SIOP Lesson Plan Day 2

Standards: CA State Science Standards: 7.f. Read a topographic map and a geologic map for
evidence provided on the maps and construct and interpret a simple scale map.

Theme: Planet Earth.

Lesson Topic: What Makes Up Earths Surface? (Lesson 2 of 5)

Objectives:
Language: Discuss the composition of Earths surface in terms of land and water.
Content: Describe and interpret different types of maps, including topographic maps and geologic
maps.

Learning Strategies: Graphic Organizer, manipulative, cooperative groups-jigsaw, and

modeling.

Key Vocabulary:
1.

Contour lines

2.

elevation

3.

topographic maps

4.

geologic maps

5.

coastal plains

6.

river valleys

Materials:
1.

Poster boards for graphic organizer

2.

A topographic map to use as a display

3.
Materials to make a model of a map: modeling clay (2 colors), shallow square pan, paper,
dental floss or plastic knife

Motivation: (Building Background)

1.
Clustering/Webbing/Mapping: Students, in small groups begin with a word (topographic map)
circled in the center, and then connect the word to related ideas, images, which are also circled.
2.
Connect to Prior Learning: Have students draw a side-view of a steep hill and a hill with gently
sloping sides. Then have students draw a topographic map for each hill and compare the maps.

3.
Quick-Discuss-Prompt: Display a topographic map and review with students what they know
about topographic maps.

Presentation: (language and content objectives, comprehensible input, strategies, interactive

and feed back)
1.
Direct Students to read together and write in their Science notebook the content and language
objective.
2.
Go over the content and language objectives as well as the vocabulary words with the
students. The students will use the information from the displayed map to complete a graphic
organizer on the different types of maps including topographic maps and geologic maps on the
Activeboard as a class. The graphic organizer will outline the different parts of a displayed map. The
students will be split up into small groups and each group will focus on one types of map and then
share their portion of the organizer with the rest of the class.
3.

Form students into teacher built groups, to support language and content abilities.

4.
Display directions in written form and read together, for each step of the model making,
including each group members responsibility. Check for understanding.

Practice/Application: (Meaningful activities, interaction, strategies, practice and application,

feedback)
1.
Compare: A topographic map has contour lines. These lines connect points that have the same
elevation, which is the height above sea level. Study the displayed topographic map of a hill.
2.
Use Models: Add clay to the pan and make a model of the hill. Refer to the displayed
topographic map.
3.
Measure: With a pencil, mark contour lines on the model hill, using the topographic map. Then
use dental floss or a plastic knife to slice the hill in layers along the lines. Set each layer aside.
4.
Record Data: Place the bottom layer on a sheet of paper and trace around the edges. Then
trace the other layers to create a topographic map.
Review/Assessment: (Review Objectives and vocabulary and assess learning)
1.
Jigsaw: 4-6 people per home team. Name the teams. Within each team, number off 1-4. All
ones form and expert group, as do twos, threes and fours. Each expert group is assigned a part to
read (or do). Experts take 15 minutes to read, take notes, discuss and prepare presentations. Return
to home teams. Each expert takes 5 minutes to present to home team.
Extension:
1.
Learning Logs: Double-entry journals with quotes, summaries, notes on the left and
responses, reactions, predictions, questions, or memories on the right.
2.
Open Mind Diagram: Each person in a group of four uses a different colored marker to
participate in the poster creation. Students draw a shape of a head and, inside the head,
write vocabulary words, symbols and pictures. Words can be made into pictures of parts of
the face.
3.

HOTS questions: What do the contour lines on a topographic map represent?