STUDENT NAME_____________________________
PERIOD____________
Topographic Project – PreAP Science
For this project students will need to build a model of land. Any type of formation or combination of
different land features is fine. Students must also make a topographic map based on the model that they
make as well as a profile image. This is an individual project. Each student will work independently.
CAUTION: cliffs and any type of over-hanging land are very difficult to map and should be avoided.
Steep slopes are ok.
For this project money does not really need to be spent. There are lots of items for which you could build
your model out of, many you may already have lying around the house. Listed below are just a few of the
many possibilities:
Clay, paper mache, wire frame, card board cut and stacked, paper board, plaster, Styrofoam, news paper,
etc…. There are no requirements for what the model is actually made out of - feel free to get creative!
CAUTION: whatever the model is made from it needs to be sturdy enough to be transported to school
without breaking. Some science teachers may offer special times that they will allow the projects to be
brought in early. Students should listen for those times that they can bring in the projects.
Land Formation Model Requirements – SIZE
The size requirements are very important. If the model is too big we won’t be able to store them in the
class room.
 Minimum of the tallest point 15 cm
 Maximum of the tallest point 55 cm
 Minimum base area 15 cm x 15 cm
 Maximum base area 40 cm x 40 cm
 Is not one simple shape - like the cone we did in class - have some fun and be creative!
Land Formation Model Requirements – WHAT TO BUILD?
 Any land formation is fine so long as it fulfils all of the project requirements.
 Students should not make one simple cone structure
 A visual representation of how water would flow from Position 4 to Position 5 on the model
Land Formation Model Requirements – POSTION FLAGS
 Flag 1 – Must be at the highest elevation on the model
 Flag 2 – Must be somewhere on the slope that is the steepest
 Flag 3 – Must be somewhere on the most gradual slope
 Flag 4 – Must be more that half way up the model and NOT on a flat area
 Flag 5 – Must be in the same area and at least 5 cm below the elevation of flag 4
Topographic Map Requirements – MAP DETAIL
 Map needs to be accurate and match the model built
 Minimum of 7 contour lines on the map (more is welcome)
 Any interval for elevation is fine – but the interval must remain consistent
 All five Position Flags marked on the map in the correct location
 Draw how water would flow from Flag 4 to Flag 5 in BLUE on your topographic map
Profile Image Requirements - IMAGE DETAIL
 Profile map needs to be made from the topographic map
 Profile map needs to be accurate
STUDENT NAME_____________________________
PERIOD____________
Grading Rubric for Topographic Project - PreAP Science
SUMMATIVE GRADE
The Model You Build
5
Requirements
not met
4
Requirements
not met
3
Requirements
not met
2
Requirements
not met
1
Requirement
not met
All
requirements
met
0 pts
5 pts
10 pts
15 pts
20 pts
25 pts
2 flags in
appropriate
location
3 flags in
appropriate
location
4 flags in
appropriate
location
____/25
Flags on Your Model
0 flags on
your model
0 pts
1 flags in
appropriate
location
5 pts
All 5 flags
are in an
appropriate
location
10 pts
15 pts
20 pts
25 pts
Topo. map
matches
perfectly
with model
____/25
Topographic Map You Make
No topo.
map turned
in
4
Requirements
not met
3
Requirements
not met
2
Requirements
not met
1
Requirement
not met
0 pts
5 pts
10 pts
15 pts
20 pts
Profile image
has 4
noticeable
errors
Profile image
has 3
noticeable
errors
Profile image
has 2
noticeable
errors
Profile image
has 1
noticeable
errors
5 pts
10 pts
15 pts
20 pts
____/25
25 pts
Profile Image You Make
No profile
image turned
in
0 pts
Profile
image is a
perfect
match to
topo. map
____/25
25 pts
TOTAL
SCORE
IF the project is turned in from 12/5/11 to 12/9/11 there is a chance that the student may have the
option to go back and fix errors on; the model, topographic map, and/ or profile image. If that chance
is open the student could earn up to half way closer to 100%. Example: student gets 80% on the first
try and goes back and fixes all errors, they would now be at 90%.
Last day the project can be turned in is Wednesday 12/14/11
Write down other important dates/ information in the space below: