Reading a Contour Map Activity
Goal: Read a topographic map: find the contour interval, read elevations, compare slopes, use the V-rule to find which way a river flows, and sketch a cross-section.
What to do
- Open the playground and choose Ridge and valley. Compare the landscape with its map.
- Turn on the V-rule overlay. How do the lines bend where they cross the river?
- Find points A, B and C on this map. Record the lines around each one and estimate its elevation.
- Answer the questions, then draw a north–south cross-section in the playground to check question 5.
Record your results
| Point | Lines around it (m) | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|
| A | ||
| B | ||
| C (on the river) |
Questions
-
How can you work out the contour interval from the labeled (index) lines?
-
Point B is between two lines. Explain how you estimated its elevation.
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Which side of the valley is steeper: north of the river or south of it? How can you tell from the map?
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Which way does the river flow? Use the shape of the contour lines where they cross it.
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Sketch the cross-section from X to Y: mark where X–Y crosses each thick line, then join the points smoothly.
-
Along X–Y, how much higher is the highest point than the lowest point?
Free from Earth Science Lab · earthsciencelab.org · Supports map-reading skills used in MS-ESS2-2 investigations (how geoscience processes shape Earth’s surface).