A topographical map uses patterns of contour lines to show elevation. Students will make a clay model of a mountain and show the topography shown by the piece of clay submerged in water. This unit will incorporate the study of erosion, glaciers, rocks and minerals and other environmental issues. A topographical map uses patterns of contour lines to show elevation. A contour line is a line that connects all of the points of land that are the same elevation.
Elevation is the height above sea level at any given location.
The space between two contour lines are called contour intervals. Another line that you'll see on a topographic map is fhe tndex contour line. This line is usually darker in color, and it has the elevation written along it. Every fifth contour line is an index contour line. The student will learn how to read a topographical map and interpret contour lines.