Mapping the Earth
Reading Topographical
Maps
Science
Grade 8
Activity Packet
Name___________________
Block___________________
1
Mapping the Earth Vocabulary:
Use the ScienceSaurus or Earth’s Surface textbook
for your definitions.
Complete the definitions on the
Vocabulary Worksheets
Topography
Contour Line
Elevation
Slope
Relief
Contour Interval
Index Contour
(ScienceSaurus)
Topographic Map
(ScienceSaurus)
2
3
4
TEXTBOOK READING
1. Read textbook pages 24-27 before returning to this packet.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is the difference between elevation and slope?
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2. What are the four rules that contour lines must always follow? Use the headings on page 26-27.
1.
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2. __________________________________________________________________________
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3. __________________________________________________________________________
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4. __________________________________________________________________________
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Topographic Maps Worksheet #1
 Color the elevations on the topographic map as follows. Red: 50m and
higher, Orange: 40-50m, Yellow: 30-40m, Light green: 20-30m, Dark green:
10-20m, Purple: 0-10m.
 Finish the mountain diagram below the topographic map, completing Oak Hill
and drawing Ash Hill with proper elevations.
A. Approximately how tall is Oak Hill? _____________
B. Approximately how tall is Ash Hill? _____________
C. Which hill is taller? _____________
D. How many meters of elevation are there between contour lines
on the topographic map? _________________
E. Therefore, what is the Contour Interval on this map? _______
F. Are the contour lines closer together on Ash Hill or Oak Hill?
_____________
G. Which Hill has Steeper Slopes? _____________________
6
Topographic Maps Worksheet #2
Go get a topographic Map of the Silver Bay YMCA Center where you spent your
Grade 6 Nature’s Classroom! Ahhh, the good old days!
It has contour lines to show the shape and elevation of the land. Remember that
contour lines show points that are all at the same level.
A. Look at the map. By examining the contour lines, identify and write the Contour
Interval of this map. _________________.
B. Remember the day you took your hike? Find Inspiration Point. What is the
elevation of Inspiration Point? ______________________________
C. Which hill is higher in elevation, No 108 Mtn. or Sunrise Mt.?
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D. Follow the Green Trail to the Hudushone Lean-To. What is the elevation at the
Lean-To? _______________
E. Find the Blue Jabez Pond Trail and the White Ryan’s Ridge Trail. Which is the
easier hike to do? Explain how you made that decision.
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F. Using the scale on the map (look carefully!), about how long is the Silver Bay
Road that runs right by the Inn and the ball fields and Morse Hall? Measure
from one end of the road to the other. _______________________
7
Draw Samples from the SMARTBOARD demonstration in class
Remember Index Contours
Hill
Valley
Contour
Map
Features
Flat Area
(Plateau)
Cliff
8
Making a Contour (Topographic) Map
MAKE TWO MAPS THAT COMBINE TWO FEATURES FROM THE EXAMPLES WE DID ON
THE PREVIOUS PAGE. Use 2 different features on each map.
Remember Index Contours
9
Draw your own Topographic Map
Draw a contour line around the map connecting the 0’s only.
Then draw a line connecting these elevations only 2 9 15 25 35 43,
by weaving, or, going between the other numbers:
1) What is the Highest Elevation?
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2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Draw an X on the top of the Mountain.
Draw and O on the Cliff.
Draw a
on the Plateau.
Draw a
on the Steepest Hill
Make a Legend with the 4 symbols on your
map in the box to the right.
10
Create a matching exercise for a classmate to match up the symbols.
Be creative….think of some symbols that you can draw, and identify what they may be. Draw
the symbols in the left boxes, and mix up the descriptions in the right boxes. Ask a
classmate to draw a line from the symbol to the description.
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Open Response
REMEMBER THE 4 POINTS OF OPEN
RESPONSE QUESTIONS!
2005 MCAS Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering
Question 37: Earth and Space Science
The illustration below is a topographic map with two landforms labeled A and B.
a. Identify the landform shown at point A. Describe how the contour lines and
elevations are used to represent the features of this landform.
b. Identify the landform shown at point B. Describe how the contour lines and
elevations are used to represent the features of this landform.
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12
Cut along this line
Glue on this side
Cut off Shaded images from Right Side of Paper and glue to the Left
of the matching contour map. Be sure to leave the letters attached
when cutting.
13
USE the following diagram to
MATCH THE PICTURE TO THE CORRECT TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
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MATCH THE PICTURE TO THE CORRECT TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
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