How to Make a Salt Relief Map
Possible Project for the Geographical
Regions Studied this
Nine Week Period
Pizza boxes are ideal for creating salt relief maps,
they're sturdy, easily accessible (most pizza places are
happy to give you one if you just ask) and the perfect size.
Materials:
•flour
•water
•one or two boxes of salt
•a map of your country, enlarged to 11 x 17 inches
•tape
•a pencil
•a Sharpie marker
•paint
Step 1
color the entire back of your map with a lead
pencil to make the transfer to the pizza box
easier to see. If you have carbon paper, this can
also be used:
Step 2
Lightly tape the map, pencil-shaded side
down, to the inside of the pizza box and
trace the outline of the map, bearing
down fairly hard to transfer the outline:
Step 3
Remove the map to reveal a light
pencil outline. Trace this outline
with the Sharpie marker:
Step 4
Mix equal parts flour and salt together to
make the salt dough. Mix just enough water
to create a dough that is a Play-doh-like
consistency. You may need to use the entire
box of salt, approximately 3-4 cups.
Step 5
Place the dough on the pizza box and
shape into the outline. When you're
finished, you can build the dough up to
depict mountains and valleys, using a
topographical map as a guide:
Step 6
Place the map in the sun for several hours to
dry or place in the oven on 200 degrees (F). If
you use the oven, be sure to supervise
carefully since you're baking a painted pizza
box. The dough should become hard enough
that it does not "give" when you press on it.
Step 7
Paint your map (tempera or acrylic paint work well)
Alternative Recipe: Sand Dough Recipe
4 c. sand
2 c. corn starch
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
3 c. hot water
Combine the first three ingredients and whisk together until they are blended
well. (If you're like me and have issues with the "fingernails on a chalk board"
sound, this part will not be pleasant for you...it's also messy, as sand and corn
starch dust wind up everywhere.)
Add three cups hot water and stir. Then, heat over medium heat, stirring until the
mixture becomes so stiff that you can't stir any more. (A good indicator that it's
done is when you break your wood spoon trying to stir just one more time.)
Remove from heat and let cool 15 -20 minutes. When it's cool enough to handle,
knead a few times. If it's still sticky, return to heat and stir some more. Store in an
airtight container. Soak pan in warm water to remove sand residue.
To use for a project, simply shape into desired form and bake at 250 degrees (F),
starting with 15 to 20 minutes, adding time as needed, but watching carefully.