1. Geography Unit #1 Lesson 2
Locating Professional Sports Teams in the US

2. Read the Lesson Description Click <here> when ready
The proliferation of professional sports teams in the United States and the jockeying for the “right” location, i.e. the newest stadium, the best tax benefits, the largest television audience, and even the opportunity for local fans to see a professional team in action, makes the geography of professional sports teams a never-ending attraction for both fans and students of geography. Students will utilize choropleth mapping skills to arrange the geographic data; they will analyze the map to determine the factors which impact the location of the various sports teams.
Read the Lesson Description
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3. Objective Question & Standard
Lesson OQ – What factors impact the location of professional sports teams?
Geography Standard 1 – Maps
Benchmark -   Identify geographic patterns which emerge when collected data is mapped and analyze mapped patterns through the application of such common geographical principles as hierarchy, accessibility, diffusion and complementarity. Apply the analysis of mapped patterns to the solution of problems.
Copy Objective Question in Notebook
Read the Standard
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4. Copy key term into notebook Click <here> when ready
Key Terms
Choropleth Map - a thematic map in which areas are shaded or patterned in proportion to the measurement of the statistical variable being displayed on the map, such as population density or per-capita income.
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5. Copy the Lesson Objective into Notebook
Speculate on the geographical aspects of professional sports in the United States.
Arrange geographic data in spatial form (create a choropleth map).
Analyze spatial data for patterns of accessibility of professional sports by the major US Population centers.
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6. Opener - Favorite Sports Teams
Answer question in notebook
What is your favorite team?
Where is the team located?
Have you attended a game of your favorite team?
How far did you travel to get to that site?
Do some cities have more than one professional team? Why?
Label in notebook. Answer all questions in notebook
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7. TASK 1: Handout #1 – Professional Sports teams in the US (2002)
Pick up Handout #1. write heading in notebook and answer all questions
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Answer questions in notebook –
Do you see any patterns with the information as it is arranged in this format?
Why do some states have many teams and some states are not even listed?

8. TASK 2: Handout #2 – Professional Sports in the USA
Look at the legend/key. What are the numbers for each segment?
Select 5 colors – FILL IN THE BUBBLES
Darkest color for the highest number
Lightest color for the lowest number
COLOR IN THE MAP BASED ON THE DATA FROM HANDOUT #1
PICK UP HANDOUT #2
COMPLETE THE STEPS FOR TASK 2
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9. COPY AND ANSWER QUESTIONS IN NOTEBOOK
Think About It!
Copy and Answer in notebook –
Does this arrangement show patterns?
What patters does the arrangement show?
What conclusions can you draw from the patterns?
COPY AND ANSWER QUESTIONS IN NOTEBOOK
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10. TASK #3 - Proximity to other teams
SELECT ONE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM FROM EACH OF THE TOP FOUR SPORTS – FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, HOCKEY
Use an atlas or the internet to determine how many professional teams are located within 200 miles of each city that has a professional team in a particular sport
For example – The Philadelphia Eagles – What other football teams are within a 200 mile radius
COMPLETE TASK #3 IN NOTEBOOK
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11. TASK #4 - Who has no sports teams?
In your notebook, create a list of the states that do not have a professional sports team.
Copy and Answer in notebook
Do these states have anything in common
COMPLETE TASK #4 IN NOTEBOOK
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12. COMPLETE TASK #5 IN NOTEBOOK MAPS ARE ON NEXT TWO SLIDES
TASK #5 - Comparison
Compare your map of the Professional Sports Teams Map with the following 2 maps.
USA at Night
Geographic Map of the US
Copy and Answer the following question in your notebook for BOTH maps.
Do you see any correlation with the data on the maps?
COMPLETE TASK #5 IN NOTEBOOK
MAPS ARE ON NEXT TWO SLIDES
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13. Map of USA at Night

14. Geographic Map of US

15. TASK #6 - Class Work Activity
Complete –
Constructed Response Assessment
3-2-1 Wrap-Up Activity
PICK UP WORKSHEET AND TURN IN
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16. COMPLETE ON BACK OF TASK #6 WORKSHEET
Exit Ticket
Why is a choropleth map a good vehicle for analyzing geographic data?
COMPLETE ON BACK OF TASK #6 WORKSHEET
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17. Homework
Read Standard #1 and Answer questions

18. Extra Credit #1
Look at the list of Sports Teams. How man of the Professional Sports teams names are related to geography or history of a city or state.
Make a list, explaining why they are related.

19. Extra Credit #2
Create a list of stadiums that have geographic or historic connections
Example – Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh
Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers intersect at the stadium