Around the Kampfire

Elementary Teaching Blog

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • My Classroom
  • Shop
  • Contact

Topographic Map Landforms Activity for Kids

March 21 By Linda Kamp Leave a Comment

Learn how to make a 3D topographic map with your students using clay and dental floss! This topographic map landforms activity for kids is a great way for students to gain experience building models and  the perfect opportunity to add math and map skills to your Landforms & Earth Changes science unit.

What is a topographic map?

Maps are a type of model—they are copies of something real. Maps help us learn about an object or a location.

A topographical map is similar to a physical map. It shows the differences in elevation changes in landscape using contour lines. It is basically a one-dimensional model that shows heights using numbers and curved lines.

Topographic map landforms activity

In this 3D topographic map activity, students will use clay to make a 3D model, then section it with dental floss to make a topographic map. Students begin by making a simple model of a mountain out of clay. Then, they use dental floss to section their model into equal slices.

Topographic Map Landforms Activity

This video, Understanding Topographical Maps, is a great resource for demonstrating how to use clay and dental floss to make a topographic map.

Introduce the investigation by asking students: How can you map the height of a mountain?

How to make a 3D topographic map

Topographic map landforms activity

Materials:

  • chunk of Crayola Air-Dry Clay (about the size of a lemon)
  • approx. 12 inches of dental floss
  • lab sheet
  • marker

Procedure:

1. Pass out clay, dental floss, and lab sheets to students.

2. Students will make a mountain with a flat bottom out of their clay.

3. Ask students to visualize where they can make 4 equal cuts in their clay mountain.

Topographic map landforms activity

4.  Using the dental floss, students start at the bottom and cut the first cross-section of their mountain.

5. Students lay the bottom slice on their lab sheet and trace around it with a marker to create the first contour line.

Topographic map landforms activity

6. Students use the dental floss to continue to make equal-sized, cross-section cuts starting at the bottom of the model and working upward.

Topographic map landforms activity

Place the cut section in the middle of the previously traced line and trace the bottom of each section. Repeat until all sections have been cut and traced.

Topographic map landforms activity

7. Add a scale by labeling the contour lines on their drawings. For simplicity, we will say that each section represents 100 feet.

Topographic map landforms activity

8. Students answer the questions on the back of the lab sheet by explaining what their map shows, what the lines represent, and comparing the highest and lowest locations on their maps. 

More landform activities and lessons

This map a mountain landforms activity is part of a complete NGSS Landforms & Earth Changes unit for 2nd grade that is also available in a digital format with narrated audio lessons.

Landforms & Earth Changes 2nd Grade science unit book cover

Click here to see the yearlong 2nd grade science series.

2nd grade science units cover

Making this 3D topographic map is a fun way to incorporate both map skills AND math practices. It’s a great activity for deepening students’ understanding of map concepts in science. Make sure to pin this post so you have it when you plan!

Topographic map landforms activity

Find more hands-on landforms and Earth changes activities and teaching ideas in this post:

Happy teaching!

  • Related Posts:

    • 10 Hands-On Activities for Teaching Earth Changes & Landforms
      10 Hands-On Activities for Teaching Earth Changes &…
    • 20 Second Grade Science Experiments That Build Essential Skills
      20 Second Grade Science Experiments That Build Essential…
    • Digital Science Lessons for 2nd Grade
      Digital Science Lessons for 2nd Grade

    Share this:

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Email

    Filed Under: Science Tagged With: landforms, map, science, topographic

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Welcome!

    Welcome!

    Let’s Keep in Touch!

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Science Planned for You

    science units for second grade

    Get Free Posters

    Free Science & Engineering practices posters article

    First Day of School Ideas

    back to school activities for You're Finally Here book

    Join the Group

    office supplies facebook group announcement
    free grammar assessments

    Search By Subject

    Get Help Teaching Science

    Second grade students doing seed dispersla and plant adaptations science experiments

    20 Second Grade Science Experiments That Build Essential Skills

    back to school science activities for the first week of science in third grade

    12 Activities for the First Week of Science in Third Grade

    Article about teaching science tools and safety rules to students at the beginning of the year.

    Activities to Teach Science Tools and Science Safety Rules at the Beginning of the Year

    states of matter books for kids

    18 Awesome States of Matter Books for Kids

    plant life cycle books for kids

    14 Best Plant Life Cycle Books for Kids

    books for teaching about the butterfly life cycle

    21 Butterfly Life Cycle Books For Kids

    Copyright © 2022 // Design by Laugh Eat Learn // Theme by Genesis Framework