Topography: Know the topography of your neighborhood

1. Introduce students to the concept of Topography by showing them pictures/ videotape of topographic maps and the area or place the map represent: This is for the students to start making connections between the maps and the actual area (neighborhood).
2. Introduce Vocabulary words and definitions: Topography, elevation, contour lines, high elevation, low elevation, steep, flat, hill, mountain.
3. Provide students with sample topographic map(s) and show them what each vocabulary word represents on the map. 4. Have students label each vocabulary word on the sample map(s)
5. Show students how to read the elevation on the sample topographic map using contour lines of a few sample places or area ( given by the teacher)
6. Ask students to find a few more sample places or area on their own.
7. Check to see if students are able to recognize the elevation using the topographic map: Check for understanding as a whole class or individually and also provide assistant as needed.
8. After students are able to recognize the sample elevations show them topographical maps of their neighborhood and discuss the area and its elevation(s): Teacher focus discussion on the differences or similarities of the land in their neighborhood
9. Ask students to predict (based) on their map readings which places are going to have higher or lower elevation(s), which are stepper, flat, and have hills or mountains.
10. Now students are ready to go out walking on their neighborhood and take pictures or video record the area: Again focusing on the differences and similarities of the land.
10. After their walk is done: Students look at their pictures or videotape and analyze their findings as well compare them to their predictions.
11. Now your students learn to read a topographic map and see how these maps are a true representation of an area