Curated OER
Virtual Geologic Field Trip to Griffith Park
Students explore the geological processes and research methodology involved in the evolution and development of Griffith Park. They justify the selection of a geologic hypothesis based on observations.
Curated OER
Contour Map Worksheet #4
There are only four questions here. There is a contour map of Cottonwood, Colorado and the creek that crosses it. Earth scientists tell in what direction the creek flows, identify the highest elevation on the map, draw a topographic...
Curated OER
Gallery Walk Questions on Weathering and Mass Wasting
A set of questions on weathering and erosion are found in this resource. Some of them can be used as discussion topics or lecture guides. There are also suggested activities such as the examination of topographic quadrangles and the...
Curated OER
Working With Electronic Topography Maps
Junior geologists examine topographic maps online and learn how to read them. they answer seven associated follow-up questions. This lesson plan is only a general outline and does not provide the details or the websites that you would...
Curated OER
Common Themes
Tenth graders test usefulness of a model Earth by comparing its predictions to observations in the real world. In this landforms lesson students construct an island from a contour map using model clay then analyze the landscape features...
Curated OER
Making Topographic Maps and Mountain Profiles
Students study how to mark inclines and construct a mountain profile. In this topographic map lesson students mark contour intervals and draw mountain profiles.
Curated OER
"Potato Mountain": Reading/Understanding Topographic Maps
Students investigate how to read topographic maps. In this map reading lesson plan students complete a topographic map activity.
Curated OER
Introduction to Topographic Maps
Tenth graders create a topographic map and see how it represents different elevations. In this topographic maps lesson students read and interpret topographic maps.
Curated OER
3-D Topographic Maps
Students create a 3-D topographic map. In this map building lesson, students use cardboard to create a topographic map of the Catskills mountain region.
Curated OER
Generate an Accurate Landscape Profile from a Topographic Map
Students enerate an accurate landscape profile from a topographic map. They determine the correct interval needed to accurately graph the change in elevation on a single piece of graph paper.
Curated OER
What do Maps Show?
Seventh graders practice reading maps. In this geography lesson, 7th graders compare a topographical map to a picture of the actual place.
Curated OER
Watershed Delineation
Students use topographic maps to delineate a watershed.For this ecology lesson, students draw the boundaries of a watershed onto a map using contour lines as a guide. Their resulting maps are used to evaluate their understanding.
Curated OER
Building a Topographic Map from Benchmarks
In this map activity, students draw a topographic map using benchmark points. They draw contour lines showing 20 foot intervals.
Curated OER
Interior of the Earth
Sixth graders identify and describe the composition and physical properties of the layers of the Earth. They also explain how scientists used the scientific process to know about the center of the Earth. Finally, 6th graders read a...
Curated OER
Stranded along the Coast
Students plot stranding sites onto a map using latitude and longitude as well as compass directions with respect to coastal features. They identify several species of marine animals that might become stranded; distinguish their...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Rocks and Landforms
Eight hands-on lessons module where students learn about rocks and landforms. These inquiry-based investigations explore the different types of rocks, how they are formed, the different types of landforms, and the effects of glaciers on...
Other
National Atlas of the United States
The National Atlas of the United States provides comprehensive information collected by the Federal Government and delivered through interactive maps. Select from a variety of scientific, societal, and historical information to be...
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: 27 Ideas for Teaching With Topographic Maps
A collection of twenty-seven activities that can be done with topographic maps, for elementary up to university level students. Includes many accompanying resources.
NASA
Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Photo Gallery: Venus
Photos of Venus' surface and cloud tops. Includes 3-D surface views. Thumbnail images load quickly and link to larger files for more detail.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Visualizing Topography
Explore the topography of a hill, a valley, and a cliff in this interactive activity featuring visualizations of three-dimensional topography in two dimensions. Adapted from Stephen Reynolds' "Visualizing Topography."
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Jason: Make a Topographic Map
Rainforests at the Crossroads: Make a topographic map of a simulated terrain, which consists of your classroom floor and two boxes of different sizes.
US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: Enviro Mapper Store Front
Lets kids create their own maps, down to the square mile, anywhere in America, choosing various features from water discharges to hazardous waste to roads.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Topographical Maps, Contour Lines and Profiles
In this mapping field lab middle schoolers determine the elevation of a given object in a designated area on the school campus using cartography tools. Then they use of these tools to create a contour map of the area.
Purdue University
Purdue University: San Francisco Bay Area Earthquakes
Students use geologic fault maps of the San Francisco Bay Area to find relationships between tectonic plate fault lines and landscape features, topographic features, and epicenters of past earthquakes.