Mapping lesson plans

Mapping activity

Materials required

• printouts of Mt Lemmon map (1 per two students, see below)
• File:AZ Mount Lemmon 312494 1996 24000 geo.pdf
• File:AZ Mount Bigelow 312482 1996 24000 geo.pdf
• whiteboard,
• dry erase marker
• compass (1 per 2 students)
• field notebooks + pencils (1 per student)
• cardboard and scissors
• meter tapes (1 per 6 students)

Outcomes: students should be able to

1. understand major parts of a map
2. interpret contour lines and how they reflect changes in slope and drainage
3. use a compass to orient and navigate

Hand out maps; in pairs, have students identify the following parts of a map:

• Title/Location
• Compass Rose
• Scale Bar
• Contour Lines
• Colors
• Key/Legend

Group questions: why is it important for a map to have these elements? What else could a map have on it that would be useful?

Cardboard demo of contour maps

1. Stack different cardboard cutouts to show the different topologies they represent
2. Point out lines on the Mt Lemmon map

Questions: which areas are steepest? Least steep? Where would you find a wash/stream? How high up is site X/Y/Z? Which sites are south facing slopes?

Contour map olympics

1. Divide group into teams
2. Use whiteboard to draw different contour maps (e.g. single hill, slope, double hill, forking river, etc.) in secret
3. show to students and award points for fastest correct interpretation by a group.

Compass instruction

1. Give students compasses in pairs. Introduce magnetic north, 'red fred in the shed', how to hold compass.
2. Challenges: walking a bearing with closed eyes (other student looks for branches. Compare with landmark navigation.
3. Choose two landmarks and demonstrate triangulation. Make up other sightings (e.g. one peak 30°, another peak 30°W, where are we) and test students (in teams) ability to determine their position.
4. Scavenger hunt: each team hides an object (pinecone? hat?) and writes directions to it, pirate-map style, using the compass and # of meters on the tape. Switch instructions between groups and try to find the object.