ISLAND TOPOGRAPHY MAP
Name ______________________________________
Create Your Own Island Topography Map- SUMMATIVE GRADE
For this assignment, you will be creating a topographic map and three-dimensional model of a fictional island.
Draw a fictitious topographic map. Include on the map the contour interval, index contours, and at least one
of each of these: depression, valley, river, steep side to a mountain or hill, gentle slope and a peak elevation
Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Piece of plan white paper
Pencil
Colored Pencils
Ruler
Materials to create a 3-D model. Examples may include- cardboard, foam, Styrofoam plates, clay,
playdoh, paint, glue, tape, markers or other items found around the house.
Procedure:
PART ONE INSTRUCTIONS- Due by Tuesday 2/1
Follow instructions to create a topographic map of an imaginary island.
1. On a piece of white computer paper, lay the paper landscape, mark off an area 9 inches across and 6
inches top to bottom leaving room on the right side of the paper for the legend. This will serve as your
frame.
2. Give your island a creative name. Place it on the top of the paper.
3. Draw a compass rose in the lower right hand corner outside of the frame.
4. Use a scale of one inch is equal to four miles. Indicate this scale in the lower left hand corner.
5. Create a contour statement for the map. Example: Contour Interval= 10 feet (think an interval that
would make sense for the map you are creating)
6. Include the following features on the map:
a. Statement of contour interval
b. Labeled index contours
c. A minimum of 6 contour lines
d. A minimum of one each- depression (use hachure marks), valley, river, steep side to a mountain
or hill, gentle slope and peak elevation.
e. A legend to show at least four landmarks or features, such as roads, buildings or a lake. Place it
along the right hand edge of the paper.
f. Create a profile of the map. Draw a straight AB line using a ruler from one side to the other
then use it to make a profile. Do this on a separate sheet of paper.
g. The final copy should not have any eraser marks.
h. Refer to the grading rubric to ensure all required elements have been included.
Colors- the map must be colored using colored pencils
Color the map accordingly:
Brown for contour lines
Black for roads, railroads, buildings, bridges
Blue for bodies of water
Green for lands such as a park or wooded areas.
PART TWO INSTRUCTIONS- Due Monday 2/7
1. Make a photocopy of your map. (I will make them when I approve Part 1) This is very important as you
will need to cut your map up and you don’t want to destroy your original. Remember, to get full credit,
you must submit both a map and a model.
2. On your photocopied map, cut out the lowest elevation which should be the outermost and biggest
circle, or contour line. There will be smaller circles in the middle. Ignore those for now. Trace your cutout on the material you are making the model out of and cut it out. This is the base of your 3-D model.
3. Repeat this procedure for the rest of the lines on the topographic map. Cut out each contour line
circle, trace onto the material, and cut out the material. Your shapes should get smaller and smaller.
Go ahead and discard your cut-up map pieces once you have the cut-outs to keep. Number the
cutouts. Be sure to keep the cutouts stacked up in order, so the biggest piece is on the bottom.
4. Glue or attach each cut-out to one below it.
5. Add color to show the features such as rivers, lakes, roads, etc. and label your model.
Be creative and have fun!
Name _______________________________________ Due February 7, 2022
Rubric for Island Topographic Map Project - Must be turned in with your project
Excellent (1)
Average (1/2)
Not evident (0)
Map has a name for the
imaginary island.
Name of imaginary place is on top
of map clearly written, neat and
eye catching.
Name of imaginary place is on map
but not at the top.
Name of place is missing
Contour lines
Contour lines are correctly placed
and there are 6 or more lines.
Most are placed correctly, there are
6 or less.
Correct use of contour lines is not
evident.
Contour lines make
sense
Contour lines are smooth and
continuous. They do not touch or
cross. They show steep and
gentle slopes.
Contour lines are evident but they
Many errors, confusing
may be touching, jagged and lacking
variation in slope.
The contour interval
Contour interval is correctly
labeled all over the map. Only
index contour lines are labeled.
Contour interval is consistent in
most places. There are no more
than 2 errors
Contour interval is not consistent
and/or there are 3 or more errors.
There are index
contours
Index contours appear dark and
are located every 5th line. Lines
are smooth and continuous.
Index contours are dark, but may
not be every 5th line. May not be
smooth and continuous.
Index contours are not apparent.
There is at least one
depression - use
hachures to designate
the depression (for
example, a crater)
There is one depression.
Hachures have been used.
Elevation is labeled correctly.
There may be an attempt at a
depression, but there are no
hachure marks and/or elevation is
not labeled correctly.
No depression is on the map’
You have one stream or
river
There is a stream or a river with
V’s drawn to show the direction of
flow. Flow is correct.
There is a stream or river direction
of flow is correct but the V’s may not
be correctly drawn.
No stream or river on the map.
A mountain/hill
There is a mountain/hill present
with the peak elevation labeled
There is a mountain but it is not
labeled with a peak elevation
There is not a mountain/hill.
A valley
There is an identifiable valley
There is not a valley
Slopes
There are gentle and steep slopes
on the map.
There may be an attempt to create a
valley.
There is either a gentle or a steep
slope.
You have made a legend
with at least 4 symbols
Neat, clear legend is included.
You have clearly thought about
appropriate symbols for YOUR
map.
Neat, clear legend is included 1 or
two symbols may not make sense.
No legend is on the map
There are no slopes. All contour
lines are the same distance apart.
You have put at least 4
symbols from the
legend onto the map.
Four symbols are on the map.
They are well done and clearly
relate to the place.
Four symbols are on the map, but
they may be in the wrong place (For
ex. Don’t put a railroad in a crater.)
There are not at least four symbols
on the map.
You include a scale
Scale is completed using 1inch
equals 4 miles
Scale but not complete as instructed
Scale is not included
You include directions
(N, S, E, W)
Directions are on the map. They
are neat and of an appropriate
size.
Directions are incorrect.
No N, S, E, W directions are on the
map.
You have made a
topographic profile of
your island.
Your topographic profile is neatly
done and it correctly shows the
profile (side view) of the island.
Your topographic profile complete,
but has two or more errors.
No profile is included.
Color
The map is colored with the
correct colors.
Some correct colors were used
Did not color
You have made a 3D
model of your island.
Your model represents the
topographic map created. There
are no errors.
Your model doesn’t match your
topographic map completely. There
are 2 or more errors.
No model included.
(Worth half of the
project grade)
Total _________________________/38