The usgs was entrusted with the responsibility for mapping the country in 1879 and has been the primary civilian mapping agency of the united states ever since. In this activity, students will be cutting layers of a topographic map pattern out of colored construction paper or foam layers and gluing them together into a mountain to demonstrate how each contour line represents points of equal elevation. Our hunt app is trusted by the most capable hunters and is the highest rated app for android and ios devices. Worksheets are topographic map work, topographic map reading practice work, topographic maps, misp topographic maps work 2, topographic maps, map reading activity topography ff i, topographic map. Locally, you can buy topographic maps at the horsham book swap. Topographic maps use contour lines, lines of equal elevation, to represent the vertical dimension height of the landscape. Topographic maps activity topographic map activities. Browse and view free us geological survey, us forest service, and nrcan topo maps for the us and canada. A map where contour lines, along with other topographical features, are drawn to depict a certain terrain or area is called a topographical or contour map. Show students map images and introduce the activity. Topographic maps include the accurate representation of places, directions, distances and elevations. And search more of istocks library of royaltyfree vector art that features abstract graphics available for quick and easy download. This directory level site includes links to various resources on topographic maps, how to obtain them, read them, their history, and map projections and includes links to various teaching activities and modules.
Color the elevations of the topographic map, then answer questions about the map. The lines running up and down the map northsouth are called eastings because the numbers increase the further east they are. This is a simple and effective way to introduce topographic maps. Click draw point button show example and click a point on the map.
Then compare this measurement against what you get by using the measure tool above the map. On these maps contour lines illustrate the variations in elevation of surface. What are the names of the eight adjacent quadrangles. Learning to use a topographic mapis a difficult skill, because it requires students to visualize a threedimensional. How do i find, download, or order topographic maps. Earth science topographic map worksheet for kids earth science topographic map worksheet for kids 1 base your to the following ion on isoline topographic map practice worksheet on other maps and globe ch 1 resources worksheets practice tests s topographic map worksheetstopographic map worksheetscontour map worksheet 2 for 6th 9th gradetopographic. Give students access to topographic maps of the surrounding area and any other areas the students frequently travel to. How to download historical usgs topographic maps with topoview. Select boxpoint radio button show example next to use map option. Ppt green river topographic map activity powerpoint. The activity is used in an online undergraduate introductory physical.
Click draw rectangle button show example, click a point on the map and drag to draw a rectangle. Users have the option of selecting two different kinds of topographic maps. These vertical and horizontal lines are all given twodigit numbers in the map margins called area references. Introduction to online topographic maps activities. One special kind of map is called a topographic map. Which mountain has an old volcanic crater at its top. It has contour lines to show the shape and elevation of the land. But our digital topo maps with contour lines and detailed elevation information are also excellent for fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities. One of the neatest things about usgs topographic maps is how some of them date back to 1884. Displaying all worksheets related to reading topographic map. Contour map generation in the field, points and their elevations are measured using automatic levels, total stations, or gps devices geotechnical engineers use these points to generate topographic maps. With the exception of gnis, each site has an option for toggling on map indices showing an outline of all the maps, though you might need to zoom in to see the outlines.
The features of a map are dependent upon the intended use. Learners discuss different types of maps, their similarities and differences. General activity information a list of module activities and an explanation of the activity format layout. It is the onestop shop for learning about, using, and teaching topographic map concepts. Today, more than 100 years and millions of map copies later, topographic mapping is still a central activity for the usgs. Download this seamless topographic map vector illustration now. Point out the flattest and steepest areas on the crater lake map.
Lesson 4how to read a topographic map orange county water. Introduction to topographic map activities lesson plan for. The most frequently used canadian topographic map is at the scale of 1. Worksheets are topographic map reading practice work, topographic maps, topographic map work, map reading activity topography ff i, topographic maps, topographic map reading work, misp topographic maps work 2, reading topographic maps. Maps should be printed on a largeformat size paper, for example the a0 paper size 84. To print a fullsize topographic map, download the map from our indexes above and use the following specifications when placing your order with a print provider. This activity is a fun way to bring topographic maps into students daily lives.
