What do maps show: How to read a topographic map

National Geography Standards

Element	Standard ID	Standard
Element One: The World in Spatial Terms	1	How to Use Maps and Other Geographic Representations, Tools, and Technologies to Acquire, Process, and Report Information From a Spatial Perspective

State Standards

Area	Target ID	Target	Indicator ID	Indicator
ESSENTIALS	3SS-E4	Demonstrate understanding of the characteristics, purposes, and use of geographic tools to locate and analyze information about people, places, and environments, with emphasis on:	PO 1	ways to display geographic information and characteristics through maps, charts, and graphs
			PO 2	purposes of, and differences among, maps, globes, aerial photographs, charts, and satellite images

Overview
This lesson page provides you access to resources on teaching topographic maps.

Materials
A lesson packet developed by the Arizona Geographic Alliance can be found here: http://alliance.la.asu.edu/lessonpackets/countourreading/DornTopoIntro.pdf

A wonderful lesson available from the U.S. Geological Survey can be found here: http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/mapsshow_lesson4.htm

Very good online resources on visualizing topographic maps can be found here: http://reynolds.asu.edu/topo_gallery/intro_title.htm

Sources
A lesson packet developed by the Arizona Geographic Alliance can be found here: http://alliance.la.asu.edu/lessonpackets/countourreading/DornTopoIntro.pdf

A wonderful lesson available from the U.S. Geological Survey can be found here: http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/mapsshow_lesson4.htm

Very good online resources on visualizing topographic maps can be found here: http://reynolds.asu.edu/topo_gallery/intro_title.htm