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salt dough map

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

September 26, 2024 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We did a fun Arctic Region Salt Dough Map to learn about the Arctic region. Also, look at my pages Arctic Region and Arctic and Inuit Unit Study Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas for more fun.

The Arctic Ocean is about 5.5 million square miles of water and sea ice floats on top of the ocean.

Sea ice or the polar ice cap covers most of the ocean and some of the ice is perennial meaning it is frozen year around.

The Arctic is surrounded by land in Greenland, Canada, Russia and parts of these countries as well as part of Alaska is in the Arctic Circle.

So, I thought making a salt dough map would be the perfect way to show the geography of the land and polar ice cap.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

Salt dough maps are not only appealing to all ages, but they are just plain fun to do.

We had a bit of controversy in our house before we started this because the Arctic region covers land and the polar ice cap.

According to my boys the polar ice cap is like “frozen land” that is moving. So they wanted to be sure it showed up that way on the map.

They decided to give it “texture and form” by using the dough to show that portion.

BOOKS ABOUT THE ARCTIC FOR KIDS

First, look at some of these books about the Arctic.

I prefer living books when I can find them.

12 Arctic Books about People & Animals of the Arctic

Studying about the region of the Arctic is a fascinating topic. Grab some of these books about life in the Arctic and animals of the Arctic.

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. Snowflake-catching instructions are also included for aspiring young snow scientists!

In Arctic Waters

This arctic adaptation of “This is the House that Jack Built” follows polar bears, walruses, seals, narwhals and beluga whales as they chase each other around “the ice that floats in the Arctic waters.” Not only is the rhythmic, cumulative prose good for early readers; it is a pure delight to read aloud. The “For Creative Minds” section helps children learn how these animals live in the cold, icy arctic region.

Arctic Fox: Fascinating Animal Facts for Kids (This Incredible Planet)

Fascinating Animal Facts Arctic Fox Learn all about the amazing and adaptable Arctic fox. This small yet hardy creature survives in the harshest of environments!

This Incredible Planet series provides young readers with interesting information about the Earth’s most fascinating creatures.

Beautiful color photography makes each animal come to life. Learn about the Arctic fox’s habitat, diet, breeding, lifespan, behavior, threats, and so much more!

Over and Under the Snow

A wonderful winter book for kids from the author and illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series, now in paperback! Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow.

Animals in Winter (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science)

Read and find out about how animals cope with winter in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow? Probably not. Butterflies can't survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate. Woodchucks don't like cold weather either, but they don't migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. How do these and other animals handle the cold and snow of winter?

Read and find out in the proven winner Animals in Winter!

This is a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades.

The Inuit Thought of It: Amazing Arctic Innovations (We Thought of It)

Today’s Arctic communities have all the comforts of modern living. Yet the Inuit survived in this harsh landscape for hundreds of years with nothing but the land and their own ingenuity. Join authors Alootook Ipellie and David MacDonald as they explore the amazing innovations of traditional Inuit and how their ideas continue to echo around the world. Some inventions are still familiar to us: the one-person watercraft known as a kayak still retains its Inuit name. Other innovations have been replaced by modern technology: slitted snow goggles protected Inuit eyes long before sunglasses arrived on the scene. Andother ideas were surprisingly inspired: using human-shaped stone stacks (Inunnguat) to trick and trap caribou. Many more Inuit innovations are explored here, including: • Dog sleds • Shelter • Clothing • Kids’ stuff • Food preservation • Medicine. In all, more than 40 Inuit items and ideas are showcased through dramatic photos and captivating language. From how these objects were made, to their impact on contemporary culture, The Inuit Thought of It is a remarkable catalogue of Inuit invention.

Mini Arctic Animals Figurines Set, Polar Animals Toy for Kids Plastic Arctic Reindeer,Walrus,White Whale,Polar Bear,Arctic Fox,Wolf Figures,

Tiny Animals Figures Party: 18 PCS Package include orca, walrus, white owl, reindeer, husky, 2pcs seal, 2pcs beluga whale, 2pcs arctic wolf, 2pcs arctic fox, 2pcs arctic rabbit, 2pcs polar bear figurines and igloo model.

