This document provides resources and guidance for teaching a unit on topographic maps and satellite views to 8th grade science students. It includes the relevant TEKS, lesson plans with activities to build students' map reading skills, formative assessments, and suggestions for differentiation and incorporating higher-level thinking. Key points to emphasize are determining contour intervals, elevation from lines, and how features change over time from weathering and deposition. A variety of maps, readings, and videos are recommended to engage students and reinforce understanding of landform identification.

1. Core Content Coaching
Science Grade 8: Topographic Maps & Satellite Views

2. To provide support for grade-level, unit content planning
Purpose

3. Resources for planning
• Teacher Yearly Resource Document (or Yearly Itinerary)
• CRM 4: Earth’s Features
• Blank Pacing Calendar
• 8th Grade 3rd Six Weeks Lessons: Topographic Maps & Satellite Views Pacing Guide
• Computer with Internet Access

4. Teacher yearly resource document

5. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Nov. 10
Force & Motion
(as needed)
11 Student
Holiday
12 13 14
17
Newton’s Laws
18 19 20 21
24
Plate Tectonic
Theory
25 26 Holiday 27 Holiday 28 Holiday
Dec. 1
Plate Tectonics
2 3 4 5
8
Plate Tectonics
9 10 11 12
15
Topo Maps &
Satellite Views
16 17 18 19 Student
Holiday
3rd Six Weeks Planner (25 days)

6. TEKS & Student expectations
Content TEKS Skills TEKS
8.1A-8.9: Earth & space. The student knows that B, 8.2A, C-E, 8.3A-D, 8.4A
natural events can impact Earth systems. The
student is expected to:
8.9C: interpret topographic maps &
satellite views to identify land & erosional
features & predict how these features may
be reshaped by weathering.

7. CRM 4: TEKS & Acquisition section

8. Interactive: Reading A Map
http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/activities/readingmap/
Video: How to Read a Topographic Map & Geological Maps
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/how-to-read-topographic-and-geologic-maps.html
ScienceFusion Grade 8 Teacher Edition: Content Refresher: p. 437-438
Teacher Content support

9. Vertical alignment
6TH GRADE
•analyze the effects of weathering,
erosion, and deposition on the
environment in ecoregions of
Texas
8TH GRADE
8.9C: interpret
topographic maps & satellite
views to identify land &
erosional features & predict how
these features may be reshaped
by weathering.
Earth & Space Science
•interpret Earth surface features
using a variety of methods such as
satellite imagery, aerial
photography, and topographic and
geologic maps using appropriate
technologies.
•compare the roles of erosion and
deposition through the actions of
water, wind, ice, gravity, and
igneous activity by lava in
constantly reshaping Earth’s
surface.

10. PRIOR LEARNING
• Weathering is the mechanical or chemical surface processes that break rocks into smaller and smaller pieces.
• Weathering, erosion, and deposition occur in environments due to the forces of gravity, wind, ice, and water.

11. 2014 STAAR-Released
Question: 8.9C
A 11%
B* 61%
C 20%
D 7%

12. Correct 43%
Incorrect 45%
Correct Answer: 120

13. 2013 STAAR-Released Question: 8.9C
F 22%
G 8%
H* 64%
J 5%

14. Correct 40%
Incorrect 60%
Correct Answer: 360

15. Based on the data and distractors, what key points should teachers
emphasize during lessons?
• Deposition increases the amount of sediment in an area.
Activities to emphasize this point
included in the curriculum:
1.ScienceSaurus Reading:
Weathering, Erosion, & Deposition
Sections 188-190, 192
2.ScienceFusion: Weathering,
Erosion, and Deposition p. 368-385
Activities to emphasize this point
included in the curriculum:
1.ScienceSaurus Reading:
Weathering, Erosion, & Deposition
Sections 188-190, 192
2.ScienceFusion: Weathering,
Erosion, and Deposition p. 368-385
MMoosst tc ocommmmoonn d disistrtaracctotor r

