1. Content: Louisiana’s Identity: This is Louisiana
Claim: How does physical geography impact a state’s cultural and economic identity?

2. Students will be able to:
examine how geographic, economic, political, and social changes have shaped Louisiana’s identity.
examining Louisiana’s geography to understand how Louisiana’s physical landscape has shaped Louisiana’s cultural identity.
analyze various maps to examine how the Mississippi River and other natural resources have shaped Louisiana’s natural environment, economy, and political boundaries.

3. Map Links

4. Louisiana of the Past French LA (page 3)

5. Analysis Tool Observe (page 2)
Ask students to identify and note details
Describe what you see.
What do you notice first?
What graphical elements do you see?
What place or places does the map show?
What, if any, words do you see?

6. Analysis Tool Reflect (page 2)

7. Louisiana of the Past Spanish LA (page 3)

8. Louisiana of the Past French LA Again (page 3)

9. Louisiana of the Past Part of the US (page 3)

10. Louisiana of the Past Formation of States (page 3)

11. Latitude Lines (page 5) Run east and west
Measure how far north or south of the equator a place is.

12. Equator (page 5) Equator
is 0 degrees latitude.
It is an imaginary belt that runs halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole.
Equator

13. Longitude Lines (page 5)
Run north to south.
Measure how far east and west a place is from the prime meridian.

14. Prime Meridian (page 5) is 0 degrees longitude.
Passes through Greenwich, England.

15. Louisiana’s Location (page 5)
LA is located between 28º N and 33º N latitude
89º W and 94º W longitude

16. New Orleans’ Location (page 5)
30º N and 90º W
New Orleans is located at a point of confluence (point where a latitude line intersects a longitude line)

17. Confluence Project
Visit website to see pictures of 30º N and 90º W (located in New Orleans east)

18. Maps New Orleans
Use link to see a satellite image of 30º N and 90º W (green arrow)
Use Google maps to see New Orleans map and satellite image

19. Louisiana’s Natural Boundaries (page 5)
Mississippi River – northeast (at top)
Pearl River – southeast (at bottom)
Gulf of Mexico - south
Sabine River and its reservoir, Toledo Bend – west

20. Louisiana’s Natural Boundaries
Mississippi River
Pearl River
Sabine River
& Toledo Bend
Gulf of Mexico

21. Louisiana’s Other Boundaries (page 5)
Boundary between Louisiana and Arkansas is set at 33º N latitude
Boundary between Louisiana and Mississippi is set at 31º N latitude
Boundary between Louisiana and Texas is set at 94º W longitude

22. 33º N
94º W
31º N