Welcome to the Cartography Home page

Students at the Michael Berry Career Center enrolled in Cartography learn about the history, art and science of map making. Along the way they learn the basics of mechanical drawing as they create high quality charts and maps depicting spatial data about the world around them.

Here are examples of student Cartography Projects

First Assignment

Students learned the basics of technical drawing and hand lettering by creating a Sampler of the letters from A-Z in pencil.

Click here to view Sampler

Second Assignment

Students continued working on their hand drawing skills as they learned about Michigan's Counties and hand drew a map of Michigan with a key to the Counties using pencil and paper.

Click here to view a County Map

Click here to view a the County Key

Third Assignment

Students learneed the art of hand inking a drawing as they produced a base map image of Michigan to use in future projects using technical pens and vellum.

Click here to view an inked Base Map

Fourth Assignment

Students learn about the Survey Act of 1836 and the Township system as well as different systems for describbing property. They prepare a map of a two parcels (one by aliqout parts and one by metes and bounds) as well as the sections and townships surrounding them.

Click here to view a TRS Map

Fifth Assingment

Students explore ways to shade polygons on a map by completing a shading study. They then apply their knowledge to map some U.S. Census data onto their Michigan Counties Base Map. This shaded map is called a Choropleth Map.

Click here to view a shading study

Student Choropleth Maps

(US Census 2000, Michigan County Data)

Click links below for more maps!

Male Population Abandoned Homes

Single Mothers School Aged Children

Minority Ratio Farm Acreage

Home Ownership Sports Franchises

Population Growth Male/Female Ratio

Sixth Assignment

Students explored techniques for projecting images in 3D using some basic drafting techniques. They assembled data they found of interest and created a 3D projected map of the United States, similar to what you would see on CNN or in USA Today.

Click here to view a 3D study

Click here to view a Projected map

Click Links below for more maps!

The Electoral College

Distribution of Restaurant Chain

Distribution of Retail Clothing Chain

2006 Incumbent Defeats

Automobile Accidents

Motorcycle Thefts

Distribution of Billionaires

Seventh Assignment

Students learned to how to prepare data for display on a chart or graph. The chart study allowed them to examine students enrolled at DCMST. The Chart map introduced them to the concept of regional government by mapping data from the South East Michingan Council of Government (SEMCOG)

Click here to view a Chart study

College Degrees Legend

SEMCOG Land Use / Land Cover

Eighth Assignment

In This assignment, Students created a map of the world, with arrows showing their route to visit 6-10 points of intereste of their choosing. Primarily an excercise in using a french curve, the students also learned about global projections as well as gaining some first hand experience with world geography.

Click links to view a Dream Vacation map