Making a 3-D Contour Model of a Topographic Map
Teachers Name: Kerry Kelly
School: Walter H. Crowley School of Leadership at IS 5
STEMi PD Attended: NYIT STEMi online graduate courses
Lesson Title
Making a 3-D Contour Model of a Topographic Map
Grade Level
7th Grade Honors
Science Unit – Topography
NYS Standards
Or
Common Core
State Standards
PS 2.1q Topographic maps represent landforms through the use of contour lines that are
isolines connecting points of equal elevation. Gradients and profiles can be determined
from changes in elevation over a given distance.
Standard 6- ICT
Key Idea 2: Models are simplified representations of objects, structures, or systems used
in analysis, explanation, interpretation, or design.
Key Idea 3: The grouping of magnitudes of size, time, frequency, and pressures or other
units of measurement into a series of relative order provides a useful way to deal with the
immense range and the changes in scale that affect the behavior and design of systems.
Standard 2- IS
Key Idea 1: Information technology is used to retrieve, process, and communicate
information as a tool to enhance learning.
Standard 7 –IPS
Key Idea 3: The grouping of magnitudes of size, time, frequency, and pressures or other
units of measurement into a series of relative order provides a useful way to deal with the
immense range and the changes in scale that affect the behavior and design of systems.
Objective(s)
Students will use contour maps to create 3-dimensional Contour Model.
Students will determine the safest area for the landing of the Mars rover.
Student will interpret a topographic map with contour lines and use descriptive
writing to distinguish between changes in altitude.
Projector and screen
Mars rover flash file video (7 minutes)
Contour line Map
Mission Statements (leveled - Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced)
Contour Map with Tracks (leveled - Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced)
Contour line Map templates for elevations A,B, C ,D
Scissors (one per student)
Red and Green Foam (enough for 8 models)
Glue sticks
Rulers
Thumb tacks
Materials and
Websites
Smart Start
Problem: To be able to show the relationship between topographic maps and land
formations by constructing 3-D model from a topographic map.
Warm Up: Explain why contour lines of the same elevation will never cross.
Mini-Lesson
Constructing a 3-D model of a topographical map of the surface of Mars.
(20 minutes)
Introduction: Show video of Mars rover to students. (7 minute video)
Explain that planetary scientists from NASA use data from MOLA (Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter) to
create topography maps of Mars. Scientists determine the surface elevations of mars using
instruments called altimeters. These instruments measure how high or low a surface relative to sea
level on Earth and the datum elevation on planets such as Mars.
In order to learn more about Mars NASA has sent rovers from Earth through space to Mars so that
more data can be collected from the surface of the planet. There are many factors involved in
ensuring the success of a rover’s mission and one of those factors is finding a landing site. Because
Mar’s atmosphere is so thin, parachutes are less effective than here on Earth. So it’s critical to know
how thick a layer of Martian atmosphere you’re traveling through before you reach the surface. If
the landing site are too high up, there’ll be too little atmosphere, and the rover could be seriously
damaged on impact. Recent studies showed that an elevation with an altitude of 1 kilometer is enough
to cause damage.
Explain that the students that there are 2 parts to their mission.
In part 1: Students will use the contour lines from a topographic map of Mars to create a 3-D model
to help them analyze the surface of Mars. Groups must be prepared to present their selection of a
safe landing site by illustration on a blank contour map and prepare a written explanation that
justifies their recommendation.
Application
(Group Work)
(30 – 40 minutes)
Part 1 – Creating a 3-D Model – “Determine the Safest zone for a landing
site.”(15-20 minutes)
Students will be assigned to a crew (pre determined groups of 3 or 4). Each crew
will receive a mission statement that includes the procedure for creating a #-D
model. Each crew member will be assigned an elevation to cut out and the group
will assemble each elevation to create a complete Model of the surface of Mars
to help determine a safe landing site for the Mars rover. As a crew each group
will discuss and agree upon a specific location for a safe landing. Each student will
illustrate the exact location by marking it on the paper contour line map
Conclusion
Share Out: (20 minutes)
Groups will present Part 1 of their mission. Groups will illustrate their landing sites to the
class by displaying the 3-D model and contour map. Presenters will have 3 minutes to show
the location they have chosen and explain their group’s recommendations
Home Work/Journal Question:
In paragraph justify the importance of evaluating the altitude of a planet's surface
before attempting to land there.
-
NYS Science test Practice Question handout.
Extensions:
Part 2 – Investigating the surface – “Describe the changes in altitude and
direction across a distance of an unknown surface.”(15-20 minutes)
Students will interpret a topographic map with contour lines and use descriptive writing to
distinguish between changes in altitude. Using the contour maps in the MISSION PART
ENVELOPES – part 2, students will describe the travels of the rover over a
predetermined path.
Groups 1&2: Track #1. (Beginner)
Groups 3-6: Track #2. (Intermediate)
Groups 7&8 – Track#1 & Track #2 (Advanced)
Anticipated Responses
Track 1-The rover begins heading south-east, rising slowly for about 4 km until a steep climb
over about 1.5km brings you to a viewpoint on a ridge. Turning west, you head down steeply for
about 2 km, and then climb back up for 1.5 km to the second view point. It will then go south
for 2 km along a level section just below a ridge on the left. Then you climb up and over the
side of a hill in about 2.5 km, dropping between two peaks. Here you turn north-east, climb to
the top of the peak which now appears ahead of it and after rolling down, there is a final
gentle slope for another 5 km.
Track 2- Head north and north east up a very steep track leading to the rim of the crater
and proceed inside. The center of the crater is reached after 3 km from. Take the steep track
to the east, out of the crater and down the other side (for about 1.5km). Head on a level path
along the crater peak and the smaller peak on the right, and continue around the second
mountain for about 10 km, before the track turns east and drops steadily.