Earth/Environmental Science
Play-Dough Topo Activity
Name: _______________________Per:_____
Objective: In this activity, you will create a topographic map from a play-dough model volcano. By
completing this activity, you will:
- visualize how a 2-dimensional topographic map represents 3-dimensional landscape
- understand contour lines and contour intervals
- increase spatial visualization skills
Materials (per group):
- 1 piece of scrap paper
- Pencil
- Colored Pencils
Define the following words:
Elevation –
- Play-dough
- Spoon
- ruler
- Dental floss
- Blank paper
Topography –
Topographic Map –
Contour line –
Contour interval –
Map scale –
Procedure:
1. Place the play-dough onto the scrap sheet of paper. Shape the play-dough into a volcano.
Each side of the volcano may have a different slope or steepness. Use the back of a spoon to
make U-shaped glacial valleys. Also make smaller V-shaped valleys, representing those carved
by rivers and streams.
2.
a. Make a vertical hole for alignment of parts later in the activity. Use a pencil to make a
vertical hole from the highest point of the volcano, all the way down to the piece of scrap
paper. Then, mark this spot on your group’s sheet of blank paper; this mark will allow you to
align the pieces of your model on your paper as you make your topographic map.
b. Choose a direction for north, such as the front of the classroom. Make a straight groove
down the outside of the model, facing north. You will need to know where north is on
your clay pieces, so make the groove obvious!
3. Measure (in cm) and record elevation at question 1. To make this measurement, stretch the
dental floss across the top of the volcano to a vertical ruler. Each student should divide the
measurement by 5 to determine their contour interval (rounding is permitted). Record your
answer at question 2.
4. Mark dots to show elevation on the model all the way around the model at each contour
interval.
5. Slice the model to create contour lines. Using the dental floss wrapped securely around your
hands, cut the model parallel to the work surface, horizontally at the elevations marked by
the dots. Start with slices at the top.
6. Trace the outline of each slice on paper to make a contour map of the play-dough volcano
model. Start with the largest, bottom-most slice. Center it on the paper, with the “north”
groove facing the top of the page and mark the groove with a tic mark. Center all the pieces
on the dot that was drawn in step 2a. Carefully trace the outline of the slice. Continue with all
the slices.
7. Reassemble the volcano for comparison with the map you have created.
8. On your map, name your volcano, list the contour interval, label the elevation of the summit,
draw a north arrow and state the name of the mapmaker (or group). Color your map.
9. Answer the follow-up questions.
Follow-up questions:
1. Find the elevation of your volcano in centimeters: __________________________________
2. List the elevations of the 5 contour lines on your volcano.
3. What is the contour interval of your topographic map?
4. Notice how the glacial and river valleys are represented on the topographic map. Do the two
types of valleys look the same? Draw the rivers on your map using a dashed-and-dotted line
and give each river a name.
5. How might you tell the difference between a valley and a ridge on a topographic map?
6. Notice how all of your lines form irregular circles or ovals. Imagine what would happen if you
left the front door of your house and could only walk at one elevation, never traveling up or
down hill – could you get back home?
Do all contour lines in the world eventually have to connect back to themselves? Why or why
not?