Other Objectives include:
Flag
Graphs
National Anthem
Creation Myth
3-D Model
New Plant or Animal Species
Native Dress

33. There are different turn in dates for different objectives:
Part A-B September 6/7
Parts C/D/F/G September 14/15
Parts H/I/J September 22/25
Parts E/K/L October 4/5
Part 2 A/B + Extra October 10/11

34. I got my term project done early!
Have fun and get started!
I got my term project done early!

35. Some Common Questions:
How big should my island be?
Where should I put my island?
Does my island shape have to match my theme?
How do I label the features on the map?
How do I fill the “empty” spaces on my map?
How many other objectives should I do?
Do I have to do this project?
What angle should I draw the island from?

36. Homework:
Your most important task is to decided where you will put your island.
On the Island Brainstorm paper, list the location of your island using latitude/longitude
Look at the climate map on page to decide what kind of climate your island would most likely be
Think of a theme you might want to use (you can change latter)
Brainstorm at least 25 natural and 25 human features you can include on you island.
Vegetation does not count as a physical feature
Features should be “mapable”