Objectives

• Students will be able to visualize the different terrains of the specific area.
• Students will learn how to create a three dimensional topographic map.
• Students will learn how to read and create a map legend.
• Students will learn how to read and create a compass rose.
• Students will be able to compare/contrast the different terrains in the Puget Sound region.

 

Materials and Media Resources

Related Video: Wilson & Ditch: "Seattle, Washington" (4 minutes 28 seconds)

 

Materials

• Maps of the United States, Washington State and the Seattle/Puget Sound area
• Google Earth Map of Seattle/Puget Sound area (optional)
• Large heavy-duty cardboard* for the base of the project
• Newspaper and white butcher paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• Pencils
• Brushes
• Tempera paints
• Flour & water (for paper maché glue)

*Suggested size of cardboard for base: approx. 11"x14" to 15"x15"

 

Related links and video (Teacher should preview before showing to students)

• Wilson & Ditch on PBS KIDS
• Rainfall over Puget Sound (on YouTube)
• Puget Sound Ferry (on YouTube)
• Sailing Puget Sound (on YouTube)
• Paper maché recipe from Family Crafts
• Topographic Area map from Georgia Tech
• Washington State Map from Geology.com (Scroll down to find map titled "Washington Elevations.")

 

Procedures

Prepare and send home a parent/guardian letter requesting needed supplies (i.e., newspapers, flour) and classroom volunteers to assist students with the activity.

Print out maps and pictures of the United States, Washington State and the Seattle/Puget Sound area. You may use the suggested links or find your own. (Make ample copies of the Puget Sound map.) Look at Puget Sound on Google Earth taking note of the terrain and location of Puget Sound (optional).

Decide if you want to have your students work individually, in pairs or in groups. If you want them to work together, you may want to plan the groupings in advance.

 

As a class, watch the "Wilson and Ditch: Digging America" episode about Seattle. Discuss the highlights from that show. Display a map of the United States and also of Washington State. Have a brief discussion about Washington State (i.e., where it is located in relation to the surrounding states, what types of features are in and around it – oceans, rivers, mountains, land, etc.). You may want to use Google Earth to look at Puget Sound to get another perspective on the terrain.

Now focus the students' attention on the word "terrain." Ask students to think about and share their ideas of what "terrain" means. List these ideas on the board. Look up the meaning of terrain in the dictionary and discuss the real meaning of the word.

Ask students if they have ever seen a "topographic map." If some of the students answer yes, ask them to describe the way it looks to the class. List their descriptions on the board. Refer again to the dictionary to look up the proper definition. Write both of these terms and meanings on the board. (Save these definitions on the board and reference as needed throughout the lesson.)

Tell the students they will be creating their own topographic map of Seattle’s Puget Sound area. The map must include the following:

• A map Legend in the bottom left hand corner (Note: this legend must relate to the 3-D map).
• A compass rose in the bottom right hand corner (With “North” placed in the correct position in relation to the map).
• Name of student(s) that worked on the project in the lower right hand corner.
• A print out of the reference map.

Demonstrate how to create a 3-D effect by placing clumps of newspaper onto the cardboard base. Do not place any clumps onto the base where the level of terrain is the lowest (sea level). As the land area gets higher, place the clumps of paper into those areas to form the shape and height of the land masses. It may be necessary to stack clumps on top of each other for the highest points. Glue or tape the paper clumps onto the base.

Note: paper clumps can be formed by manipulating the torn strips of newsprint by bunching and twisting, or by rolling them into balls.

 

Instruct the students to:

• Use their reference map to sketch an outline of Puget Sound onto the cardboard base. Be mindful that a space in the bottom corners should be reserved for the map legend, compass rose and student name(s).
• Label the areas on their sketch: "L" for land and "W" for water.
• Fill in the land areas with the newsprint clumps and balls, forming the shape and elevations of the terrain (adhere with tape or glue). Remind the students to constantly use their reference map to make sure they follow the topography of the area. Fill in the land areas with the newspaper until they are complete.

Paper Maché the Map

• Prepare the paper maché glue (1 part water + 2 parts flour)
• Tear long strips of butcher paper, about 1- 2 inches wide
• Dip the strips one at a time into the paper maché glue. The paper should be saturated. Hold the strip over the glue bowl and run it through your fingers to wipe off excess.
• Lay the strips over the areas that you want to cover and smooth them down as you work. Cover the map entirely and let it dry completely (at least 24 hours).
• Lay the strips over the areas that you want to cover and smooth them down as you work. Cover the map entirely and let it dry completely (at least 24 hours).
• Repeat this process until you get the desired effect. It may take at least 3 layers.

Tip: Tear the butcher paper into strips, do not cut. Torn strips will lay smoother.

 

While the map is drying, explain to the class the importance and the elements of a map legend and a compass rose. Instruct the students to create a draft of their map legend and compass rose (approve these items before they use them). In addition, each student (or group) should demonstrate where and how they will place the compass rose so that “North” is correctly positioned in relation to the map. Once you have approved the legend and compass rose position, have the students place them onto the cardboard base.

 

Students should refer to the reference map and their map legend to properly paint the topographic map. Students can be given the option of adding trees, dirt, rocks and animals on the 3-D map where appropriate.

Once the map is completed, celebrate with a Pacific Northwest day!

 

Take It Further

Discuss with students the similarities and differences between directional resources such as a compass, compass rose, and GPS system. Have students used any of these devices before? If so, have the student share their experience with the class.

 

Modification for lower grades

Suggestion: Divide the class into groups and do this project on larger cardboard bases.

Teacher Prep:

• Print out a copy of a topographic map of Puget Sound from the internet or encyclopedia.
• Copy this map onto a transparency.
• Project the image onto a large sheet of white butcher paper and trace the outline of Puget Sound. (Do a tracing for each group.)
• Draw a 3 – 5 inch border around the map (this will be the “tab” that you glue onto the base to hold the map in place).

Instruct Students:

• To carefully cut out the map along the traced outline (KEEP outer tab portion).
• Glue the tab portion of the paper down onto the base. Note: the base will be exposed where the cut out/the land appears. This will be the map.
• Fill in the land areas with the newspaper clumps & balls using glue or tape to hold them down.
• Once completed, place the cutout of the map on top and glue it down.
• Paint according to your reference map. Assist students in creating and placing their map legend and compass rose.