Topographic Map Lab

Following Instructions

Topographic Map Mini Lab

• In this activity students will create their own topographic map of a volcanic island.

• Follow the directions step by step to get your best results!

• Directions: • Put your name, the date and your class period

in the corner of a sheet of paper. List the names of your lab group members.

• Place gray plastic volcano tray in the clear tray.

• Draw (Trace) with a pencil the outline of the water/island shoreline. This will be your first contour line.

• Carefully pour water into the tray until the water level reaches a line on the side of the clear tray that will cover up some of the surface of the gray tray.

• Add water to the next equidistant line on the side of the tray. Trace waterline again inside the first waterline.

• Continue process 4 to 6 times until all features of the gray volcano tray are nearly covered with water.

• Very carefully pour the water back into the buckets.• Label the steep side of the mountain.• Label all valleys as “Valley”. Draw and lable 2 arrows

showing “Uphill Downhill”• Lable any ridges as “Ridge”• Well done! Reset the room. Assist your group and other

groups get finished, cleaned up and ready to go.