Topographic map activity but will i get in trouble with students parents. Fourthgrade students and other budding geologists then will use what they learn to do a topographic map matching activity. The digital elevation model on the poster is helpful in. Features are shown as points, lines, or areas, depending on their size and extent.
Now with a pen in the other hand, start at the top of your knuckles and start drawing contour lines. Geological survey reading topographic maps interpreting the colored lines, areas, and other symbols is the. Packed with lots of information, geography model ideas, activities and geography worksheets to help you learn. The quality of students performance on reading a topographic map b will give an indication of their understanding of the concept of topographic maps. Topographic map activity give kids permission to draw on their hands for the sake of learning. Just like hills and mountains, your fist has a topography of its own. Point out the flattest and steepest areas on the crater lake map. This lesson will help students learn how to read that map. The following list provides some guidelines for effectively constructing a topographic profile and uses the topographic map and profile line provided to the left you can download a pdf of the map and profile to work from acrobat pdf 23mb jul18 11.
Sep 27, 2018 sketch in the line on the map or locate the line that is provided. Walking that part of the line would be much more difficult. Show students map images and introduce the activity. One special kind of map is called a topographic map. The corresponding elevation plot shows a steep slope. An experienced mapreader can also spot hills and peaks on the topo map. This directory level site includes links to various resources on topographic maps, how to obtain them, read them, their history, and map projections and includes links to various teaching activities and modules. After drawing two contour lines completely across your map, have your instructor check your work before you proceed further. Your map must also include the following at minimum. If you were absent you may use this video as your data that would be acceptable. Topographic maps can present a major challenge in the classroom.
They serve the purpose of base maps and are used to draw all the other maps. Invite an elder to visit and talk about the local place names, including the reasons people chose to settle in the area. A digital terrain model of salt lake city is shown on the poster. They are sometimes called level lines because they show points that are at the same level. To ensure reproduction of this page at 100%, please ensure any default print commands affecting reproduction size e. Jan 20, 20 in this video we begin by looking at a topographic map of pikes peak in colorado. They will view a video lesson, take a related followup quiz, and participate in three interesting activities to reinforce newly.
Use symbols to identify other features on the contour map of your area. A topographic map is printed on a flat piece of paper yet it provides a picture of the terrain and man made features through the use of contour lines, colors and. Contour map generation in the field, points and their elevations are measured using automatic levels, total stations, or gps devices geotechnical engineers use these points to generate topographic maps. Suggestions for teaching this lesson 3, 35minute sessions on the poster is atopographic map of salt lake city. Then compare this measurement against what you get by using the measure tool above the map. Mark four points two on the endpoints, and two between and draw the contours. This introductory lesson serves to introduce what a topographic map actually is a representation of a 3d area on a 2d surface and have students create one by pouring progressively more water into a plastic mold, where they then.
The scale of the map tells us by how much it has been reduced in size. Extension this lesson is followed up with students working with actual topographic maps, identifying various aspects of the landscape. They will also learn how to construct, read and interpret a topographic map. Every map is smaller than the actual area it represents. They can show us how something looks in three dimensions with simple, flat drawings. The basics topographic maps produced by natural resources canada nrcan offer detailed information on a particular area and are used for several types of. The most frequently used canadian topographic map is at the scale of 1. A city map shows streets and major landmarks for that city, like hospitals and parks. Construct a topographic map of the egyptian pyramid of khafre a topographic map is a twodimensional representation of a threedimensional space. Readingunderstanding topographic maps school of forest. Divide 300 feet by 3 to get one contour every 100 feet. Make sure students understand that contour map s, though 2dimensional, use contour lines to show elevation above sea level.
Display the usgs topographic map symbols pdf for students. Topography for kids geography worksheets, topographic map. It has contour lines to show the shape and elevation of the land. Understanding topographic maps, watersheds, and the. If you would like, you can make it a themed island, living community, theme park or whatever you choose. This social studies worksheet explains how topographical maps work and why theyre important in geography. One way to help students understand how contour lines works, is by drawing them on your hand. Constructing a 3d topographic map activity this exercise uses clear plastic takeout lids, each marked with a different elevation line, and stacked to produce a 3d topographic map. I then build a clay model of a mountain and create cross. Topographic salad tray model activity an inexpensive and easy way to create a threedimensional model using topographic map contours. Mar 20, 2016 learn how to draw contour lines by first plotting elevation points. The worksheet gives an example of what a map might look like and it also lists the key features needed to make a good map. Make sure students understand that contour maps, though 2dimensional, use contour lines to show elevation above sea level. Crosssections are constructed using the contour lines on a topographic map.
