Make a Three-Dimensional Map of the USA on Poster Board
Students often learn best when they put their hands on their lessons and interact with them rather than just listen to lectures. This technique is easy to use in art and science class but can also be molded to fit geography. Instead of just telling your students where the United State's mountains and plains are, let them figure it out themselves and even build them by creating a three-dimensional topographical model.
Separate your students into groups and help them create one large section or a smaller whole map of the United States. They'll have a great time getting their hands dirty and retain the information much better.
Instructions
1. Print visual references for each group from Shaded Relief's website (link in the references section). The site has a very detailed color picture of the United States that includes mountains, plains, rivers and the country borders. Instruct your students to draw the country's outline on their poster board first.
2. Make map clay by mixing two cups of salt with a cup of flour and a cup of water. Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl vigorously with a large spoon. Each group will need about half a batch, so expand the recipe appropriately. Make it the night before and store it in the refrigerator until use.
3. Instruct your students to spread an even layer of map clay over the poster board. The layer should be about a half-inch thick. Have them pinch up small, rounded ridges where the Appalachian Mountains are and higher, sharper points for the Rockies. Mountains beyond the Rockies should be relatively low and smooth; get them to follow the contours on the map as closely as possible.
4. Tell your students to carve rivers into their maps with toothpicks. The main rivers, like the Mississippi, should be as wide as three toothpicks while the tributaries should be about as wide as one toothpick.
5. Let the clay dry overnight and paint the mountains brown, the plains green and the rivers blue. If you like, you can make flags with toothpicks and paper, labeling the different features. The clay should be soft enough to accept the toothpick flags.
