- Students may have a difficult time spatially understanding topographic maps because the map takes the land, which is 3-dimensional and places it on a 2-dimensional surface. Therefore, creating a topographic map can be critical to the understanding of how they work. This activity can be done easily in the classroom or in the home. Using a clear plastic shoe box, water, a rock, a piece of plastic cling wrap and a marker, students can make a topographic map of a rock. Mark off each centimeter for the height of the box with a permanent marker. Place a rock in the box. Pour water into the box to the first centimeter. Stretch the plastic cling wrap across the top of the box and draw a curved line on the plastic cling wrap where the water touches the rock. Repeat for each centimeter, being careful not to wrinkle the plastic cling wrap between lines. Creating the map can help students understand how the peaks, valleys, dips and elevation can be transferred to a 2-dimensional map.
- Students can create a cross section of the land surface by looking at a topographic map. Draw a line across a section of a topographic map. For the purpose of creating an interesting cross section, drawing the line across peak on the topographic map is most beneficial. Label the Y-axis of the graph paper with the elevations present along the line. Place the X-axis of the graph paper along the line drawn on the map. Where the contour lines of the map touch the top of the graph paper, a point should be made at the corresponding elevation on the graph paper. Connecting these points on the graph paper will show the students what a cross section of the land looks like.
- Students can be given a simple activity of interpreting map symbols, finding reading index contours, finding benchmarks and looking at how contour lines curve around valleys and streams. Using local topographic maps is helpful, as it gives students a basis for understanding the geography of the community.
