1. Points of Reference Welcome Hawthorne! It’s all about CONTEXT!
In order to manage information, we need context.
To build context, we need points of reference.
This resource focuses on selecting your own points of reference to build:
 Spatial Context
 Numerical Context
 Historical Context
 Conceptual Context
It’s all about CONTEXT! 1

2. Out in the middle of the ocean, sailors looked to the sky for points of reference
Using the sun during the day and the stars at night, a point of reference was a lifeline.
Otherwise, sailors had no sense of direction… no means of knowing which way to go. 2

3. Santa Monica Mountains Palos Verdes Peninsula
Malibu
USC
The City of Hawthorne
Santa Monica Bay
Using this map, describe Hawthorne’s location.
Examples: Hawthorne is located…
…directly east of El Segundo
…southeast of the LA airport
…southwest of downtown LA and USC 
Palos Verdes Peninsula
Port of Long Beach
Port of Los Angeles 3

4. Santa Monica Mountains Palos Verdes Peninsula
Malibu
USC
The City of Hawthorne
Santa Monica Bay
A different map may not label Hawthorne.
Geography Tip: peninsulas are very common and are a great way to orient yourself on a map
And a peninsula will help form a body of water – bay, gulf, sea – that is also a useful point of reference.
The Santa Monica Bay is formed by the Palos Verdes Peninsula with the coastline arcing northwest to Malibu.
What geographic features are labeled on this map to use as points of reference on other maps?
Palos Verdes Peninsula
 peninsula
 body of water
 mountains
 harbor
Palos Verdes Peninsula
Santa Monica Bay
Port of Long Beach
Santa Monica Mountains
Port of Los Angeles
Ports of LA & Long Beach 4

5. Palos Verdes Peninsula There is a lot of information on this map.
Hawthorne, CA
Santa Monica Bay
Palos Verdes Peninsula
There is a lot of information on this map.
Catalina Island
Your Goal:
Build skills of observation and attention to detail
The goal is not to memorize a lot of details, but to know how to pick the details that are most helpful to “finding your way around”. 5

6. Palos Verdes Peninsula
Hawthorne, CA
Santa Monica Bay
Palos Verdes Peninsula
1. What kind of geographic feature added on this map will be useful points of reference?
several islands
Catalina Island
2. What part of this map includes Mexico?
Goal: Build skills of observation and attention to detail
The goal is not to memorize a lot of details, but to pay attention to details in order to pick the ones that are most helpful to “finding your way around”.
The southeast corner of the map shows Tijuana, Mexico …which is located at the US-Mexico border. 6

7. The City of Hawthorne Los Angeles County
The state of California is divided into 58 counties.
The region was first divided into 27 counties on February 18, 1850.
The City of Hawthorne
is part of
Los Angeles County
On a state map, what geographic features will help you find Hawthorne?
Refer to the previous map.
Is it best to just use the geographic features as offered on the slide? Or list the proper nouns?
How many of these features did you use?
 Palos Verdes Peninsula
 Santa Monica Bay
 Catalina Island
 Channel Islands
 US-Mexico border
How many of these features did you use as points of reference?
 peninsula
 bay
 islands
 southern border
 others: _________ 7

8. Where in the USA is Hawthorne?
Which features and locations do you recognize and use as your way to get oriented?
Which states are in which corners of the United States
Washington
Maine
Yes, you can quickly Google information.
However, you need to choose your own points of reference to help you be familiar and comfortable with “how to get around”.
Michigan
With a few strategies and
being familiar with a few basic facts,
you create your own solid foundation
to absorb new information
and build your understanding.
Washington, DC
California
Kansas
Hawthorne
Which states are in which corners?
The northeast corner is Maine.
The southeast corner is Florida.
The northwest corner is Washington state.
The southwest corner is California.
Texas
Florida
Gulf of Mexico 8

9. Which states are in which corners?
Washington
Maine
Which states are in which corners?
northeast corner
southeast corner
northwest corner
southwest corner
Michigan
Washington, DC
California
Kansas
Hawthorne
Can students find Hawthorne?
Do they find Hawthorne by seeing the islands and then find the Santa Monica Bay --- seeing the Palos Verdes Peninsula arcing over to Malibu?
They do not need to use the proper names, but do they use the geographic features of the islands, peninsula and the bay… and the southern border?
Texas
Florida 9

10. Washington Maine Michigan Kansas California Hawthorne Texas Florida
Washington, DC
Kansas
California
Hawthorne
Once again, can students find Hawthorne?
Do they use geographic features as points of reference?
Texas
Florida 10

11. From previous maps that labeled some states…
Which states may see economic benefits?
Which are predicted to see economic damages?
Washington
Maine
Michigan
Kansas
Economic impact – LA County will have “some damage” vs. “severe damage” in Florida and Texas.
Texas
What about LA County & Hawthorne?
Florida 11

12. Where in the world is Hawthorne?
On the US map, notice the “blue specs” off the coast from Hawthorne… Does any students know which islands these are?
-- the Channel Islands to the west and Catalina Island to the south. 12

13. Where in the world are you?
On a world map, which features do you recognize and use as your way to get oriented?
Russia
Canada UK
USA
Japan
China
Egypt
Mexico
India
Brazil
For Hawthorne or Los Angeles --- A key feature is the peninsula of Baja California…
Students might first look for the Americas or the Caribbean islands or Gulf of Mexico, or the Florida peninsula…
Australia
On a world map, which geographic features do you use to find Hawthorne? 13

14. From previous maps that labeled some countries…
Name a country that is mostly Hindu.
Name a country that is mostly Islamic.
Name a country that is mostly Catholic. 14

15. What are your points of reference that keep you oriented in space?
Russia
Canada
France
USA
China
Egypt
India
Brazil
ALERT: If students do not have points of reference that they use/recognize in order to get oriented, then they can pick some now.
As a class, students can agree on several points of reference to use for the year. Then when the teacher or text mentions a mountain range, river, etc. that is not labeled on their reference map, they can practice (and refresh) using the map. For example—the West Indies, “Everyone knows Mexico as one of our points of reference, now go to the islands directly east– and those are the Caribbean islands --which include Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico– and were called the West Indies during the slave trade.”
Australia
Place & Space
Objective: Be able to describe where places are in space. 15

16. Center for Active Learning in International Studies
Student-Driven Analysis │ Tools to Build Skills
Center for Active Learning in International Studies
School of International Relations
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
For more information, contact:
Teresa Hudock
Classroom materials are available free online at
dornsife.usc.edu/calis 16

17. Hawthorne School District
USC CALIS
Attention all recipients of this file:
First, thank you for opening this powerpoint and considering using it! 
Whether the file was sent to you directly from Teresa or relayed by a colleague, CALIS and USC rely on your professionalism for proper credits and sourcing:
Materials developed by or through USC CALIS are made available online via a database and website that serve as a digital file cabinet of teaching resources.
Materials are free in support of teachers and students, and to promote curriculum reform. When teachers or other CALIS partners write, adapt, or collaborate on materials —they are cited. The source information includes their affiliated schools or organizations. As others download and further adapt these materials—all credit and source lines, for teachers as well of for USC CALIS, should remain in tact as the original source.
This resource was first created as part of a partnership with Hawthorne School District, Year 2:
Instructional Leadership Team for Integrating History-Social Science and English Language Arts
Hawthorne School District
Teresa Hudock, Director, USC CALIS or
dornsife.usc.edu/calis
Draft Edition: July 31, 2017 17