Hiking Map Inquiry Lab 60 to 90 Minutes, Time Outside of Class Maybe Needed

Hiking Map Inquiry Lab 60 to 90 minutes, time outside of class maybe needed

Suitability: Applied Earth Science & and General Earth Science classes

Objective: To utilize prior map knowledge to create and interpret a contour map to analyze and evaluate the map features to determine best use of area for recreational use in a real world application.

Overview: Students will draw a topo map, create recreational areas on the map and determine slope and tail profiles. After presenting, they will defend their trail choices.

Equipment per team: Large sheets of papers, color pencils, ruler. Copy of a variety of tail maps, topo maps for reference.

Set Up: Teams of 2 or 3

Procedure:

1. Explain what the overview of project is
2. Review map terms, finding slope, scales, creating profiles, and reading contour maps.
3. Students may inevitably design a trail that crosses a difficult area, discuss what makes for a good trail for students without prior hiking experience.

Differentiation:

1. Have a sample project done for review
2. Provide the contour map already laid out but unlabeled
3. Provide the map with contours labeled
4. Provide a tail data sheet for example

Name: ______Team: ______Date: ______
Let’s Go Hiking

Work in groups of 2 or 3.

Overview: You have been asked by the WakeviewTrail Commission to design a hiking trail system for their community. They have given you several criteria that must follow to develop the trail system, your success as a planner depends on the attention to detail you use. Your team will be the designer and developer of the trail system and there are several jobs to be done.

You will develop 3 trails, each with a different focus and purpose. Each trail has some common criteria and each has some unique needs. Be prepared to explain and defend your decisions for each trail. You will need to use all you have learned from topo maps, terrain features, colors, keys, scales and contour lines. Be creative but accurate.

You will be given a large sheet of paper to turn in your final drawing and project. Draw out your draft plans on a spare piece of paper first.

• You will draw a park area, not far from a city. The area will be axp. 10 Km long and 5 Km wide.
• Vertical elevation change must be at least 400 meters and not more than 1000 meters difference.
• Latitude and Longitude grid lines may be marked on the side and lightly drawn across the maps.
• You need to have the following features on the map shown in contour lines. You may have more than one of each but be careful to not get too cluttered.
• Hill, depression, ridge, a steep slope, a stream, a small lake or pond.
• Bridge, buildings, roads, trails, benchmark,

Your map will need to have the usual parts of a trail or topo map on it, including a title, key, scale, contour lines, index lines and color shading. Once you have the general park layout put in your trails and rest areas.

Common criteria for all trails.

• Trails must have a name that reflects the connection to the Wakefield community.
• Trails must have easy access from the road with an area for a small parking lot.
• The trails must cover at least three different habitats (stream, field, pond, swamp, woodland, orchard)
• Trails must interconnect with at least one other trail.
• Park System must include at least one picnic/day area (playground?) with restroom facilities available
  

Assessable Trail

• Be no longer than 3 Km
• Have loops back to parking at least at the ½, 1 and 2 Km mark
• Be paved and suitable for wheelchair access
• Be close to assessable restroom facilities
• Have rest stops with benches no farther than .5 Km apart

Beginner Trail Must:

• Be no longer than 6Km
• Be a looping trail
• Have a slop no greater than 100meters per kilometer
• Travel through or near at least three different habitats

Intermediate/Advanced Trail Must:

• Be between 6 and 18Km long.
• Begin and end at a road with a park access
• Have a gradient of no greater than 200 meters per Km
• Travel through or near at least four different habitats

Plan Requirements: For full credit your plan must include the following items to be handed in:

1. The map with all trails, parking lot/s and picnic areas drawn to reasonable scale and labeled

2. A data sheet describing your trails including

a. length of trail

b. maximum gradient based on a .5 km section

c. number of times a stream is crossed (number of bridges to be built)

d. habitats that are crossed

e. any other interesting features