Curated OER
Tracing Highs and Lows in San Francisco
On a topographic map, young scholars identify the scale bar, north arrow, and contour interval. They then locate a hill on the map and make note of the contour lines. Students then locate other places with similar contour line patterns....
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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.
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Volcano Contour Models Activity and Tracing the Highs and Lows in San Francisco
Learners investigate how to draw topographic contours and read topographic maps.They examine the topography of San Francisco and contrast the elevation of different points within San Francisco.
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Planning A Railroad Online Lesson
Students plan a route across Donner Summit using topographical maps in order to understand the challenges involved in constructing the railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this history lesson, students first discover how to read...
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Production of the Lunar Relief Map Project
Students replicate the lunar surface. In this mapping skills lesson plan, students study the topography of the moon. Students then use craft materials to create topographic maps of the lunar surface where the Eagle landed.
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Building A Topographic Model
Students visualize, in three dimensions, features represented by contour lines on a topographic map. They see that the different elevations shown on a two dimensional topographic map can be used to build a 3-D model.
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Orienteering
Everything you wanted to know about orienteering, and more! Take your class on an adventure with this creative activity. You will need to gather some supplies and materials and maps for your specific location, but the unit sounds like it...
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Take a Hike
In this geography skills instructional activity, students respond to 9 questions that require them to read topographic maps and interpret them. The topographic maps are not included.
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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...
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Building a Topographic Model
Students explore the features of a topographic map. They make paper models that portray, in three-dimensions, features represented by contour lines on a topographic map. Students demonstrate different elevations shown on a...
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Mapping Potato Island
Young scholars create their own topographical map using a potato. For this hands on lesson students construct a topographical map and explain what contour lines are using a potato.
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Map Analysis Worksheet
In this map analysis worksheet, students decipher what type of map they are using based on a complete list of criteria. Students then answer multiple questions based on their discoveries.
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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.
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Making Maps
In this map making worksheet, students learn about the science of making maps, which is cartography. They then answer the 11 questions on the worksheet. The answers are on the last page.
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Bathymetric Mapping
Students draw contour lines based on NOAA soundings on a nautical chart. They color the contours and glue label tags for topographic features. They determine that the floor of the ocean is composed of hills, plains, ridges, trenches,...
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From Maps to Models
Fourth graders study topography maps and learn the importance of their contour lines. In this map activity students create their own topography map.
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Using GIS to Construct Water Table Maps and Flow Nets
Students examine how to use GIS software to analyze patterns of groundwater flow. Seepage lake elevation data from the Sand Hills of Nebraska is used to construct a water table map and flow net using Esri's Arc Map software.
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Worksheet for Analysis of a Map
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students respond to 6 short answer questions that require them to analyze the maps of their choice.
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Mapping Ancient Coastlines
Most of this lesson is spent working on the "Bathymetry Worksheet." It includes a graph of the changes in sea level over the past 150,000 years and a bathymetric map of changes in an imaginary coastline over time. Participants answer...
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Building a Topographic Model
Young scholars explore Mount Shasta and various locations on Mars to examine ways geographical data can be represented. They study topographic maps and translating data from 2-Dimensions to 3-Dimensions.
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Cookie Topography
Students construct a cross section diagram showing elevation changes on a "cookie island." Using a chocolate chip cookie for an island, they locate the highest point in centimeters on the cookie and create a scale in feet. After tracing...
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Mapping the Sea Floor
Students review their prior knowledge on topographical maps. Using a map, they examine the sea floor off the coast of San Diego, California. With a partner, they chart the sea floor of an area and use cutouts to create a visual...
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Gilligan's Island
Students investigate topographical maps and match actual landforms to them. In this topographical maps instructional activity students create "Gilligan's Island" to scale then answer questions about it such as what the highest...
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Outdoor Education; Maps, Elevation
Ninth graders use online topographical maps to fill in a chart regarding elevation and contour lines.