A topographic mapis a representation of a threedimensional surface on a flat piece of paper. Points a, b, c, d, and x represent locations on the. In this lesson, students complete a very fun lab where they use a specially designed container and a lot of water to build a topographic profile. Base your answers to the following questions on the topographic map below. In this worksheet, you will draw two crosssections from the topographical map of mt etna included on page 3. The contour lines then portray the 3 dimensional shape of the surface of the land.
This section also involves calculations and drawing of cross sections, make sure you have all the necessary equipment available. The following list provides some guidelines for effectively constructing a topographic profile and uses the topographic map and profile line provided to the left you can download a pdf of the map and profile to work from acrobat pdf 2. A topographic map is often a very large scale map that shows the shape of the lands surface. If you were taking a hike along a hillside and not walking. Then ask students to use those symbols to identify other. Topography this is a topographic map with contour lines that show points that are on the same level. The map images and activities in this packet can be used in various courses, including geography, history, math, art, english, and the sciences. Eighth grade lesson topographic maps lab betterlesson. This worksheet has 15 earth science regents questions related to the analyzing topographic maps. Topographic map skills remember in some sections e.
When your hand is in a fist, that represents the landscape, when it is flat, it represents the map. Your job is to construct a topographic map of this location. The map must contain a legend key and a labeled contour interval, and colored contours. Topography for kids geography worksheets, topographic. For example, a state map shows cities, major roads, national parks, county lines, etc. Topographic maps and countours illinois institute of. Displaying all worksheets related to topographic map. Click here to watch a video of the lab that we did in class. Sketch in the line on the map or locate the line that is provided. It is the onestop shop for learning about, using, and teaching topographic map concepts. Chapter 2 reading topographic maps and making calculations. The key on a topographic map uses conventional signs to.
One way to understand what all the squiggly lines are for is to complete the topographic hand activity. Chapter 5 topographical maps you know that the map is an important geographic tool. Display the images of topographic, or contour, maps. Handson bathymetry and topography activities importance. Topographic maps use contour lines, lines of equal elevation, to represent the vertical dimension height of the landscape. T if possible, obtain a topographic map of your area for activity procedure 8. The map skills worksheet comes with some blank templates for drawing your imaginary map on if you wish. A powerpoint that goes over how to read topographic maps and then at the end allows students to practice reading the topographic map and answering questions about the specific map. Contour lines are imaginary lines that connect places of equal elevation.
I then build a clay model of a mountain and create cross sections representing different elevation layers. In this lesson, students will learn the use and importance of topographic mapping. This can either be done with whiteboards or print them out and use them as a station rotation activity. The topographical maps, which have been referred to in chapter 1 are of utmost importance to geographers. Introduction to contour maps national geographic society. They also show physical features such as forests, rivers and lakes and humanmade features such as roads, railways and settlements. They will be presented with activities that will help them to describe a topographic map, explain the different information a topographic map contains. Discuss the maps key, the contour lines, and landscape features depicted. To be able to use a map to find your way, you must first determine where your current location is on the map. Activity sheet 1 understanding catchments for further information contact ipswich city council phone.
The top of this drawing is a contour map showing the hills that are illustrated at the bottom. The focus of this lesson is on how to read and use topographical maps. Educate your students about topographic maps with this lesson plan. Learning to use a topographic mapis a difficult skill, because it requires students to visualize a threedimensional. The top of this drawing is a con tour map showing the hills that are illustrated at the bottom. Very important in visualizing very small microscopic and very large earth, solar system, galaxies, the universe features. Before drawing your map, please read through the following explanation and description of topographic maps. Follow this link to a java applet that will help you with this contour map. Compass direction, measuring with map scale, contour interval, elevations of contour lines, possible elevations between contour li. Draw a line between the two points bounding the desired profile area. This introductory lesson serves to introduce what a topographic map actually is a representation of a 3d area on a 2d surface and have students create one by pouring progressively more water into a plastic mold, where they then use a plastic.