Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
What Do Maps Show?: Lesson 4 How to Read a Topographic Map Lesson PlanWhat Do Maps Show?: Lesson 4 How to Read a Topographic Map Lesson Plan
Publisher
Curated OER
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Lesson Plan

What Do Maps Show?: Lesson 4 How to Read a Topographic Map

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This What Do Maps Show?: Lesson 4 How to Read a Topographic Map lesson plan also includes:
  • Worksheet
  • Join to access all included materials

Students examine the use of topographic maps as two dimensional representations that show elevations and slopes with contour lines. They read maps of the Salt Lake City, Utah area and complete the associated worksheets that show map signs and symbols, and applications.

127 Views 196 Downloads
Concepts

topography

Additional Tags

topographic maps, social studies
Show More Show Less

Resource Details

Grade
5th - 8th
Subjects
Social Studies & History
2 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Instructional Strategy
Inquiry-Based Learning
Year
2002

See similar resources:

Activity

Reading the World: Latitude and Longitude Lesson latitude and longitude, maps, coordinates on a map, prime meridian, reading maps, equator, globes

Kate Stickley
Find five activities all about longitude and latitude! Use oranges to show the equator and prime meridian, plot birthdays on a map using coordinates, and plan a dream vacation.
4 mins 4th - 8th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Designed
Worksheet

Street Mapping

abcteach
What's around the block? Or down the street? Ask your pupils to tap into their map skills by drafting the area around their home and school.
1st - 5th Math
PPT

Mapping

Curated OER
Introduce middle or high schoolers to topographic maps with this PowerPoint. After a review of longitude and latitude, display and describe contour lines and intervals. Also explain map scale. This is a useful presentation for a social...
7th - 12th Science
Lesson Plan

What Do Maps Show?

Curated OER
This teaching packet is for grades five through eight, and it is organized around geographic themes: location, place, relationships, movement, and regions. There are four full lessons that are complete with posters, weblinks, and...
6th - 8th Social Studies & History
Lesson Plan

What do Maps Show: How to Read a Topographic Map

Curated OER
Middle schoolers identify the characteristics of topographical maps. Using examples, they practice reading them and describing the information they gather from them. They also discover how to use the website from the U.S. Geological Survey.
6th - 8th Social Studies & History
Lesson Plan

What Do Maps Show?: Lesson 1 Introduction to Maps

Curated OER
Students brainstorm a list of the different types of maps they have seen or used. Using the activity sheet, they look through a social studies book to find all the maps and to determine what they are used for. Using a poster, they review...
5th - 8th Social Studies & History
Instructional Video

Map Scale and Ratios

Curated OER
Introduce you map scale and ratios lesson with this informative video. A student demonstrates how to properly use a scale on a map, as well as read a topographic map. This is a fantastic video to show during your map unit!
2 mins 3rd - 8th Social Studies & History
Instructional Video

Reading Population Maps

Curated OER
The students in this video discuss population around the world. They explain how to properly read a population map. Tip: Creating a video like this is a great way to for your students to show what they have learned!
2 mins 3rd - 8th Social Studies & History
Lesson Plan

Playground Mapping

Curated OER
Students convert their physical models of a playground from a previous lesson into a map of the playground that includes a scale and key. They examine and discuss examples of maps, view an image to map photo essay, and create a map using...
3rd - 6th Social Studies & History
Lesson Plan

Teach This Poem: "Maps" by Yesenia Montilla

Academy of American Poets
After examining a physical map of the world, learners conduct a close reading of Yesenia Montilla's poem "Maps." They note the interesting words and phrases, the way the poem is structured, and list questions they might have. After...
6th - 12th English Language Arts
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use