Mount Rainier National Park Sister Mountain Project Playdough Topo Students make a clay model volcano, and then create a topographic map of it. This Overview lesson is adapted from the USGS Living with a Volcano in Your Backyard curriculum. Grade Level 5-12 Students will be able to: Recognize mountains and river valleys on a topographic map Objectives Visualize how a 2–dimensional topographic map represents 3–dimensional landscape Understand contour lines and contour interval Increase their spatial visualization skills Setting Classroom Timeframe 50-90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the model volcanoes 3-D model extension supplies (16 disposable tray lids, sheets of craft foam or sheets of foam board and student copies of Mt Fuji and Mt Rainier topographic maps) Copies of “Play–Dough Topo” student page Copy of “Play–Dough Topo” teacher discussion questions. Soft modeling clay (pottery Materials clay also works well but can be messy) You can substitute with homemade Play Dough made from flour and salt. See recipe below. Fishing line or clay cutting wire 1/4” dowel or a pencil Vocabulary Elevation, topography, topographic map, contour line, contour interval, map scale Skills Model, interpret, compare, demonstrate, visualize 1 – Uses maps, charts, and other geographic tools to understand the spatial arrangement of people, places, resources, and environments on Earth’s surface 1.1 – Use and construct maps, charts, and other resources to gather and interpret geographic information 1.1.2b – Uses data and a variety of symbols and colors to create thematic maps, mental Benchmarks maps, and graphs depicting geographic information 1.2 – Recognize spatial patterns on Earth’s surface and understand the processes that create these patterns 1.2.2b – Analyze how human spatial patterns emerge from natural processes and human activities 2 – Understands the complex physical and human characteristics of places and regions
Mount Rainier National Park Sister Mountain Project Playdough Topo Overview Students make a clay model volcano, and then create a topographic map of it. This lesson is adapted from the USGS Living with a Volcano in Your Backyard curriculum. Grade Level 5-12 Objectives Students will be able to: Recognize mountains and river valleys on a topographic map Visualize how a 2–dimensional topographic map represents 3–dimensional landscape Understand contour lines and contour interval Increase their spatial visualization skills Setting Classroom Timeframe 50-90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the model volcanoes Materials 3-D model extension supplies (16 disposable tray lids, sheets of craft foam or sheets of foam board and student copies of Mt Fuji and Mt Rainier topographic maps) Copies of “Play–Dough Topo” student page Copy of “Play–Dough Topo” teacher discussion questions. Soft modeling clay (pottery clay also works well but can be messy) You can substitute with homemade Play Dough made from flour and salt. See recipe below. Fishing line or clay cutting wire 1/4” dowel or a pencil Vocabulary Elevation, topography, topographic map, contour line, contour interval, map scale Skills Model, interpret, compare, demonstrate, visualize Benchmarks 1 – Uses maps, charts, and other geographic tools to understand the spatial arrangement of people, places, resources, and environments on Earth’s surface 1.1 – Use and construct maps, charts, and other resources to gather and interpret geographic information 1.1.2b – Uses data and a variety of symbols and colors to create thematic maps, mental maps, and graphs depicting geographic information 1.2 – Recognize spatial patterns on Earth’s surface and understand the processes that create these patterns 1.2.2b – Analyze how human spatial patterns emerge from natural processes and human activities 2 – Understands the complex physical and human characteristics of places and regions
playdough-topo_lp.docx