Who are the Eskimos? Arctic People's Traditional Way of Life

Who Are The Eskimos is perfect for early to middle elementary students and makes a great addition to your library.

North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration

“A treat for middle-graders of an ecological bent.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) At the top of our world is a huge wild place called the Arctic. In the winter, it is a cold and barren land, where few animals can survive. But when spring comes, it attracts animals from every corner of the earth. This lushly illustrated picture book celebrates the resilient wildlife and barren, beautiful landscapes of the Arctic Circle, tracing the awe-inspiring spring migration of millions of creatures to the Arctic and reminding the reader of the hardships and harmony of life in the wild.Back matter includes additional information about the arctic, a glossary, and an index.

Arctic White

When you live in the Arctic in winter, everything is a shade of white. A young girl looks around her home in the Arctic and sees only white, white, white...but one day her grandfather takes her on a journey through the tundra.  And at the end of their cold walk across the ice, they find something special that brings color into their world.

Farthest North: The Incredible Three-Year Voyage to the Frozen Latitudes of the North (Modern Library Exploration)

In 1893, Fridjtof Nansen set sail in the Fram, a ship specially designed and built to be frozen into the polar ice cap, withstand its crushing pressures, and travel with the sea’s drift closer to the North Pole than anyone had ever gone before. Experts said such a ship couldn't be built and that the voyage was tantamount to suicide.  This brilliant first-person account, originally published in 1897, marks the beginning of the modern age of exploration. Nansen vividly describes the dangerous voyage and his 15-month-long dash to the North Pole by sledge. Farthest North is an unforgettable tale and a must-read for any armchair explorer.

This Place Is Cold: An Imagine Living Here book

Can you imaging living in a place where it's so cold your breath turns instantly into tiny ice crystals that glitter in the sun? Where temperatures can drop fifty degrees below zero and even lower and the sun only comes out for a few hours per day? In This Place Is Cold readers will learn how people and animals survive in Alaska's ferocious cold, and how because of global warming this region is now in trouble. Vicki Cobb and Barbara Lavallee travelled the world together to research this groundbreaking geography series, that is now updated and redesigned to appeal to today's readers.

This is unique for us because unless we study the Antarctic, it probably will be our only salt dough map that looks like this meaning a portion is white.

So many other parts of the world have defined land, water and land forms masses that are blue for water, green for land and brown for mountains.

Having the white portion on the map representing the polar cap is unique.

Dye is optional if you don’t want to paint but we chose to paint ours this time.

Tiny grabbed some blue glitter thinking that it might work good on the blue or water part of the map.

EASY SALT DOUGH RECIPE

  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 cups salt
  • 2 Tablespoon cream of tartar
  • 1 piece of cardboard.. For example, lid from a used box or pizza box lid (clean as possible)
  • acrylic paint
  • pencil and black sharpie
  • tape to hold your map down
  • Optional blue sprinkles, dye
  • The map we used as a template is here by Atlas on the Arctic.

I don’t have pictured the acrylic paint we decided to use later instead of the dye.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

I printed the map on 3 pages because we used a pizza size cardboard lid and too, we didn’t want our map too big.

If we were focusing on one country, we probably would have made it a bit bigger.

Since this is the top of the world, we wanted it to keep it with an aerial view.

Tape the map lightly to your box to hold it in place.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

Trace over the map outline with a pencil to make a faint outline.

You’re just trying to get a pattern to follow.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

Too, color the entire back side of your map which is a nifty tip and then the faint outline is more noticeable.

Also, if your template is big enough, at times, I have just glued the template straight onto the box.

If it is a simple outline you can just try free hand.  In my earlier days, I used traced paper too. But this way is easy enough and we like it.

Then come back with a black marker to trace over your pencil outline.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

We went ahead and made our dough because Tiny couldn’t wait a minute longer to get his hands into it. 

I do like to add in the cream of tartar because I think it makes the salt dough smoother, soft and creamier.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

It also kept and didn’t get dry while we painted.

So we painted the water and it doesn’t take too long for it to dry.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

Also, on these kinds of maps you can lightly spray paint. As long you spray pay lightly you can still see your outline.

