US Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey: Topographic Maps
"Note: The information on this page is being retained for technical and historical reference only. The site is not under active maintenance and may include expired information and outdated links." This site gives an overview of the...
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas: Perry Castaneda Library: Canada Maps
The University of Texas at Austin provides an extensive collection of maps relating to Canada. Links are given for maps of Canada on many other web sites.
Library of Congress
Loc: Mapping the National Parks
A rich and historically significant collection of maps of various national parks throughout the United States. Features special sections on Yellowstone, Acadia, the Grand Canyon and the Smoky Mountains. Includes historical photographs of...
Other
Ordnance Survey: Map Zone: Relief and Contour Lines
Discover how to read and show height on maps using relief and contour lines.
Library of Congress
Loc: Map Collections 1500 2002
This collection provides maps dating back to 1500 up to the present. The collection includes: cities, towns, discovery and exploration, conservation and environment, military battles, cultural landscapes, transportation, communication,...
Geographyiq
Geography Iq
Detailed geographical information on any country is available at this site. Within the World Map section, you can get facts and figures about each country's geography, demographics, government, political system, flags, historical and...
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: The National Map: 125 Years of Topographic Mapping
Website offers a history of the National Program for Topographic Mapping (1884-2009).
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: Topographic Maps What Can They Tell Us?
Rainforests at the Crossroads: Explore the topographic map of Barro Colorado Island (BCI); find the elevations of different locations and how far apart they are. Also determine the steepness of the land by observing the contour lines on...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Topographical Maps, Contour Lines and Profiles
In this mapping field lab students 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.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Visualizing Topography
This module helps students learn to identify terrain features on topographic maps. Students manipulate animations of hills, valleys, and cliffs to see the terrain from various angles. The module also provides instruction on how to read...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Fairly Simple Geology Exercises
A collection of geology exercises which include relevant background information, complete instructions, student handouts, and answer keys. Topics include rock and mineral identification, Bowen's reaction series, crystal models,...
Math Science Nucleus
Math Science Nucleus: Maps as Tools
A series of lessons in which students learn about landforms. Includes interpreting landforms, creating landforms, and information on Angel Island.
Climate Literacy
Clean: Impacts of Topography on Sea Level Change
Students use web-based animations to explore the impacts of ice melt, specifically changes to sea level. They also use topographic maps to examine the relationship between topography and sea level change by mapping changing shorelines.
Climate Literacy
Clean: Sea Level Rise
Young scholars will learn the difference between sea ice and glaciers in relation to sea level rise using topographic maps.
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: Teaching About and Using Coordinate Systems [Pdf]
Provides lessons and activities for teaching about the different types of coordinate systems including the Cartesian coordinate system, the Geographic Coordinate System, the Universal Transverse Mercator grid, and the State Plane...
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Serc: Mapping Potato Island
In this hands-on activity, learners make a topographic map to describe the shape of a potato. They will gain an understanding of how contour lines are used to describe the shape of the land surface.
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Nagt: Urban Planning 101: Map Appreciation
In this instructional activity learners will begin by looking at a series of maps and they will brainstorm ways the natural world may interact with humans and vice-versa. Students will then come up with a list of features of a city or...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Sandbox Modeling
Students create landforms using layers of colored sand, then construct a topographic map and a cross-section. This is an investigation that was presented to pre-service science teachers. The format would be similar with students, with...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Topographic and Geologic Maps
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How to use topographic and geologic maps.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Maps
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How to use topographic, bathymetric, and geologic maps.
NASA
Nasa: Space Place: Make a Topographic Map
Find out what topographic maps are and how to make them. The instructions are complete with pictures to help you construct a mountain of clay and and a corresponding topographic map.
Math Science Nucleus
Discovering How Landforms Are Created on Earth
Students compare water and ice erosion to discover how landforms are created.