< Remote Sensing

How to Teach These Units

Take a little time to prepare and get ready to teach. The pages linked below give you an easy-to-follow checklist and resources that get you prepared for facilitating PLANETS activities.

4. Shape Up: Introducing Topography

Learners build three-dimensional models of topographic maps and then turn them into two-dimensional maps.

Guiding Question

How can maps help us understand a planet’s landscape?

Activity Downloads

Activity Timing

10 MIN. Get Ready & Team Up

25 MIN. Build Topographic Models

10 MIN. Reflect

45 MIN. TOTAL

Setup: Prep Time 30 min

  • Print resources.

*See Materials & Preparation in the Educator Guide linked above for full info.

21st Century Skills

  • Critical Thinking

Science Practices

  • Analyzing & Interpreting Data
  • Planning Investigations

Learners Will Do

  • Interpret topographic maps to identify flat areas and landforms.

Learners Will Know

  • A topographic map represents the three-dimensional shape of land in an area in two dimensions.

Connecting Across Activities

  • Activity 3: Landforms on Mars: Last time, learners acted as scientists to examine images of landforms on Mars. These images are the first set of data they will use to choose a landing site.
  • Activity 4: Introducing Topography: Today, they deepen their understanding of landforms by considering topography.
  • Activity 5: Exploring Topography on Mars: Next time, they will interpret Mars topographic maps. These maps are the second set of data they will use to choose a landing site.