Using Remote Sensing to Determine Topography
Students are introduced to remote sensing as a means to obtain information about things that are hard to observe directly. They perform a hands-on activity that allows them to create diagrams showing the shape of concealed landforms. Each student group collects data that allows them to construct a line graph showing a profile of the landform. Then the class data is combined so that students have enough data to create a false-color topographical map of the surface of the landform. This remote sensing measuring technique is related to applications in earth science, oceanography, and space science as students compare their false color map to a topographic map.
Details at a Glance
- 1-2 Days | 1-2 ~50 minute class periods
- 1 Activity
- Accommodates unlimited classes, each with 6 groups of 4 students
- Meets our criteria for supporting literacy
- All materials are non-consumable
- Developed in partnership with SEPUP
Scientific Concepts
•Technology, such as remote sensing, is essential to science because it provides instruments that enable observations of objects and phenomena that are otherwise unobservable.
•Scientists organize and summarize data using tables and maps
•Science and technology are reciprocal and are often inspired by societal challenges and priorities.
•Scientists test their explanations of nature using observations and models.
Guides & Student Sheets
Our kits and modules provide you with everything you need so you can open, review, and teach the material confidently the next day.
- Comprehensive Teacher Guide with background information, detailed instruction, example data and answers
- Student Sheets with age appropriate background information, full procedure(s), and analysis items
- Materials necessary for the investigation (beyond common classroom items)
- Safety Data Sheets
Kit Components
- 12 LAB-AIDS® Measuring Probes
- 6 LAB-AIDS® Remote Sensing Devices with the following parts:
- 1 Landforms Model
- 1 Mystery Box
- 1 Platform Box
- 6 Colored pencil sets (red, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, and brown)
- 1 Transparency 1: Height of Surface Measurements of Planet Surface
- 1 Transparency 2: False-Color Topographic Map of the Planet Surface
- 28 Student Worksheet and Guides
- 1 Teacher’s Guide
- Not included and needed for instruction: A supply of graph paper and metric rulers.