Slowly, they formed the land and the frozen polar ice cap.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

Then what is it about making this salt dough map that makes every kid bring out all the tools they have from their play-doh making days?

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

We let our map dry for a day or two. I have read where you can put in the oven also to get it hard but you have to watch it. And bake it on low.

We weren’t in a hurry, so we just let it dry for a while after they painted it.

Important: Don’t forget to put holes in the dough where you want to put your map flags or animal tooth picks before it dries completely.

It is hard to place them after it dries completely.

We added one more country after it dried and you can use an ice pick and tap LIGHTLY so it doesn’t crack.

Kind of twist it and tap lightly and we got it in without breaking the land.

The boys wanted to make their own flag for the North Pole so they added that before it dried.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

I created some flags so that we could locate these countries and areas.

Next, we placed all the flags after we read about the area again.

Ta da, all done and tons of fun.

There is no better way to study geography. Okay, I can think of a few more ways but they all have to be fun.

I have a little something for you too. I have made these flags on the Arctic.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

Also, I have flags that just have animals on it for the younger sweeties.

You know most young kids equate countries or lands with where an animal lives.

Land of the polar bear and land of the seals equals the Arctic.

As they grow older, they know the countries, etc. So I created a set of map flags.

One page has the countries or regions, one is blank if you want to write them in yourself and one page has flags with the animals, igloo and the Saami, etc

Use the page with flag markers that are blank to write in your own animals or points of interests.

HOW TO GET THE FREE ARCTIC PRINTABLE MAP FLAGS

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list.

2) Grab the freebie now.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

2 CommentsFiled Under: Geography, Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Science Based Tagged With: salt dough map

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

January 30, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, we made a fun salt dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road map. And grab my unit study and on my page Daniel Boone – North American Explorer.

Are you studying US expansion or perhaps specializing in a Daniel Boone Unit Study?

You must include this fun hands-on salt dough map of Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Road.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

Salt dough is an easy and forgiving medium to work with for homeschool projects.

It’s perfect to include in any number of studies.

Daniel Boone blazed a trail for the Transylvania Company in 1775 from Fort Chiswell in Virginia through the Cumberland Gap. 

It was steep and narrow. And could only be traveled on foot or by horseback. 

The Cumberland Gap was a notch in the Appalachian Mountains near the intersection of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.

Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map Facts

  1. The trail was begun on March 10, 1775.  
  2. Boone was chosen by The Transylvania Company because he was considered the most experienced and knowledgeable explorer of the area.
  3. Boone and 35 axmen cut the trail from Long Island in Kingsport, Tennessee through the forests and mountains to what is now known as Lexington, Ky.
  4. The Wilderness Road enabled the growth of the first settlements such as Boonsboro, Benjamin Logan’s, and Harrod Town.
  5. It has been estimated that as many as 300,000 settlers traveled the Wilderness Road from 1775 to 1810.
  6. Use of the road began to decline by 1840. The opening of the National Road and water travel like steamboats and ferries became a more popular way to travel.
  7. A segment of Wilderness Road was one of the first roads to be paved in the United States.

A great reference book that you can use is The 50 States.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

It is a big colorful book full of images of each state on a two page spread.

It has smaller illustrations of people and places, and lots of great facts and information on each one.

Geography of the Wilderness Road

To add to this study, you could spend a time learning about the states along his route like Kentucky.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

 And Tennessee

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

As well as through Virginia.

If you want something for middle and high school, you might opt instead for something like this Merriam Webster Student Atlas.

Creating a salt dough map is a great way to learn specifically about history through Daniel Boone and the Trail he blazed.

Too, it is a great overall geography lesson.

Mixing it up, include some math and learn about animals along the trail and you have science.

Write a little about the trail and you have language arts, and of course your creation is a fantastic art project.

You can just cut out the portion of the US that included the Wilderness Road and surrounding areas, but I like to do the whole map.

Doing this, your child can see where it was in relation to everything else.

Then, look at more Daniel Boone activities.

