Chapter 1 Lesson 3 "Topographic Maps"

Materials:

• piece of scratch paper + pencil
• Making a Topographic Map (Optional for students I will use this for the Anticipatory Set)
• Topographic Maps worksheet

Objective:

• Students will explain how contour lines show shape and elevation.
• Students will visualize the landscape by looking at a topographic map.

Anticipatory Set:* Show the students a lump of clay in an aquarium. If this were a mountain, how would we map it. Have the students try to draw a map of the mountain. Ask if anyone's map shows that it is a mountain or does it just look like a round circle. Have students share their maps. How could you show this round piece of land as a mountain? Next have the students draw the outer edge of the island on a new or different place of the paper. Place a ruler in the aquarium and fill the aquarium up to the 1 inch level. Draw the line formed by the water and the mountain edge. Fill the aquarium up to the 2 inch level. Again draw the line formed by the water and the mountain. Continue this until the mountain is under water. Ask the students if anyone knows what type of lines we just drew? What type of map have we drawn?

Teacher Input:* Show the students a simple contour map. Ask how this map is similar/different to the one they drew in the opening exercise. Contour maps can be very complicated as well. How is this map similar or different from the map they drew in the opening exercise and from the simple map. The elevation numbers is very important to a contour map. Look at this map and tell me if we are looking at two hills or two depressions. Another thing you need to be concerned with is how steep is the land there are two things to keep in mind. Contour Interval, Contour closeness. Show the students the map of the trap line discuss with them the advantages of having the map as we built the trap line. Does anyone know how we knew where we were on the map?

Show the students a GPS and discuss how it works. Discuss the different functions of a GPS. Show the students the GPS we used and that if you put in known points you could use it to stay away from the steep parts of a hillside.

Guided Practice:* Students will complete the worksheet, "Topographic Maps: Terms Review" with their classmates and the classroom teacher.

Independent Practice:* Students will read pages 15-18.

Check for Understanding:* Students will take the quiz on Chapter 1 Lesson 3, "Topographic Maps"

Duration:

30 minutes + 10-15 for Independent Practice (Could be longer if taken for homework).

Alaska Performance Science Standards Addressed in this lesson:

• A.7 Processes that Shape the Earth
  Use models to explain how large scale movements within the Earth's interior cause changes on the Earth's surface
• B.2 Scientific Investigations
  Use appropriate instruments, develop and design a controlled experiment, and conduct research.
  Describe how the local society, culture, history, and environment have affected the development of scientific knowledge.
• C.4 Non-scientific Validation
  Investigate the societal (non-scientific) belief of a community regarding a natural phenomenon.
• D.6 Assess Actions
  Use scientific reasoning to design a solution to a problem or issue and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution.