relief maps

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Archive : 2005 : April : 21

relief maps
By cindy

I have had my students do their relief make their relief maps at school and other times at home depending on the maturity and parent availability.

First students bring a 12 x 12 inch board to school. I prefer wood, but
some teachers use card board.
Second, students trace the shape of their state/country onto the board. (I enlarge theme for them on the copier)
Next, students use FREEZER, Gallon sized zip lock baggies to mix their dough in. Measure in flour and salt 2 to 1. Add a splash of vegetable oil, and one cup of water to start with. push out all the air, and squeeze and squish until the dough

is mixed. (for younger students, make this homework and bring the dough ball in the baggie to school)

Last, take the ball of dough and put in on the board in the middle of the map shaped. Push and move it until it fills in the map. Pinch dough for mountains, use a dull pencil to carve rivers.

Prepare ahead of time flags on toothpicks of important places such as the state capitol, mountain ranges, geography zones, etc. Push flags into soft dough.

after it dries student can paint the maps using green for valley and farm lands, brown for mountains, yellow for deserts, etc.

have fun. At your grade level, parent help on the day for forming the maps is really helpful.