Topographic map games

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Scaffolded Notes. Science Centers. Study Guides. Task Cards. Test Prep. Thematic Unit Plans. Unit Plans. Word Walls. Don't see what you looking for? Some filters moved to Formats filters, which is at the top of the page. Discuss the rather confusing concept of small-scale maps versus large-scale maps.

A large scale map for example, , is a larger number, or fraction, than a small scale map such as , and shows a larger amount of detail.

A small scale map shows a larger area but a smaller amount of detail. Compare this to more commonly used fractions. A globe might represent the ultimate small scale map. Discuss a trip from your city to another city that is several thousand kilometers away. Start by using a globe. When would you need a map at a large scale versus a small scale? You might need a small scale map to travel from your city to the other city, but then when you reach the other city, you need a large scale map to reach the block of your final destination within that city.

This can also be illustrated by using a Web site with maps that have a graduated zoom function, like Google Maps or Yahoo Maps. Grade Levels : Elementary, Secondary, University Time Required : Expandable from 1 hour to several weeks Materials Required : ,scale topographic maps from a variety of areas, both urban and rural.

What are the major commercial activities of the area shown on the selected topographic map? How are these activities reflected in the cultural, or human-built, features on the map?

Do people want to move to this area? Is this a fast or slow-growing, or declining, area, and why? What forces act to limit or promote growth? Are the forces local, regional, national, or international in scale?

Why are certain land uses concentrated in certain areas? For example, what kind of buildings are near railroad tracks? Near stadiums? Near universities? Near interstate highways? How do natural and cultural features get their names? What organization in each country accepts the names as "valid"? Examine the web site for the U. Board on Geographic Names for their procedures and history. Can names ever be changed? What origin and nationality do the place names on your chosen USGS topographic map have?

Compare the names to the names on another topographic map. What do you know about the people and events that the names depict? How old are the names on your map? Study books on toponyms place names like Names on the Land by George Stewart. Grade Levels : Elementary, Secondary, University Time Required : hours Materials Required : Topographic map, plaster of Paris or other modeling material, water, tray OR Topographic map and clear plastic salad containers, pie covers, or similar items.

Construct plaster models of areas on topographic maps. Flood one inch, draw a contour line in marker, flood one more inch, draw another line, etc. Remove water, look at lines from above, to illustrate the concept of contour lines. Alternatively, use clear salad trays from food stores. Trace one contour line on each tray. When completed, you will have a see-through 3D model of your landscape. See our complete instructions for how to construct a Topo Salad Tray model. Using USGS topographic maps of metropolitan areas, examine the urban area.

Examine older versus newer urbanization. How do you know which is older? What are the differences in the street pattern, and why? Discuss how and why the chosen urban area first began, and how and why it spread. In which direction s is it growing, and why? Was there a river or other physical feature that helped the urban area get its start? Why is older urbanization usually along straight streets and with smaller homes, versus newer urbanization? Discuss popular culture and consumer preferences.

How much urbanization is occurring in your selected city? Is it more or less than other cities of comparable size? What local, regional, national, and international forces are acting on the city to make it change? Aspect refers to the direction north, east, south, west that the slope faces. Create aspect maps by examining contour lines on USGS topographic maps.

Discuss who would be interested in the direction that slopes face. Compare the vegetation on north-facing versus south-facing slopes.

What influence does aspect have on soil moisture, plants, and animal habitat? What aspects are ski areas usually built on? Discuss microclimates of slopes.

Why are ski areas usually located on north-facing slopes? Where would ski areas be located in the southern hemisphere? Discuss earth-sun relationships. Discuss floodplains , rivers, and settlement. How do rivers both encourage with trade and traffic and discourage with flooding settlement?

Why does one bank of a large river aid the growth of a large city, while the other bank is sparsely populated? This might occur if one bank is higher and flood-free, and the other is historically flood-prone.

Omaha grew faster than Council Bluffs and remains the primary city in the region to this day. What is the elevation of both of your selected banks? Discuss the importance of a city site to be on a flood-free site, higher than the floodplain. Examine the New Orleans West, Louisiana ,scale map. Estimate the amount of land below sea level.

Which areas were flooded by Hurricane Katrina in ? Discuss the sustainability of draining of the land for a city site on a river delta.

Discuss site versus situation here and elsewhere. New Orleans is a poor site prone to flooding but has a good situation near the mouth of a large river. Discuss the impact of global sea level rise on New Orleans. Discuss another location that is a good site but a poor situation for example, a well-drained location in the middle of a plain, far from an overland route or river.

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