So if you?

So if you where going to tell someone how to read topogrphy, how would you do it??

 

I would tell them to PM you.

 

I'd suggest them to read Mapping Trophy Bucks.

 

Depending on the person, I'd have to draw it out for them or make a model.

 

Tell them each line is connecting the same elevation points to one another. Kind of like playing connect the dots as a kid.


Explain contour interval so they know how much each line represents in elevation change and how to determine the contour interval .


Show them that countour lines close together indicate steeper topography and bigger gaps between lines show flatter topography.

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If possible, show and tell is easiest because it relates to what they may be familiar with. 'We are here. See that knoll/creek/ridge/river, that is here...the lines here describe the elevation differences. See here where they are close together, steep elevation change...'

 

For kids, I know this might sound dorky, but using clay or playdoh seems to add the must needed 3D link between looking at a 2D map and translating it into a real 3D environment.

 

Fry an egg sunny side up.

Then draw it with topo lines on a napkin.

Then eat it with a toasted muffin and cafe mocca.

Life Is Good.

 

This.

And Josh, when are you gonna write a book on this topic?? I think we'd all appreciate it! Lol

 

I wouldn't.

I'd tell them to ask you.

 

Make your hand into a fist, draw topo lines around your knuckles then flatten out your hand to show the how the lines lay when flat but represent the way the ground lays.

 

Agreed. Etch lines in the 3D model with a tooth pick or something. If they don't get the concept after that, best of luck to them.

 

I wouldn't give up on kids so fast, I would give another example. I mean they are kids and havent been around the block like we have. In school one example for something like this wont have any meaning for most of them. How many examples in Geometery did it take for you to fully understand a² + b²= c² or A=πr²? My guess is more than one.

 

After teaching them how to read one teach them how Deer roam through one

 

I am pretty sure he was talking about using visual/manipulative aids with adults in attempts to get them to learn topo/contour lines and not kids. He was just using what I spoke about in my post as an example for adults.

 

Thanks Brett...

"K", I must have missed the part where children were involved in this discussion

 

I'm working on it.

So an illustration that is very visual with lots of pic's would probably work the best. Thanks guys!!!

 

I would give them a map of a area then drop them off at this same area and let them roam free.

 

http://www.armystudyguide.com/conte...n_map_reading/land-navigation-map-readi.shtml

This in a class form, and getting lost a few times made me learn. And rslc that land nav sucked

 

Why does that look familiar to me ??