suggested grade levels: 7-12
view Idaho achievement standards for this lesson
1. Students will learn how to use the Digital Atlas of Idaho.
2. Students will become more familiar with reading a topographic map.
Have your students use the Digital Atlas of Idaho. To get there: Click on Atlas Home, Historical Geography, Basics, then on Topography. Students should work in groups of 2-3. Have your students read through the material on topography and then do the following activity. Click here to print out the Sulphur-Boundary Creek area map. Make enough copies so each group has a copy.
These are links to access the handouts and printable materials.
geo20ho.pdf | geo20AK.pdf | Topography | Sulphur-Boundary Creek area map
Answer the questions below.
1.What is the highest elevation shown on this map? Where is the lowest elevation?
2.What is the contour interval of this map?
3.Imagine a straight line drawn from the peak labeled 7,260 to the peak labeled 6,847. If you were to hike from
peak 7,260 to 6,847 peak, would a straight line be the easiest way to get there? Why or why not?
Geology: Geology Topics