Maps teach kids, and adults alike, about topography, geography and the world around us. Maps can be used in the classroom or as a fun and educational project to do at home. Making a map with clay is a hands-on interactive method to learn more about specific regions of the world or even your local city. It's also an experience that will help you understand interpret other maps.
Instructions
Mapping It
1. Draw a sketch on a plain piece of paper to design the layout of your map. You can photocopy a map or use one from a reference book to follow for your layout.
2. Place a piece of one-fourth-inch pressboard or plywood on a flat surface. Use a ruler to draw an interior rectangle or square on the surface. Draw grid lines to make equal sections. This will help with sizing how much space to use for the map sections.
3. Pinch a small amount of clay together. Set on the board, following the layout from Step 1. Press the clay out into the desired shape and size to match the layout. For example, a lake in the center of the board would be a round shape. Repeat until all sections of the map are filled in on the board with the clay.
4. Air-dry the clay map for 48 hours.
5. Mix tempera paint according to the bottle instructions. Pour into individual bowls for each color mixed. Select colors based on the topographical features of the map made with clay. For example, you could do green for trees, grey for roads and light blue for water.
6. Paint each section of the clay map with the appropriate color using the paint brush. For example, mountains could be painted brown and green. Lakes could be a dark blue and oceans a light blue.
7. Air-dry paint for 48 hours.
8. Write the different identification words on the various section of the clay map with a permanent marker. For example, Whispering Lake or Black Bear Mountain. Follow the layout and reference information from step 1.
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