Contours

What maps tell us

By using a map, you can visualise in your mind what the place looks like and you can see where you are going. You will also see what landmarks and features you will pass on the way to your destination. Maps mean you know what to expect, and they help you to know you are going in the right direction. They should help you to arrive at your destination safely and quickly.

When you look at the map it is flat. The maps try to show how high and steep the hills are by using level lines or contour lines. Contours are drawn wherever the land is of the same height and they usually have a number attached to them that tells us the height. If the contour lines are close together it shows that there is a slope. The closer together they are, the steeper the slope. 

Making hills out of contour lines

Look at the map of Whitchurch your teacher gives you. There are so many things on there, it can be quite confusing. The contour lines are the thin orange lines. One of them has the number 100 on it in the top right. Carefully cut out around each of the orange contour lines until you have several pieces of paper showing each change in height.

To cut out circles, fold the paper in half over the circle and make a snip, then get your scissors underneath the snip to finish cutting out the circle.

Glue each piece of paper on to a piece of card and cut out the card round it.

Now place each card in the correct place on top of each other until you have recreated the changes in level of the hill on the map. This is an example of what your finished product should look like:

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