Topography

Third graders learned about topographical maps and their significance to understanding the time in Ohio during and after the Ice Age. First, Dr. Slattery shared several topographical maps of Glen Helen, our local nature preserve. He explained the significance of contour lines and what they mean when reading a topographical map.

Students worked  to create their own topographical maps.  The activity consisted of marking on a clear plastic tub, which contained a plastic mold of a volcano.  Students would take turns pouring one centimeter of water in the tub and then drawing around the water line with a sharpie marker on a overhead plastic piece of paper.  Students continued to pour in water until it reached the top of the volcano. They then had a contour map of the volcano.

Students also walked to Glen Helen, and using  maps, created another type of contour map.