Why have a contour map module at a math night?
Reading a contour map is a practical skill which may be familiar to families who enjoy the outdoors. It’s a good exercise in spatial visualization, one of the emphases in mathematics in the upper elementary grades. Children translate a two dimensional representation of a mountain into three dimensions. Finally, the idea of a contour resurfaces in calculus, and having experience with the idea in an everyday setting can help with making sense of it in a more abstract setting.