Learning how to make a topographic map is a great way to show kids how threedimensional objects can be represented on a twodimensional page. Finally, topographic maps are overprinted with grid lines to help us locate the different places. Maps are a big part of the year five social studies curriculum, but maps in a textbook can seem boring and hard to conceptualize for many students. Download all dates and scales of usgs topographic maps both current us topo maps and historical topographic maps free of charge from the following applications. Contour map download free geography activity jumpstart. Ppt topographic map activity powerpoint presentation. Topographic maps are a signature product of the usgs. Jun 4, 2015 looking at a topographic map for the first time can be a confusing experience.
A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. Students download a geopdf from the national map and install the terrago geopdf toolbar. Teacher background mapmakers have devised an ingenious way to show threedimensional topography on a two dimensional flat surface with the use of a topographic map. Topographic maps creek connections allegheny college.
This is a basic introductory online exercises that introduces students to digital topographic maps. How to download usgs topo maps for free gis geography. Topographic maps station lab students will love you for providing them with a handson experience when learning about topographic maps. Some of the worksheets for this concept are topographic map work, topographic map reading practice work, topographic maps, misp topographic maps work 2, topographic maps, map reading activity topography ff i, topographic map work, topographic maps and countours. Topographic map activity with images topographic map. Earth science topographic map worksheet key the earth. Introduction to online topographic maps serc, carleton college.
Topographic map reading worksheet answers topographic map worksheet topographic map reading worksheet answers topographic map worksheet middle school contour lines topographic map worksheets. Inspiring topographic map worksheets printable printable images. Displaying all worksheets related to topographic map. See 6 best images of topographic map worksheets printable. Maps are a big part of the fourth grade social studies curriculum, but maps in a textbook can seem boring and hard to conceptualize for many students. Collecting and processing photographs to create dems can be done with relatively low cost and in near realtime minutes to hours, which is an advantage when monitoring volcanic activity. Building on the success of more than years of usgs topographic mapping, the us topo series is a new generation of maps of the american landscape. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. You need to take one more step, however, to ensure that this file remains available for future use.
This section also involves calculations and drawing of cross sections, make sure you have all the necessary equipment available. Students download a geopdf from the national map and install the. Display the images of topographic, or contour, maps. To be able to use a map to find your way, you must first determine where your current location is on the map. Geological survey usgs produced its first topographic map in 1879, the same year it was established. Us topo topographic maps are produced by the national geospatial program of the u. View all of our highquality shaded relief usgs topo maps, forest service maps, satellite images, and custom map layers for free. Construct a topographic map of the egyptian pyramid of khafre a topographic map is a twodimensional representation of a threedimensional space. This lesson will explain the different types of maps used to interpret and study our world answers to topographic map worksheet. Students also problem solve to find potential pathways up a mountain by calculating gradients. If youve ever used any standardsized usgs topographic map, you are well aware of the oversized dimensions that such maps typically come in.
Customprinted topographic topo maps, aerial photos, and satellite images for the united states and canada. Using a topographical maps cdrom program students create their own map. They use the toolbar to conduct a series of measurements. There is a printable worksheet available for download here so you can take the quiz with pen and paper. The topographic map remains an indispensable tool for government, science, industry, and leisure. Suggestions for teaching this lesson 3, 35minute sessions on the poster is atopographic map of salt lake city.
Topographic map fact sheets, relevant articles, other teaching resources and information about ordering topographic maps from the us geologic survey as well as a list of topo map web sites are included in this section. For example, a state map shows cities, major roads, national parks, county lines, etc. People use topographic maps for things like planning a hike and purchasing a piece of property. They were essential for integrating and analyzing placebased information, and were widely used by receationalists. Reading topographic map worksheets lesson worksheets. The project was launched in late 2009, and the term us topo refers specifically to quadrangle topographic maps. Unless you want topo maps in alaska, they are based on 1. Topographic map lab answer key file 20756 is a 510kb acrobat pdf uploaded. Topographic map skills remember in some sections e. A city map shows streets and major landmarks for that city, like hospitals and parks.
Playdough topo overview students make a clay model volcano, and then create a topographic map of it. After 125year legacy of topographic mapping 18842009, the usgs embarked on an innovative future of integrating historical maps with computergenerated maps from a national. Make sure students understand that contour maps, though 2dimensional, use contour lines to show elevation above sea level. Displaying top 8 worksheets found for topographic map. The topographic maps station lab is a plug and play unit that is meant to accompany my free mad science station lab series.
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