Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Sandbox Modeling
Young scholars create landforms using layers of colored sand, then construct a topographic map and a cross-section. This is an investigation that was presented to pre-service science teachers. The format would be similar with students,...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Topography of Fruit
This is an attempt to help students understand contour lines in map-making through the vector of digital photography. This hands-on activity will create an art piece out of fruit that will be analyzed to create topographic maps.
US Geological Survey
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation: Watershed
Explore the characteristics of a watershed through these multiple intelligences learning activities. Activities will help learners define a watershed as well as read the features on a topographic map. Site also includes background...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Let Them Eat Cake! Topography Lesson
Contour lines on topographic maps require visual processing to read and interpret. This hands-on activity helps give a tasty mental image.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Visualizing Topography
Explore the topography of a hill, a valley, and a cliff in this interactive activity featuring visualizations of three-dimensional topography in two dimensions. Adapted from Stephen Reynolds' "Visualizing Topography."
Math Science Nucleus
Math Science Nucleus: Maps as Tools
A series of lessons in which students learn about landforms. Includes interpreting landforms, creating landforms, and information on Angel Island.
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: Teaching About and Using Coordinate Systems [Pdf]
Provides lessons and activities for teaching about the different types of coordinate systems including the Cartesian coordinate system, the Geographic Coordinate System, the Universal Transverse Mercator grid, and the State Plane...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Topos, Compasses, and Triangles, Oh My!
In this activity, students will learn how to actually triangulate using a compass, topographical (topo) map and view of outside landmarks. It is best if a field trip to another location away from school is selected. The location should...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Map Making Basics
This activity will help students discover some features as they create a geologic map.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Choosing the Best Contours
Using GeoMapApp's interactive elevation base map, experiment to find the best contours for sensibly displaying topography in different landscape regions. Students use contours in different landscape regions to find contour...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: South China, 1971
"South China comprises the drainage basins of the middle and lower Yangtze River, the basin of the His Chiang (West River) in Kwangtung and Kwangsi; and the mountainous coastal provinces of Fukien and Chekiang. The division between the...