Salt & Dough Relief Map
Materials
* Map of your state for reference
* Ingredients for salt-dough recipe
3 cups white flour (not self-rising)
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 cup salt
* Bowl
* Plywood base (a size that would not be larger than your desktop at school)
* Toothpicks
* Index cards (to be cut into smaller labels)
* Tape
* Glue
* Paint
Directions
1. Use your map to draw a large outline of your state onto the plywood.
2. Prepare the salt dough as follows:
a. Pour the salt into a bowl.
b. Add the warm water, stirring until the salt is dissolved.
c. Add the flour and stir.
d. Mix and knead the dough by folding and refolding until it is smooth and
firm.
e. Form it into a ball. (If placed in a covered container in a refrigerator, the
dough will last up to a week.)
3. Form your salt dough into the shape of your state. Add more dough as
necessary to simulate mountains and plains.
IMPORTANT! Read ahead to step 6. You may want to do this while the
dough is still wet.
4. After it is dry (this may take a few days), neatly paint your map.
5. Label the following:
a. capital city
b. other major cities
c. major rivers and lakes
d. any mountain ranges and/or famous peaks
e. any famous locations or landmarks like a National or State Park.
f. bordering states and ocean
6. You can paint symbols onto your map. You could also mark each location by
poking a hole with the toothpick while the dough is still soft. Create a small
label from the index card and tape it to the toothpick. Glue the toothpick labels
into the holes after the salt dough is dry.
7. Create a map key and place it somewhere on the plywood. It should NOT be
separate from your relief map.
8. Be sure to paint the name of your state at the top of your relief map. Include
your first and last name as well.
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