page 30-31 of the UWP Educator’s Guide to Teaching Students About the Upper Uncompahgre River Watershed (also see contents, introduction & pdf link)
Objectives:
Students will locate and mark important features and sites on laminated topographic maps of the watershed.
- Using wet erase (vis a vis) markers
Outcomes
After all lessons during Watershed Awareness Week, students will answer an Essential Question “Is our River Healthy? Why or Why not?” Students will demonstrate master of vocabulary, data collection, mapping, and more to reflect on experiences from the week’s activities.
Time Frame:
Total of 35 minutes. Students will learn distinctive characteristics of topography and
- Understand symbols and legends
- Identify lakes and other waterways
- Understand elevation contour lines
- Recognize ridge lines and high points
- Understand the relationship of waterways to mountain ranges (locate and connect the high points)
- Map a small watershed within the Uncompahgre Watershed (such as Cottonwood Creek)
Teacher Background:
See the information sheets at the end of this lesson.
- What is it?
- Why does it matter?
Materials to be shared among groups of students
- Maps of Ouray and Ridgway
- Wet erase (vis a vis) markers
- Damp cloths for cleaning maps after activity
References:
https://www.usgs.gov/educational-resources/topographic-map-resources-teachers
Activity Outline:
Because many of the materials must be shared, it may be helpful to conduct each investigation as a group using the laminated maps of Ouray County. Be sure to have students use erasable markers and clean the maps at the end of the activity.
| Time | Activity |
| 10 | Locate drinking water sources for Ridgway (Lake Otonowanda, Happy Hollow, drinking water treatment site in Ouray, personal property wells, etc.) |
| 10 | Locate highest peaks in area and smaller watersheds |
| 10 | Locate ditches and headgates in the area |
| 10 | Identify other landmarks, water bodies (for example, Lake Lenore and Ridgway Reservoir) |
| 05 | Group questions and reflections |
| 45 | Total minutes |
