Topographic Map Module


TOPOGRAPHIC MAP MODULE CONTENTS

Box A

FOLDED/ROLLED MAPS
-9 folded Meadville Quadrangles on poster board
-7 rolled laminated Townville Quadrangles
-6 rolled laminated Potter County Maps
-1 rolled French Creek Watershed Map
-1 rolled Digital Shaded Relief Map of Pennsylvania
-1 rolled DCNR Land Cover Map of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

BOOKS/PAMPHLETS
-1 USGS Maps
-1 USGS - What Do Maps Show Folder
-1 Pennsylvania Index to Topographic & Other Map Coverage
-1 Contours & Stereograms w/ 1 "Stereogram Viewer" attached
-1 Reading Maps - Stereograms
-1 100 Topographic Maps
-1 USGS - Elevations & Distances in the United States
-1 The World in a Box-A Public Television Documentary on GIS
-1 How to Teach With Topographic Maps

MANILA ENVELOPES
-1 containing 6 sets of One Hilltop, Three Watershed clues

-1 containing USGS Document: Topographic Map Symbols
-1 containing "Common Topographic Map Colors & Symbols" Key
-1 containing 3 Topo Map Transparencies for the Meadville Quad
-1 containing 2 Topo Map Transparencies for the Cambridge Springs NE Quad
-1 containing 2 Topo Map Transparencies for the Conneaut Lake Quad
-1 containing 6 Topo Map Transparencies for the Townville Quad
-1 containing blank overhead transparencies
-1 containing tracing paper
-1 containing "Topo Bingo" Materials

OTHER
-1 box of Laminated Topographic Map Sections (25 Meadville, 25 Conneaut Lake, 25 Cambridge Springs NE)
-6 white plastic 3-D models
-6 stacked clear plastic containers, the top one of which contains:

-1 Ziploc bag of cut yellow string
-1 spool of yellow string
-1 stereogram viewer (clear plastic "3-D glasses")
-5 floss
-11 rulers
-4 removable tape dispensers
-20 containers of Fun Dough
-8 four-Packs of Vis-à-vis Wet Erase Markers
-2 brown Vis-à-vis Wet Erase Markers
-1 yellow food coloring
-5 blue foam pieces to make a small 3-D model

Box B

MINI BOX 1
-10 calculators
-10 map wheels

OTHER
-1 Other Random Unlaminated Maps & Supplies
-1 Planimeter
-2 clear plastic 3-D volcano Contour Models with lids 


TOPOGRAPHIC MAP MODULE ACTIVITIES
Click on underlined activities to download now!

Topo Map Tidbits
· Students are introduced to topographic maps and learn basic map colors, symbols, and lines. They complete worksheets that focus on topographic map symbols and colors and then locate examples of these symbols on topographic maps.

Stream Order
· Students learn how to determine stream order using topographic maps and then use this knowledge to complete worksheets and determine stream order on topographic maps.

Stream Length
· Students learn how to determine stream length on a topographic map using a map wheel or string.

Watershed Topography
· Students learn about contour lines, elevation, and land forms in the context of watershed topography via three-dimensional models and visual aids. They then use this knowledge to complete worksheets and drawings of topographic maps.

Stream Gradient
· Students use map wheels, topographic maps, reading elevation and contour lines and graphing skills to determine stream gradient.

Watershed Delineation
· Students use prominent topographic map features to delineate the boundaries of a watershed.

Watershed Area
· Students learn three methods to determine the area of a watershed on a topographic map and then practice these methods on worksheets or using topographic maps.

Land Use in Watersheds
· Students use topographic maps to complete a worksheet focusing on the potential effects of land use in watersheds.

One Hilltop, Three Major Watersheds!
· Students use skills from other Topographic Map Module activities to pinpoint the one hilltop from which runoff flows into three different major Pennsylvania watersheds.

Topo Map Explorer
· Students review the major concepts of the Topographic Map Module by navigating through a series of scenarios on a worksheet.


Module Resource Guide Information

Sections

Additional Module Resources

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.

General Activity Information
A list of module activities and an explanation of the activity format (layout). 

Activities
Specific to the topographic map theme, these activities include all the necessary background information for teachers to pick up the activity and do the lesson in their classrooms.

 


Topographic Map Websites
Topo Map Basics
USGS Topographic Maps Home Pages
Reading Topographic Maps
Landforms on Topographic Maps

Online Topographic and Relief Maps
TopoZone
Pennsylvania Topography 3-D Relief Map
Global Topographic Data
Relief Global Slide

Topo Map Activities
USGS Teaching with Topographic Maps: 25 Ideas for Educational Lessons
USGS Map Mysteries Activities
USGS-The Learning Web
Topo Bingo
Building a Topographic Model
How to Make a Topo Map
Map Reading Activity: Topography #1
Map Reading Activity: Topography #2

Ordering Topographic Maps
Pennsylvania Map Lists
USGS Maps Price List
USGS Maps Order Form

TO USE THIS EQUIPMENT:

Step 1: Check Module Availability

Step 2: Complete Our On-line Request Form