Lesson objectives:

Knowledge:

All will explain how height is shown on maps

Most will recognise slope types

Some will identify landscape features from looking at contours

Skills:

All will will complete the contour shading task.

Most will be able to plot the cross section of a route

Some will shade your cross section & add landscape features

Keywords for today's lesson:

Contours

Gradient

Slope

Elevation

Topographic

Intervals

They are these type of lines on a map

What are contours?

The lines connect areas of equal altitude on a map

Why do we use contours?

True or False

1. Maps are Flat

2. Hills are not Flat

Contours lines are the easiest way of showing changes in height of the landscape on a map

Why do we use contours?

• They can be used to learn about the shape of the land (the relief).

• A map with only a few contour lines will be flat (and often low lying)

• If a map has lots of contours it is a mountainous or hilly area.

Contours lines are the easiest way of showing changes in height of the landscape on a map

Remember that the closer together the contour lines the steeper the slope.

Gentle slopes

Steep slopes

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So, how do they work?

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So, how do they work?

So, what do they look like on a map?

Convex slope

Concave slope

Steep slope

Gentle slope

Types of Slopes:

Where is the steepest slope on this island?

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Steepest slope – contour lines are closest together

Slieve Dowdican 227

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Sometimes spot heights can be shown as a dot with a note of the height of that place.

You can spot other features by the shape and pattern of the contours

A valley may look like this…

Often with a river running down through the valley

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However, a spur can look very similar !

But here the heights are increasing in the opposite direction – always double check which way the contours are increasing or decreasing.

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Valley Spur

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Valley

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Key words

• Contour

• Elevation

• Topographic

• Intervals

A joined up line on a map showing the shape and height of the ground.

The height gained or lost in Meters on a map.

A type of map using large detail usually including contours.

The difference in elevation of contour lines

Activity

- Using the map, you are going to shade in areas of equal height (altitude) using the connecting contour lines

- You will use a key to show the heights shown

You need:-Your map-Colouring Pencils-Scrap Paper

Key

0-10 m

10-20m

20-30m

30-40m

40-50m

50-60m

What you need to do

1. Complete shading task on contour map2. Plot a cross section between X and Y on the

back of your sheet3. Add the shading to your cross section4. Mark on the two rivers

Have we met our lesson objectives?

Knowledge:

All will explain what are contours on a map

Most will explain why contours are important

Some will identify landscape features from looking at contours

Skills:

All will complete the contour shading task.

Most will be able to plot the cross section of a route

Some will shade your cross section & add landscape features