16. Based on the data and distractors, what key points should teachers
emphasize during lessons?
• Determine the contour interval.
• Find the difference between contour intervals.
• Determine the elevation of the missing labels on a map.
• The closer the contour lines, the steeper the elevation.
Activities to emphasize this point
included in the curriculum:
1.Mapping the Mountain
2.Mapping Mt. Capulin
3.Contour Mapping Presentation
4.How to Read a Topographic Map
5.Topographic Map Worksheet
Activities to emphasize this point
included in the curriculum:
1.Mapping the Mountain
2.Mapping Mt. Capulin
3.Contour Mapping Presentation
4.How to Read a Topographic Map
5.Topographic Map Worksheet

17. Components of a good lesson plan
1. Engage Student Interest
2. Review/Scaffold to TEKS
3. Student-Centered Activities directly relating to the depth and complexity of the TEKS
• Labs, Activities, Videos
1. Organize and Practice Vocabulary
2. Reading & Comprehension Strategies
3. Writing Opportunities & Scaffolds
4. Daily Listening & Speaking Opportunities
5. Differentiation
6. Formative Assessment & Reteach

18. Embedded in lessons:
Engage Student Interest
• Picture-Word
Association Part I
• Vocabulary Magic:
Topographic Maps &
Satellite Views
• Video: 1964 Quake:
The Great Alaska
Earthquake

19. Recommended in lessons:
Review / Scaffold to TEKS
• Topographic Maps & Satellite Views
Unit Overview
• ScienceSaurus Reading: Weathering,
Erosion, & Deposition Sections 188-
190, 192
• ScienceSaurus Reading: Topographic
Maps Sections 172-174
• ScienceFusion: Weathering, Erosion,
and Deposition p. 368-385
• ScienceFusion: Topographic Maps p.
386-397
• ScienceFusion: Images of Earth’s
Surface p. 398-411

20. Embedded in lessons:
Student-Centered Activities directly relating to the depth and complexity of the
TEKS (Labs, Activities, Videos)
• Mapping the Mountain
• Mapping Mt. Capulin
• How to Read a Topographic Map
• Satellite Sense
• Topographic Map Worksheet

21. Embedded in lessons:
Organize and Practice Vocabulary
• Topographic Maps & Satellite Views
Unit Overview
• Vocabulary Magic: Topographic
Maps & Satellite Views
• Picture-Word Association Part II
• Vocabulary Review: Quick Draw,
Quick Write Comparison,
Concentration
• The Rule of the V’s Two-Column
Notes
• Cloze Activity

22. Embedded in lessons:
Reading & Comprehension Strategies
• ScienceFusion: Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition p.
368-385
• ScienceFusion: Topographic Maps p. 386-397
• ScienceFusion: Images of Earth’s Surface p. 398-411
• ScienceSaurus Reading: Weathering, Erosion, &
Deposition Sections 188-190, 192
• ScienceSaurus Reading: Topographic Maps Sections
172-174
• Mapping Erosion Control
• Comprehension Strategies
• Student Companion Notebook p.105-114
• Shared Reading Recommendation: Have each
student in a pair read a paragraph at a time and
then have the non-reader summarize the section.
• Active Reading Strategies embedded in
ScienceFusion Reading
• Accommodated Reading Options

23. Embedded in lessons:
Writing Opportunities & Scaffolds
• Weathering, Erosion, And Deposition- Science Glossary 7.8B Quick Write Comparison
• Concentric Circles
• Contour Lines
• Cloze Activity
• Scaffolds: Sentence Frames, Word Bank

24. Embedded in lessons:
Daily Listening & Speaking Opportunities
In this picture I
see…
I think this picture might match
the word … because…

