My Science Box

Time
30 minute to study maps in the classroom
45-55 minutes to walk the watershed

Grouping
individual

Materials

• One 7 and 1/2 minute (1:24,000) USGS topographic map of your local area (see Sources section)
• A few simplified topo maps showing only 7-12 contour lines (select a few of your students’ topo maps of their clay islands in From Maps to Models or see the Sources section for websites that have simplified maps available)
• Several additional topographic maps for students to use as a comparison (see Maps to Models Sources section)
• Topo Tour student worksheet
• Colored pencils

Setting
Classroom then a 1 mile walk through the neighborhood