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How to Read the Squiggly Lines on a Hill Map

6th grade nonfiction passage about reading contour lines: 227 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.

6th grade nonfiction reading contour lines 227 words

How to Read the Squiggly Lines on a Hill Map

Hikers often carry a topographic map, a flat picture that shows how high and steep the land is. The most important feature on it is a set of curvy lines called contour lines. Once you know how to read them, a flat sheet of paper turns into a hill you can almost see.

Each contour line connects all the places that are at the same height above sea level. Imagine walking along one line. You would never go uphill or downhill, because every step would stay at the same level. A set number of meters separates one line from the next, and the map tells you what that number is. Every fifth line is usually drawn darker and labeled with its height.

Here is how to use the lines. First, look at the spacing. When the lines are close together, the ground rises quickly, so the slope is steep. When they are far apart, the land is gentle and flat. Second, look for small circles inside other circles. Those mark a hilltop or a peak, and the smallest circle is the highest point. Third, look for lines that form a V shape. The point of the V aims uphill and shows where a stream runs down a valley.

With practice, you can plan a route that avoids the steepest slopes before you ever put on your boots.

Questions

  1. What does a contour line connect? in the text

  2. What do closely spaced contour lines tell you? in the text

  3. What does a small circle inside other circles mark? in the text

  4. How can you tell what the difference in height is between lines? in the text

  5. Why would you never go uphill while walking along one contour line? think about it

  6. How could a hiker use contour lines before starting out? think about it

Words to know

topographic
showing the shape and height of the land
contour
a line on a map joining places of equal height
steep
rising or falling very sharply
peak
the pointed top of a mountain
valley
low land between hills or mountains
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One passage, three levels

The same topic and facts written three ways, so a mixed class can read and talk about one text. Each group’s sheet shows only a shape; the key says which is which.

● Easier · 213 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.2

Hikers often carry a topographic map. It is a flat picture that shows how high and steep the land is. The most important part is a set of curvy lines called contour lines. When you know how to read them, a flat paper turns into a hill you can almost see.

Each contour line joins all the places at the same height above sea level. Picture walking along one line. You would never go up or down. Every step stays at the same level. The same number of meters separates one line from the next, and the map tells you the number. Every fifth line is usually darker and has its height written on it.

Here is how to use the lines. First, check the spacing. When lines are close together, the ground rises fast. It is steep. When they are far apart, the land is gentle and flat. Second, look for small circles inside other circles. They mark a hilltop or a peak. The smallest circle is the highest point. Third, look for lines shaped like a V. The point of the V aims uphill. It shows where a stream runs down a valley.

With practice, you can plan a route that avoids the steepest slopes before you put on your boots.

▲ This passage · 227 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.9

Hikers often carry a topographic map, a flat picture that shows how high and steep the land is. The most important feature on it is a set of curvy lines called contour lines. Once you know how to read them, a flat sheet of paper turns into a hill you can almost see.

Each contour line connects all the places that are at the same height above sea level. Imagine walking along one line. You would never go uphill or downhill, because every step would stay at the same level. A set number of meters separates one line from the next, and the map tells you what that number is. Every fifth line is usually drawn darker and labeled with its height.

Here is how to use the lines. First, look at the spacing. When the lines are close together, the ground rises quickly, so the slope is steep. When they are far apart, the land is gentle and flat. Second, look for small circles inside other circles. Those mark a hilltop or a peak, and the smallest circle is the highest point. Third, look for lines that form a V shape. The point of the V aims uphill and shows where a stream runs down a valley.

With practice, you can plan a route that avoids the steepest slopes before you ever put on your boots.

■ Harder · 230 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 7.9

Experienced hikers frequently carry a topographic map, a flat illustration that reveals how high and how steep the terrain is. Its most significant feature is a collection of curving lines known as contour lines. Once you understand how to interpret them, a flat sheet of paper transforms into a hillside that you can nearly picture in three dimensions.

Each contour line connects every location that sits at the same elevation above sea level. Imagine strolling along one such line: you would never climb or descend, because each step would remain at an identical height. A fixed number of meters separates one line from the next, and the map states what that number is. Every fifth line is typically drawn darker and labeled with its elevation.

Here is a method for using the lines. First, examine the spacing. When the lines are crowded closely together, the ground rises rapidly, which means the slope is steep, whereas widely spaced lines indicate gentle, nearly level land. Second, search for small circles nested inside larger ones. These mark a hilltop or a peak, and the innermost circle is the highest point. Third, watch for lines forming a V shape. The point of the V aims uphill and reveals where a stream flows down a valley.

With practice, you can plan a route that bypasses the steepest slopes long before you lace up your boots.

Download as one PDF

How to use it

  1. Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
  2. Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
  3. Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.

Ideas for class

  • Before reading, put topographic, contour, steep, peak and valley on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the text will be about.
  • Read it aloud once while students follow along, then have them reread it alone or with a partner. At a calm 100 words a minute it takes about 2 minutes to read aloud.
  • Use the Read it big button (or B) to put the text on the projector, and Show answer on one question at a time so the class commits to an answer first.
  • Question 5 asks the reader to infer. Ask students to point to the words in the passage that led them to their answer.
  • Ask students to write one question the passage did not answer, then look for the answer in a book or on a classroom screen.
  • Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.

Related

Questions

What reading level is "How to Read the Squiggly Lines on a Hill Map"?

It was written for 6th grade. It has 227 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 4.8. That is a formula's estimate from sentence length and syllables, and it is not a Lexile or a guided reading level, so check it against your students.

What do the questions ask?

There are six. 4 ask for something the text says directly and 2 ask the reader to work something out from clues. Each has an answer in the key, and the answers are written as a teacher would accept them, not as the only possible wording.

How long does it take to read?

About 2 minutes read aloud at 100 words a minute. For a one-minute fluency check, paste it into the fluency timer and use the word count.

Can I print it?

Yes. Print student copy gives the passage, the questions with lines to write on, and the word meanings. Print with answers gives the same page with the answers filled in. Both are made in your browser.

Is this passage from a published book?

No. It was written for Peabody Teach, so there is no book to buy and no login to read it.

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