Name: _____________________________________
Date:________
Algebra I Project:
Geography: Elevation Project
Objective :
Use positive and negative real numbers to analyze elevation data.
Understand the environment associated with very high and very low
elevations.
Analysis:
Elevation is defined as the height in relation to sea level. Land above sea
level has a positive elevation and land below sea level has a negative
elevation.
Points of elevation of selected countries (in meters)
Country
Highest elevation Lowest elevation
Afghanistan Nowshak
7485 Amu Darya
Algeria
Tahat
3003 Chott Melrhir
Canada
Mt. Logan
5950 Atlantic Ocean
China
Mt. Everest 8850 Turpan Pendi
Djibouti
Mousa Alii 2028 Asal
Greece
Mt. Olympus 2917 Mediterranean Sea
Hungary
Kekes
1014 Tisza River
Israel
Har Meron
1208 Dead Sea
Liechtenstein Grauspitz
2599 Ruggeller Riet
Switzerland Dufourspitze 4634 Lake Maggiore
United States Mt. McKinley 6194 Death Valley
Zimbabwe Inyangani
2592 Lundi River
Difference in elevation
258
-40
0
-154
-155
0
78
-408
430
195
-86
162
Activities:
1. Find the difference between the highest and lowest points of elevation in each of the
countries and complete the table above.
2. Which country has the greatest difference in elevation?
Which country has the smallest difference in elevation?
3. Find the difference between the point with the highest elevation and the point with the
lowest elevation shown in the table.
4. On a separate piece of paper, write a paragraph describing how to calculate the
differences in elevation when the signs (positive and negative) of the elevations are the
same compared to when the signs of the elevations are different.
5. Research the weather at the highest elevation and lowest elevation in the United States. Write
at least a two paragraph essay comparing the weather at these two locations.
Timeline:
DUE OCTOBER 25, 2013
Ongoing Assessments:
End of week one: Review correct calculations for several elevations.
Review sources of data available for the weather research.
Rubric for Grading:
Score
Calculations
60%
Writing
Content &
Organization
20%
.
Writing Usage
10%
Writing
Sentence
Construction
5%
Writing
Mechanics
5%
1
65 to 70%
accurate
 May lack
opening
and/or
closing
 Minimal
response to
topic;
uncertain
focus
2
70 to 79%
accurate
 May lack
opening
and/or
closing
 Usually
has single
focus
3
80 to 89%
accurate
 Generally has
opening and/or
closing
4
90 to 100%
accurate
 Opening and
closing
 Single focus
 No
planning
evident;
disorganized
 Some
lapses or
flaws in
organization
 May lack
some
transitions
between
ideas
 Repetitious
details
 Several
unelaborated
details
 Errors/
patterns of
errors may
be evident
 Ideas loosely
connected
 Transition
evident
 Single,
distinct focus
 Unified and
coherent
 Welldeveloped
 Logical
progression of
ideas
 Fluent,
cohesive
 Compositional risks
successful
 Little
variety in
syntax
 Some
errors
 Patterns of
errors
evident
 Details
random,
inappropriate,
or barely
apparent
 No
apparent
control
 Severe/
numerous
errors
 Assortment
of incomplete
and/or
incorrect
sentences
 Errors so
severe they
detract from
meaning
 Uneven
development of
details
 Details
effective, vivid,
explicit, and/or
pertinent
 Some errors
that do not
interfere with
meaning
 Very few, if
any, errors
 Some errors
that do not
interfere with
meaning
 Very few, if
any, errors
 No consistent
pattern of errors
 Some errors
that do not
interfere with
meaning
 Very few, if
any, errors