SUPPORT

Student reflection activities:

  • Prompt students to relate their understanding of remote sensing to the coral reef mission.
  • Prompt students to record the questions they have, the information they think they know, and ideas for additional investigation of the problem in their reflective journal. 

Assessment:

  • Students define remote sensing.
  • Students identify the key components and processes of remote sensing, including:
    • Energy source
    • Propagation upward of EM energy 
    • Recording of energy by the sensor
    • Receiving and processing station
    • Procession, interpretation, and analysis
  • Students demonstrate their understanding of how the basic concepts of remote sensing relate to the coral reef mission. 

Ideas for math lesson connections:

  • Students draw maps to scale of the 2 ft. by 2 ft. surface area. 
  • Students calculate the area and perimeter of the hot and cold regions on their sensory map.

Related National Education Math Standards:

Ideas for geography lesson connections:

  • Students research, list, and describe the numerous ways in which remote sensing is used to study the earth.
  • Students learn how to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used to study the earth. Free GIS software and support is available for download from the Environmental Systems research Institute (ESRI).  

Related National Education Geography Standards:

Ideas for technology lesson connections:

  • Students research active versus passive remote sensing and compare the two processes.

Related National Education Science Technology Standards:

Lesson: What is Remote Sensing?

Activity sheet: Sensory map (RS-1)

Name(s): _______________________________________________________________

What does the tabletop area look like? Draw a topographical map of what you see,  indicating the high and low areas in the space.

 

After drawing your visible map, indicate the areas that are:

·         hottest with a red “X,”

·         warm with a pink “X,”

·         coldest with a dark blue “0,”

·         cool with a light blue “0.”


Activity Sheet: Defining the Elements (RS-2) - answer key

1. Definition - What is remote sensing? (In your own words)

·         Remote sensing is the science (and to some extent, art) of acquiring information about the earth's surface without actually being in contact with it. This is done by sensing and recording reflected or emitted energy and processing, analyzing, and applying that information (Reference- http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/ccrs/learn/tutorials/fundam/chapter1/chapter1_1_e.html)

2. Elements - What are the main elements of remote sensing?

 

Element in the tabletop mapping activity

This element in the tabletop area is similar to what element in the remote sensing website?

This element represents what part of the remote sensing process?

Part of remote sensing

Hot and cold items under the surface 

Objects on earth's surface

Energy source

Temperatures emitted from hot and cold items 

Emitted energy 

Propagation upward of EM energy

Hand waving over the surface area

Satellite, sensor on board

Recording of energy by the sensor 

Students describing what they are feeling while waving their hands over the surface area

Antenna 

Receiving and processing station

Topographical and sensory map of area

Computer

Processing, interpretation and analysis

Activity Sheet: Remote Sensing Process Cycle (RS-3) - answer key

Draw and label a picture of how remote sensing works. Be sure to include energy sources, targets, remotes sensing instruments, transmission of data, interpretation of data, and application of data (final version).

Activity Sheet: Applying Your Understanding (RS-4) - answer key

Apply your understanding of remote sensing to the Kailua Bay coral reef mission.*

1. What might be sensed from the Kailua Bay to evaluate the state of coral reefs?

·         Visible light

2. What are the possible energy sources on a Kailua Bay coral reef mission?

·         Visible light reflected from the coral reefs.

·         Near-infrared light reflected from the coral reefs

3. Where will the remote sensing instruments be sensing from during the investigation of Kailua Bay?

·         NASA aircraft

4. What might the final data look like?

·         Airborne images of Kailua Bay showing the coastal environment features and locations of coral, sand, rocks, etc. in different colors. The images will show characteristics that we may not be able to see with our eyes.

5. Draw and label a picture of the remote sensing process for studying Kailua Bay. Be sure to include the energy sources, remote sensing instruments, the transmission of data, and data processing.

·         The student picture should have an indication of an aircraft over Kailua Bay, energy sources including the sun transmission of sensory information from the coastal environment to the aircraft (remote sensing instrumentation), data analysis stations, and some indication of the data in a final form. 

 * Teacher note: The above answers are a few of the possible student responses. It is recommended that you review the following websites: http://www.pgd.hawaii.edu/~scott/rsens1.htm

rev September 11, 2001