Quickly shape your own landscape and map its contour intervals. Make your own, accurate topographic maps of mountains, valleys, peninsulas, etc. Easy to reshape and redo and see how different maps correlate to different landscapes. Quicker than most topographical exercises and I love that kids can construct their own without help.
Use this to learn and reinforce answers to questions such as:
❑ How can we map terrain in three dimensions?
❑ What do contour lines on maps show us?
❑ What do the different shapes on contour maps show us?
Once students work through the activity, they can capture their observations using the included Lab Notes or probing questions included in the instructions.
Concepts Addressed
♦ Contour lines are used to map elevation
♦ Contour lines connect places of equal height or elevation
♦ When contour lines are close together the slope is steeper than when they're farther apart.
♦ Parallel contour lines designate a slope
♦ Concentric contour lines designate a hill or depression
VA SOL
ES.1.c, ES.1.d, PS.1m.
Answer Keys and Teacher Notes address most questions and issues that might arise in this study—you shouldn’t have to do any outside research unless you want to.
Materials Needed: Plastic box (shoebox size or similar); gravel (about 1 kg per setup), food coloring; plastic pitcher or bottle (1 per setup); clear lid for box or plastic cling wrap.
Teaching Time: 40 min
Prep Time: Mix colored water
