EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
The SandBox
Lesson 2 – Intermediate Topography
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
Lesson 2 – Intermediate Topography
Lesson Summary:
Students learn about topography and contours using both printed
maps and the hands-on SandBox Augmented Reality toolbox.
They first examine a pre-made printed map to understand
contours then use Google Earth to show profiles and use the
SandBox to build the same map. Then they use string to count
contours and find the shortest route in distance and least
contours.
Objectives:
Students will understand how to read contours; create a
topographically changing landscape; and measure distances
Estimated Time:
45 minutes
Correlation to Alaska Standards
Cultural E-2
Understand the ecology and geography of the bioregion they
inhabit.
Geography A
Make and use maps, globes and graphs to gather, analyze, and
report spatial (geographic) information.
Geography A-6
Use spatial (geographic) tools and technologies to analyze and
develop explanations and solutions to geographic problems.
Science A-1
Develop an understanding of the processes of science.
Technology A-1
Use a computer to enter and retrieve information.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
BACKGROUND FOR THE TEACHER
Here, the students will be working with you to understand topography and how the Augmented Reality
SandBox toolkit can be used along with actual topographic maps, known as Digital Raster Graphics
(DRG). Understanding topography is a critical tool for a student wanted to develop further skills in
map reading, geography classrooms lessons. To understand topography, the students will also be
learning about contour lines and what makes up versus down slope and the difference between flat
lands versus a steep slope.
The DRG maps will be obtained from the online SwathViewer resource from the Geographic
Information Network of Alaska (GINA, http://sv.gina.alaska.edu/). This tool allows users to search
across Alaska for the best available maps, not just topography, and make a screen capture for further
analysis and print out for the classroom. For this classroom lesson, you can either print out the DRG
maps from online before hand or have the students perform this for themselves in the lesson.
The Augmented Reality SandBox toolkit is a computer based system for directly interacting with a
topographically changing surface. The toolkit uses ‘white sand’, a Microsoft® Kinetic and computer
programming suite to allow the user to move the sand and see how the topography changes. This
toolkit will be used in the classroom by different groups of students. You will need to ensure that they
are aware of the cost of the equipment and that it is sensitive.
Google Earth is one of a number of 'virtual globes' that are freely available. These tools allow the Earth
to be viewed in its three-dimensional form. Google Earth's advantage over many of the others is in its
accessibility and ease of use. Being able to navigate within Google Earth and use its main features and
layers will assist students in later lessons and also illustrate some of the tools that one can use in
Google Earth. Students will need access to the Google Navigation Resource about the different layers
and features within the software and become accustomed to the look and feel of Google Earth. The
newest version of Google Earth will need to be installed in the PC/Mac to carry out the lesson.
Previous versions of Google Earth will work, but as each new version is added, there are subtle
changes and this lesson is written to use all the features the newest version.
MATERIALS
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Pre-made maps from SwathViewer, multiple copies per team as students will look at them in pairs
Augmented Reality SandBox
Internet access ready computer
Google Earth installed on computers
White board for writing up notes from students
String for each group
Ruler to measure length of string
KMZ file for each site, Denali Mountains and North Slope pre-made for the students
Four small flag markers for start and end of the routes in the sand.
One copy of all lesson to each student
Multiple copies of the Google Earth Navigation Resource
Multiple copies of the photo and note taking log sheets see end of lesson
Pens/Pencils for students to fill out questions and log sheets
Projector and PC with internet to show the lesson at the beginning
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES
Getting Ready
 In this lesson, students will be analyzing a pre-made map. Then as a group they will use Google
Earth to determine profiles and then use the SandBox to make the topography and carry out the
same analysis. Make sure Google Earth is installed.
 To model this lesson, you can show them how to use Google Earth to measure the two profiles.
You can also give them a couple of minute’s demonstration of the SandBox and make them
aware of the sensitivity of the equipment.
 Also you will need to show them what you would like to do in the SandBox with the string and
measuring the length of the string and count the contour lines.
 Make sure that the pre-made maps have been generated. Use the Appendix material for
downloading topographic maps.
Gear Up
 Ask the students “do they know what a contour is?’
 Ask the students “Do they know what the term topography means?”
 Ask the students “Have they use Google Earth for finding a location?”
 Use the white board to draw any answers they provide.
 Explain the set up for the lab.
 Divide the students into Team 1 and 2 and explain the order for each to use the SandBox.
 Model the lesson, with the Google Earth demo and some time with the SandBox.
Explore
Students work to identify and interpret features.
Generalize
 Have the students show you each step of their working?
 Did each team provide three decisions they made as they build their topography?
 Did each student answer the three questions at the end?
 Ask the students again “do they know what a contour is?’
 Ask students “Do they know what the term topography means?”
 Use the white board to draw any answers they provide and compare to pre-lesson answers.
