It can even mean mapping the distribution of fire-ant mounds in a field or trash on a school playground. For students, making maps should become as common, natural and easy as writing a paragraph. They should be skilled in interpreting and creating map symbols, finding locations on maps using a variety of reference systems, orienting maps and finding directions, using scales to determine distance, and thinking critically about information on maps. Analyzing Geographic Information Analyzing geographic information involves seeking patterns, relationships, and connections. As students analyze and interpret information, meaningful patterns or processes emerge.
Students can then synthesize their observations into a coherent explanation.
Students should note associations and similarities between areas, recognize patterns, and draw inferences from maps, graphs, diagrams, tables, and other sources. Using simples statistics students can identify trends, relationships, and sequences. Geographic analysis involves a variety of activities. It is sometimes difficult to separate the processes involved in organizing geographic information from the procedures used in analyzing it. The two processes go on simultaneously in many cases.