Starter quiz
- Moving clockwise around a compass, which secondary inter cardinal point comes next in this sequence? NNE, ENE, ESE, ______.
- 'SSE' ✓
- A bearing is a way of measuring …
- distance
- scale
- direction ✓
- relief
-
- In a grid reference, the first value is the …
- easting ✓
- westing
- northing
- southing
-
- A map that looks ‘zoomed-in’ and covers a small area is described as ...
- large scaled ✓
- small scaled
- high scaled
- low scaled
-
- Elevation is measured in …
- degrees
- metres above sea level ✓
- ratios
- latitudes
-
- What is the gradient of the land?
- the shape of the land
- the angle of slopes in the land ✓
- the height of the land
- the quality of the land
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Exit quiz
- Why might some contour lines not be marked with values?
- To avoid visual clutter on the map. ✓
- To show they are on flat land.
- To show the land is below sea level.
- To show the land is going downhill.
-
- What is a spot height?
- a point marked on a map showing a particular height ✓
- a concrete or stone pillar in the landscape
- an orange or brown line on a map
- a blue triangle on a map
-
- Contour lines that are placed close together show the landscape is ______ at that point.
- 'Steep' ✓
- Match the descriptions to the correct features.
- Valley⇔V shaped contours with the lowest value marked on the smallest V ✓
- Spur⇔V shaped contours with the highest value marked on the smallest V ✓
- Plateau⇔An area of no contour lines at the top of a slope ✓
- Plain⇔An area with very widely spaced or no contour lines ✓
Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The height of the land can be shown on a map using spot heights and contour lines.
- The shape of the land can be shown on a map by examining how contour lines relate to each other.
- Distinctive patterns of contour lines show particular physical features on a map.
Common misconception
All contour lines have their height marked on them.
Most contour lines will show their height, but in very steep areas, where contours are close together, some will be omitted as there is a lack of space. The height of these lines can be calculated by looking at the height of the surrounding lines.
Keywords
Relief - the shape of the land
Contour lines - lines on a map that join points of the same height
Spot height - a point marked on a map showing a particular height
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