TEACHER RESOURCES
Google Earth can be installed from: https://www.google.com/earth/
GINA website: http://www.gina.alaska.edu/
SwathViewer website: http://sv.gina.alaska.edu/
Note that this lesson has been designed to use Google Earth. As of February 3,
2015, Google Earth Pro is now free. This lesson can be ran with either version,
however there will be differences with the Save Image feature.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
Name: _________________________
ESPCOR – SandBox Lesson 2
TOPOGRAPHY – INTERMEDIATE
STUDENT EXERCISE
Directions: In this lesson, you will learn about topography and contours. You will use the SandBox
Augmented Reality toolbox to build the same map as you will see in printed form and use Google
Earth to measure profiles. You will make notes as you build the map in the SandBox on problems
faced so that we can come together at the end for discussion.
Explore 1: Reading a Topographic Map
1. Based on your teachers decision, split into your two groups. You will see below the length of time
to spend on each part of the lesson.
Team 1: Denali
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1st : Work in the SandBox, Download photos and list three main decisions [10 mins]
2nd : Use Google Earth to measure profiles [10 mins]
Team 2: North Slope
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1st : Use Google Earth to measure profiles [10 mins]
2nd : Work in the SandBox, Download photos and list three main decisions [10 mins]
First you will need to obtain the map from your teacher.
Team 1 will need to obtain the Denali Map from the teacher. Grab one per two students in your group.
Together discuss a flat route and a steep route, see below to the left.
Team 2 will need to obtain the North Slope Map from the teacher. Grab one per two students in your
group. Together discuss a flat route and a steep route, see above to the right.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
Team 1
Explore 2: Using the SandBox to build a map and profiles
Here you will be as a group aiming to build your topographic map in the SandBox Augmented Reality
toolbox. You will as a group plan out how to make the same topography as seen in your printed map.
Go to the page for your group. First go online and view the following YouTube video so you are able
to movie the Sand to match the topography. www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9JXtTj0mzE
Preparation
1. Work with the teacher to start using the SandBox. The tool, see example view below, will change
its topographic map to match the levels of the sand.
Figure A: GINA Sandbox,
showing landscape as browns
and greens and water as blue’s
and white.
Working in the Sand
2. Spend 5 minutes as a group in the SandBox. The aim is to build the closest match to your
topographic map in this time.
3. Those taking photos, record the photo number and what you photographed on the sheet provided
by your teacher.
4. Those taking notes, you will need to record decisions made and use the sheet provided by your
teacher.
AT THE END OF THE 5 MINUTES, SHOW YOUR TEACHER THAT YOU HAVE
COMPLETED YOUR TOPOGRAPHIC MAP.
5. Take one last photo of the map and one of the team in front of the SandBox. Note how many
photos have been taken. Record this on the photo log sheet.
Making Profiles in the Sand
6. Here you will be using the SandBox to make a profile along the topography. From you map given
to you by your teacher, construct the topography in the SandBox.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
7. Once the topography has been built, then select two pieces of string. Choose a start and end point.
Mark them in the sand with the markers given to you by your teacher.
8. Once piece of string show go from the start to the end along what you think is the flatter route.
9. Once you have placed the string along this route then use the ruler to measure its length and count
the number of contours along the route. Place the numbers in the table below for the flat route.
Route
Flat
Steep
Length of String (cm)
Number of contours
10. Next, another person in the group should place another piece of string along the steepest route
between the same start and end points.
11. Once you have placed the string along this route then use the ruler to measure its length and count
the number of contours along the route. Place the numbers in the table above for the steep route.
12. If needed use photo log sheet and note taking sheet
AT THE END, SHOW YOUR TEACHER THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETED MEASURED
THE LENGTH OF THE STRING AND CONTOURS FOR EACH ROUTE.
Explore 3: Use Google Earth to measure profiles
Google Earth
13. Obtain the KMZ file for Google Earth from your teacher. Ask for the file that is specifically for
your group.
14. Double click on the file and Google Earth will open, see below.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
15. Double click in the centre of the image to zoom into the map, see below.
16. Choose the add path option from the top bar,
17. Select a start point by clicking on the map in Google Earth, then make a path with three more
points. Highlighted below in the red circle.
18. Next, you can change the color and width of the file and rename it. Using the window below:, you
can add a new name, Style/Color. Choose a bold color and set the width = 4.0
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
SHOW YOUR TEACHER THAT YOU HAVE A PATH.
19. Next you will want to show the elevation profile along this path. Right click on the path in the
Temporary places window, see below.
20. This will load the profile along the path, see example below.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
21. Record the following values for this path in the table below.
Topographic Parameter – Path 1
Distance (km)
Elevation Gain (m)
Elevation Loss (m)
Minimum Elevation (m)
Average Elevation (m)
Maximum Elevation (m)
Max positive Slope (%)
Max negative Slope (%)
Average positive Slope (%)
Average negative Slope (%)
Value
22. Do the same for another path but this time connect the start and end directly and use a different
color. Record the following values in the table below.
Topographic Parameter – Path 2
Distance (km)
Elevation Gain (m)
Elevation Loss (m)
Minimum Elevation (m)
Average Elevation (m)
Maximum Elevation (m)
Max positive Slope (%)
Max negative Slope (%)
Average positive Slope (%)
Average negative Slope (%)
Value
SHOW YOUR TEACHER THAT YOU HAVE THE MADE THE TWO PATHS AND
RECORDED THE VALUES.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
Team 2
Explore 2: Use Google Earth to measure profiles
Google Earth
1. Obtain the KMZ file for Google Earth from your teacher. Ask for the file that is specifically for
your group.
