Curated OER
Take a Hike
In this geography skills worksheet, students respond to 9 questions that require them to read topographic maps and interpret them. The topographic maps are not included.
Curated OER
Mapping the Ocean Floor
Students study the bottom structure of underwater habitats and how they can be mapped.
Curated OER
Building a Topographic Model
Students 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.
Curated OER
Water Monitoring Vocabulary
As the title implies, this is a list of vocabulary terms relating to water monitoring. If your ecology class is learning about how to test water quality, this will be an appropriate reference sheet for them. As a bonus, if you live in...
Curated OER
States with Attitude, Latitude and Longitude Dude
Sixth graders identify states whose boundaries are formed by lines of latitude and longitude or natural borders such as rivers. They trace a map of the U.S., and fill in borders, rivers and lines of latitude and longitude.
Curated OER
Mapping Seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska
Students describe major topographic features on the Patton Seamount, and interpret two-dimensional topographic data. They create three-dimensional models of landforms from two-dimensional topographic data.
Curated OER
Groundwater Pollution Site Assessment
Students study how a geologist examines a hazardous waste spill using an actual site. They use site data to map the spill, find its source and determine how fast the spill is spreading.
Curated OER
How Mountains Shape Climate
Students use raw data to make a climatograph; they explain the process of orographic precipitation and the concept of a rain shadow.
Curated OER
Sea Secrets
Students study the following: For centuries, people have been challenged by the mysteries that lie beneath the blue depths of our ocean planet. Very little was known about the ocean until late in the nineteenth century, although nearly...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Contour Maps: Creating Contour Maps by Surveying
In this activity, the students will understand how contour maps are created and appear the way that they do by using various materials to create and compare contour lines of different elevation levels.
Other
Ordnance Survey: Map Zone: Relief and Contour Lines
Discover how to read and show height on maps using relief and contour lines.
Geographypods
Geographypods: Map Skills
A collection of highly engaging learning modules on various topics within mapping skills. Covers map symbols, how to use four- and six-figure grid references, cardinal directions, distance, contour mapping, and drawing cross-sections....
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Choosing the Best Contours
Using GeoMapApp's interactive elevation base map, experiment to find the best contours for sensibly displaying topography in different landscape regions. Young scholars use contours in different landscape regions to find contour...
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."
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Visualizing Topography
This module helps learners 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...
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.
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.
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.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Topographic Map Activity
An activity to practice interpreting contours.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Examining Topography Stream Discharge Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
Students problem solve stream discharge by estimating, measuring, and collecting data. Students graph actual contour lines, and use these measurements to hypothesize stream discharge and sediment load from a restored wetland using a dry...
Math Science Nucleus
Math Science Nucleus: Topographic Maps
For a picture of a topographical map, go to this page. There is some information to help you understand what they are.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Georgetown District, 1906
A contour map from a portion of the USGS Georgetown quadrangle (1906) showing the present topography of the Georgetown district of Colorado. Contour intervals are 500 feet.
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: Georgetown District Upland Restored, 1906
A contour map from a portion of the USGS Georgetown quadrangle (1906) showing the assumed older topography of the Georgetown district of Colorado with older montainous upland features restored. Contour intervals are 500 feet.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Highwood Mountains, 1911
A contour map showing the topography of the Highwood Mountains, Montana. The contour intervals are 200 feet.