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.
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"Note: The information on this page is being retained for technical and historical reference only. The site is not under active maintenance and may include expired information and outdated links."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...
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Topographic Map Activity
An activity to practice interpreting contours.
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...
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.
PBS
Pbs: M, M, M (Maps, Maps, Maps)
This is an online activity on Topographic maps with stated objectives, an activity, background information, evaluation, and resources. This site has information on where you can adjust the activity for elementary or secondary age levels.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Geo Map App Learning Activities: Rules of Contouring
Using GeoMap software, students learn how to read topographic maps, and the rules for using contour lines on a map. Detailed teacher and student handouts are provided. (GeoMap software can be downloaded at: http://www.geomapapp.org/.)
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Topographical Maps, Contour Lines and Profiles
For 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.
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,...
Harvard University
Harvard University: Maps and Mapping
This site is provided for by Harvard University. Students follow a map on a scavenger hunt, create a map of their classroom and their town, learn how to read topographic maps, and discover latitude and longitude in these inquiry activities.
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Serc: Mapping Potato Island
In this hands-on activity, students 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.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Topo Triangulation
In this activity, students will learn how to read a topographical map and how to triangulate with just a map. True triangulation requires both a map and compass, but to simplify the activity and make it possible indoors, the compass...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Trouble With Topos
Students learn how to identify the major features in a topographical map. They learn that maps come in a variety of forms: city maps, road maps, nautical maps, topographical maps, and many others. Map features reflect the intended use....
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: An Investigation Into Geologic Mapping: Quarry Park
In this geology field lab, students will map an area around Quarry 12 and Quarry 13 in Quarry Park. Using a field notebook, students will take field observations to later produce a basic geologic map, topographic map, and a...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Earth's Systems: Map It
Explore different types of maps and how different things are represented on maps in this media gallery from WGBH. Maps are used to help locate different places and different things. Map symbols are representations of larger things in the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Student Created Landform Maps With Glacial Emphasis
An activity where students work together to make topographic maps of a local park. The map must include a key and the grid locations of landforms in the park.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Mapping the World's Watersheds
In this lesson, students use a world map to locate and label major rivers and their watersheds. They then compare watershed shapes and look at typographical features that determine their shapes. A vocabulary list with definitions is...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Topo Map Mania!
Maps are designed to allow people to travel to a new location without a guide to show the way. They tell us information about areas to which we may or may not have ever been. There are many types of maps available for both recreational...
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...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Topography of Fruit
This is an attempt to help students understand contour lines in map-making through the vector of digital photography. This hands-on activity will create an art piece out of fruit that will be analyzed to create topographic maps.
US Geological Survey
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation: Watershed
Explore the characteristics of a watershed through these multiple intelligences learning activities. Activities will help students define a watershed as well as read the features on a topographic map. Site also includes background...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Let Them Eat Cake! Topography Lesson
Contour lines on topographic maps require visual processing to read and interpret. This hands-on activity helps give a tasty mental image.
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."
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.