25. • Special Education:
1. Mixed-Ability Partners
2. Science Glossary
3. Vocabulary Magic Trailer for Review
4. Multiple Views of Vocabulary Magic
Trailer
5. Word Bank
6. Shared Reading
7. Accommodated Reading
8. Sentence Frames
9. Fill-in-the-Blank Notes
10. Closed Sentences
11. Picture-Word Concentration
• English Language Learners:
1. Mixed-Ability Partners
2. Dual Language Science Glossary
3. Vocabulary Magic Trailer for Review
4. Multiple Views of Vocabulary Magic
Trailer
5. Word Bank
6. Glossary Instructional Strategies
7. Shared Reading
8. Sentence Frames
9. Closed Sentences
10. Picture-Word Concentration
Embedded in lessons:
Differentiation

26. Embedded in lessons:
Formative Assessment
Formative Assessment
• Vocabulary Review: Quick Draw, Quick
Write Comparison, Cloze Activity,
Concentration
• Picture-Word Association Part II
• Investigation Questions/Conclusions
• Class Discussions
• Journal Entries
• Exit Tickets
• Teacher-chosen ScienceFusion Satellite
Image Question(s)
• Topographic Maps Worksheet
• Optional: You Be the Trail Expert
Performance Assessment

27. Reteach Options
• Topographic Maps & Satellite Views Unit
Overview
• ScienceSaurus Reading: Weathering, Soil, &
Erosion Sections 188-190, 192
• ScienceSaurus Reading: Topographic Maps
Sections 172-174
• ScienceFusion: Weathering, Erosion, and
Deposition p. 368-385
• ScienceFusion: Topographic Maps p. 386-397
• ScienceFusion: Images of Earth’s Surface p. 398-
411
• ScienceFusion Unit 7 Lessons 4 & 5: Digital
Lesson & Virtual Lab
• Optional Activities

28. Higher level questions
• “Research shows there’s a link between critical thinking skills and increased student achievement in the
classroom.” (Moore & Stanley, 2010)
• Higher level questions must be planned in order to be implemented effectively in the classroom.
• Levels of Questions
• Knowledge
• Comprehension
• Application
• Analysis
• Synthesis
• Evaluation
• Plan and provide a variety of questions at each level and build student knowledge and critical thinking by providing
Higher Level Questions.

29. Lower Levels of questions

30. Higher Levels of questions

31. Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluate
What is a contour
line?
What is a
landform?
Define
weathering/erosion
/deposition.
What information
does a topographic
map provide?
How does
steepness of
slope affect
contour lines?
How are
landforms
affected by
weathering?
How can a
topographic map
be used to
identify land and
erosional
features?
How can a
satellite map be
used to identify
land and
erosional
features?
How does the
Earth’s surface
change?
What is the
relationship
between the
closeness of
contour lines on a
topographic map
and the landforms
they represent?
How would you
improve
topographic maps
representation of
landforms?
How would you
evaluate the
accuracy of the
contour lines on a
topographic map?

32. Recommended Anchors of Support
• Topographic Maps & Satellite Views Unit
Overview
• The Rule of the V’s Two-Column Notes
• How to Read a Topographic Map
• Satellite Sense
• ScienceFusion: Visual Summary p. 382,
396, 410
• ScienceFusion: Visualize It! p. 370, 371,
373, 376, 379, 380, 381, 389, 393,401,
406, 407, 408, 409

33. Anchors of Support
Other Resources
•Interactive Word Wall- Current, working models with student contributions
• Interactive Word Walls Article: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/files/ss1103_45.pdf
• “Word walls can be arranged on cupboard doors or classroom walls, or hung from
the ceiling with wire and string.”
• “Maximum instructional potential and efficiency are achieved when interactive word-wall
construction is aligned with lessons and students are allowed to participate in
the process. As a result, walls are usually built over many days and are finished as
a unit nears completion. Word walls support units and are changed or replaced as
units change.”
• Interactive Word Walls Rubric: Next Slide
• ScienceFusion Textbook, Science Glossaries, Dual Language Science
Glossaries

35. Academic vocabulary
LESSON COMPONENTS PAGE
CURRICULUM ROAD MAP