SAMPLE ACTIVITY USING SC MAPS


INQUIRY ACTIVITY - 8th GRADE SCIENCE
based on a classroom activity presented by Paul D'Annibale

MATERIALS NEEDED: (SC MAPS Study Site #2A)
Table Rock Topographic Map
Table Rock Lithograph
Wipe-off pens.

TIME REQUIRED:  one 50-minute period - divide students into groups of four or five.

STANDARDS ADDRESSED: (8th Grade Standards)
Science I.A.7.c. "Interpret and describe patterns of data on drawings, . . . , graphs, and maps."
Science III.B.3.l. "Identify and interpret geological features using. . aerial photography and. . maps."
Math (measurement) II.F.1. "Use measurements and formulas to solve real-world . . . problems."

STUDENT HANDOUT PAGE:

Click for PDF version of Student Handout Page

Introduction:  Table Rock Mountain is located in Pickens County, SC and is part of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain range. 
Its predominant rock type is the metamorphic rock gneiss.

Problem:  An aerial photo was taken of Table Rock State Park.  However, we are unable to identify the major features in the
photograph because they are not labeled.  How would you suggest we go about locating major features on this aerial photograph?

Write a brief Hypothesis that addresses this problem and suggests a way to solve it:  



Group Questions:
1.    Find and mark (with a wipe-off pen) the following locations on the topographic map:
             a.  Table Rock Restaurant    b.  Pinnacle Mountain    c.  Slicking Falls    d.  Table Rock Mountain
    
2.    Locate and mark the same four major locations (from Question 1) on the aerial photograph.
    
3.    Calculate the topographic relief of Table Rock Mountain using the Table Rock Reservoir as the lowest elevation and the mountain top as the highest elevation.
    
4.    Determine the contour interval of the topographic map.
    
5.    Calculate the slope of the north face of Table Rock Mountain.  Use the following equation:
    Slope = difference in elevation between two points on the map
                  horizontal distance between the two points on the map

6.    What do you think the different colors on the aerial photograph represent?


Review your Hypothesis and write a general Conclusion:



Bonus:  What is the approximate latitude and longitude designation for Table Rock Restaurant?