LESSON 3

GRADE: 9
SUBJECT: Geography
DATE: September 26- 30, 2022.
DURATION: 1 Hour
THEME: Spatial Thinking and Analysis: Maps, Photographs and Statistical Diagrams.
UNIT TOPIC: Interpreting Maps and Photographs
TOPIC: Relief Features and Contour Patterns

ATTAINMENT TARGET(S): Appreciate the importance of maps, photographs and statistical

diagrams to the study of Geography and their importance in everyday life.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define relief in Geography.
2. Describe at least five relief features found on topographic maps.
3. Draw simple contour patterns to represent the various relief landforms.
4. Show interest in learning Geography

SUMMARY/ACTIVITY SHEET

What is Relief?

In Geography, relief describes elevation, how high or how low to the land is a well as it
speaks to the shape of the land.
Contours are often used to depict relief features on maps

Major Relief Features found on Maps:

1. Ridge: A long and narrow part of a high area, indicated by a long/elongated central
contour
2. Escarpment: a slope that is gentle on one side but steep on the other

3. A Plateau: a flat top hill or mountain. The center of the contour map is big and wide,
resembling a ‘table top,’ and the surrounding land steep, depicted by closely spaced
contours
4. Saddle or Col: a high pass between two hills or mountains. Notice in the diagram that
there is not a complete passage between the two hills; the land between is still elevated,
hence the description “high” pass; also described as a horse-shoe.

5. A Pass: is a low path through a highland

6. A Gap: a narrow break between two hills or mountains or in a ridge.

7. Valley: a low-lying area between two highlands through which a river flows. On a map,

the contours for a valley form a V which points to higher ground.

8. Spurs: are finger-line projections of lands which descend towards lower ground. They
separate valleys. The V contours in a spur point to lower ground.

Picture of spur Contour pattern for spur and valley

9. Plain: a large low-lying or level area. It is on a map by contours that are far and wide
apart.

10. Hills:

i. Conical Hills: a slope that rises gradually towards a central point or peak. The
innermost contour is small. They are so called because they are shaped like a cone.

ii. Round-top Hill: a slope that rises gradually towards the center. The innermost
 contour is comparatively large. This larger central contour tells that the top of the hill

is not pointy.

iii. Isolated Hill: a hill that stands alone or out in an isolated area

ACTIVITY # 1: Fill-in the Blanks

INTRUCTION: Use the following list of words to fill in the blank spaces below:

VALLEY ESCARPMENT PASS GAP ISOLATED HILL

SADDLE SPURS PLATEAU RIDGE PLAIN CONICAL
HILL

1. Finger-line projections of lands, indicated by V-shaped contours pointing to lower

ground_____________

2. A vast, flat or level area shown by widely spaced contour lines ______________

3. Steep on one side, gentle on the other _______________

4. Represented by V-shaped contours which point to higher ground _________________

5. A very steep slope with a flat “table” top ________________________

6. Has a horse-shoe shaped _________________

7. A narrow break between two hills, mountains or in a ridge ___________

8. Has a circular contour pattern which shows the land gradually rising towards a central
point or peak ____________________

9. A low path through a highland ___________________

10. This feature is represented by an elongated central contour _____________

11. A hill that stands alone _____________

ACTIVITY # 2: Fill-in the Blanks

Study the contour patterns below and name the relief feature each represent. Choose
your answers from the list:
ESCARPMENT RIDGE CONICAL HILL SADDLE
VALLEY PLATEAU ROUND TOP HILL
C

E
ACTIVITY # 3:

EVALUATION/CULMINATING ACTIVITY