2. Double click on the file and Google Earth will open, see below.
3. Double click in the centre of the image to zoom into the map, see below.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
4. Choose the add path option from the top bar,
5. Select a start point by clicking on the map in Google Earth, then make a path with three more
points. Highlighted below in the red circle.
6. Next, you can change the color and width of the file and rename it. Using the window below:, you
can add a new name, Style/Color. Choose a bold color and set the width = 4.0.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
SHOW YOUR TEACHER THAT YOU HAVE A PATH.
7. Next you will want to show the elevation profile along this path. Right click on the path in the
Temporary places window, see below.
8. This will load the profile along the path, see example below.
9. Record the following values for this path in the table below.
Topographic Parameter – Path 1
Distance (km)
Elevation Gain (m)
Elevation Loss (m)
Minimum Elevation (m)
Average Elevation (m)
Maximum Elevation (m)
Max positive Slope (%)
Max negative Slope (%)
Average positive Slope (%)
Average negative Slope (%)
Value
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
10. Do the same for another path but this time connect the start and end directly and use a different
color. Record the following values in the table below
Topographic Parameter – Path 2
Distance (km)
Elevation Gain (m)
Elevation Loss (m)
Minimum Elevation (m)
Average Elevation (m)
Maximum Elevation (m)
Max positive Slope (%)
Max negative Slope (%)
Average positive Slope (%)
Average negative Slope (%)
Value
SHOW YOUR TEACHER THAT YOU HAVE THE MADE THE TWO PATHS AND
RECORDED THE VALUES.
Explore 3: Using the SandBox to build a map and profiles [10 mins]
Here you will be as a group aiming to build your topographic map in the SandBox Augmented Reality
toolbox. You will as a group plan out how to make the same topography as seen in your printed map.
Go to the page for your group. First go online and view the following YouTube video so you are able
to movie the Sand to match the topography. www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9JXtTj0mzE
Preparation
11. Work with the teacher to start using the SandBox. The tool, see example view below, will change
its topographic map to match the levels of the sand.
Figure A: GINA Sandbox,
showing landscape as browns
and greens and water as blue’s
and white.
Working in the Sand
12. Spend 5 minutes as a group in the SandBox. The aim is to build the closest match to your
topographic map in this time.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
13. Those taking photos, record the photo number and what you photographed on the sheet provided
by your teacher.
14. Those taking notes, you will need to record decisions made and use the sheet provided by your
teacher.
AT THE END OF THE 5 MINUTES, SHOW YOUR TEACHER THAT YOU HAVE
COMPLETED YOUR TOPOGRAPHIC MAP.
15. Take one last photo of the map and one of the team in front of the SandBox. Note how many
photos have been taken. Record this on the photo log sheet.
Making Profiles in the Sand
16. Here you will be using the SandBox to make a profile along the topography. From you map given
to you by your teacher, construct the topography in the SandBox.
17. Once the topography has been built, then select two pieces of string. Choose a start and end point.
Mark them in the sand with the markers given to you by your teacher.
18. Once piece of string show go from the start to the end along what you think is the flatter route.
19. Once you have placed the string along this route then use the ruler to measure its length and count
the number of contours along the route. Place the numbers in the table below for the flat route.
Route
Flat
Steep
Length of String (cm)
Number of contours
20. Next, another person in the group should place another piece of string along the steepest route
between the same start and end points.
21. Once you have placed the string along this route then use the ruler to measure its length and count
the number of contours along the route. Place the numbers in the table above for the steep route.
22. If needed use photo log sheet and note taking sheet.
AT THE END, SHOW YOUR TEACHER THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETED MEASURED
THE LENGTH OF THE STRING AND CONTOURS FOR EACH ROUTE.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
Explore 4: Comparing maps and understanding profiles and contours [5 mins]
Here, your teacher will bring you back together as a class.
Sit together in your groups and decide who will write the information on the board.
Write on the board how many contours your two routes had?
As a class, you will discuss the decisions made by each group. Which route is shortest for distance?
Which is flatter?
Once you are asked by your teacher to finish of the Lesson then answer the following questions:
1. How much elevation change occurred and what was the total distance, in Google Earth, from your
two routes?
Route A:
Route B:
2. Why is walking up/down fewer contours the better option?
SHOW TO YOUR TEACHER THAT YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS.
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
TEACHERS RESOURCES
PHOTO LOG SHEET
AND
NOTE TAKING SHEET
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
Photograph Log Sheet
Photo No:
Items photographed:
Photo No:
Items photographed:
Photo No:
Items photographed:
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EPSCoR – SandBox Lesson 2
Topography - Intermediate
Note Taking Log Sheet
Note No:
Item Discussion
and Decisions
made:
Note No:
Item Discussion
and Decisions
made:
Note No:
Item Discussion
and Decisions
made:
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