1. Mount St. Helens Topographic Mapping Volcano Project

2. Objective:
TLW understand how Topographic maps relate to actual 3-D landforms.
TLW Identify a hilltop, stream, and valley on a topographic map.
TLW construct profiles from topographic contours.

3. Materials: Lots of cardboard (7 pieces per student)
Scissors or razor-blade knife
A photocopy of the topographic map of Mount St. Helens.
Tape or glue
Paint (optional)

4. Purpose:
To develop a profile by making three-dimensional cardboard volcano from the Topographic Map of Mount St. Helens after its 1980 eruption but before the major dome building episodes.

5. Procedure Part 1: Creating a Pattern
Use the page with the simplified topographic map or
Make your own map by highlighting index contour lines.
It is best to make the pattern about 9 or 12 inches on a side. If needed, enlarge the map to the appropriate size.

7. Go to http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/volc_models/contour_map.gif
For a simplified
topographic map of
Mount St. Helens
Go to

8. Part 2: Cutting Layers The number of layers (pieces of cardboard)
to the volcano depends on the scale (contour
interval) of your map and the amount of time
you wish to invest on the model.

9. Cutting Layers Cont.
The yellow lines on the highlighted/simplified map are at intervals of 250 feet going up Mount St. Helens. You will have a total of 7 layers to be cut (one for each elevation)

10. Step 1: Cut out the lowest elevation from the map and trace onto one piece of cardboard. Then cut out the pattern from the cardboard.

11. Step 2: Continue to cut and trace each elevation on separate pieces of cardboard.

13. Step 3:
Stack the cardboard cut-outs in order from lowest elevation (BOTTOM LAYER) to highest elevation (TOP LAYER).

14. Step 4:
Tape or glue the layers in the appropriate order. Label the elevation of each layer.

15. Step 5:
Compare your 3-D map to the original simplified topographic map. Label the crater in the volcano.

17. Conclusion Questions:
Explain the purpose of contour lines.
Explain the purpose for not labeling all contour lines, and what are the names of the contour lines that are labeled.
Describe how a crater may be indicated on a topographic map.
Explain the importance of Topographic maps.