More Daniel Boone North American Explorer Activities

  • What Did Daniel Boone Wear And Easy Fringe Shirt Activity for Kid
  • 30 Fun Resources for Learning About Daniel Boone
  • Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop
  • Daniel Boone Activities Cooking Easy and Delicious Johnny Cakes on the Trail
  • Daniel Boone – North American Explorer
  • Amazing Daniel Boone Explorer Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study
  • Daniel Boone American Frontiersman History Lesson.
  • Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas.

and add one or two of these fun books.

10 Resources for A Daniel Boone Unit Study

Whether you want to add a hands-on unit study or are looking for a few resources, you'll love one of these.

1. Daniel Boone: The Life and Legend of an American Pioneer

Struggle against the Shawnee defenders of Kentucky. Drawing from popular narrative, public record, documentation from Boone's own hand, and recollection gathered by 19th-century antiquarians, the author employs the methods of the new social history to produce a portrait that defines Daniel Boone and the times he helped shape.

2. Who Was Daniel Boone? (Who Was?)

Called the "Great Pathfinder", Daniel Boone is most famous for opening up the West to settlers through Kentucky. A symbol of America's pioneering spirit Boone was a skilled outdoorsman and an avid reader although he never attended school. Sydelle Kramer skillfully recounts Boone's many adventures such as the day he rescued his own daughter from kidnappers.

3. The Dangerous Book for Boys

The bestselling book—more than 1.5 million copies sold—for every boy from eight to eighty, covering essential boyhood skills such as building tree houses, learning how to fish, finding true north, and even answering the age old question of what the big deal with girls is—now a Prime Original Series created by Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Greg Mottola (Superbad).

In this digital age, there is still a place for knots, skimming stones and stories of incredible courage. This book recaptures Sunday afternoons, stimulates curiosity, and makes for great father-son activities. The brothers Conn and Hal have put together a wonderful collection of all things that make being young or young at heart fun—building go-carts and electromagnets, identifying insects and spiders, and flying the world's best paper airplanes.

4. Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.All ages

5. Daniel Boone: Frontiersman (Heroes of History)

Written for readers age 10 and up -- enjoyed by adults!In search of open spaces and land to call his own, Daniel Boone fearlessly led a band of brave settlers into the bountiful Kentucky wilderness. Daniel's expert hunting ability, incredible outdoor survival skills, and courage under fire helped his companions stay alive in a dangerous and unknown land despite threatening encounters with soldiers, Indians, and even other settlers.

6. History Pockets: Explorers of North America, Grades 4-6+

The book includes the following pockets:

  • Introduction to Explorers of North America
  • Christopher Columbus
  • John Cabot
  • Hernando Cortes
  • Jacques Cartier
  • Sir Francis Drake
  • Henry Hudson
  • Daniel Boone
  • James Cook
  • Lewis and Clark
  • John Wesley Powell

7. Daniel Boone: Trailblazer

Born in Pennsylvania in 1734, Daniel Boone cut a path west, carving his name into trees. Although he endured repeated property losses, he became a household name and was greatly admired for his surveying skills and the many claims he laid, opening the west for further settlement.

8. Survive & Thrive: A Pocket Guide To Wilderness Safety Skills, Plus 16 Quick-Check Skill Cards

Gear up for outdoor adventure, learn to stay alive, and help yourself thrive – feeling confident that you can handle whatever comes your way!

Accidents happen and nature can be unpredictable, which is why this ultra-portable survival kit is a must-have for casual nature explorers and slightly more adventurous campers in need of essential outdoor guidance that they can carry along with them.

9. Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set

Titles In This Set:The Blizzard ChallengeThe Desert ChallengeThe Jungle ChallengeThe Sea ChallengeThe River ChallengeThe Earthquake ChallengeThe Volcano ChallengeThe Safari ChallengeThe Cave ChallengeThe Mountain ChallengeThe Arctic ChallengeThe Sailing Challenge

10. Daniel Boone: Young Hunter and Tracker (Childhood of Famous Americans)

A general account of the life of the prominent American frontiersman who is especially remembered for helping to settle Kentucky

Finally, look at how to create this salt dough map.

Besides just marking the original trail of the Wilderness Road we also continued along in a different color showing the path of the Great Valley Road.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

That road is traveled by Native Americans who called it the Great Warriors Path. It started in Pennsylvania and stretched to Boone’s Wilderness Road. It really helps tie the two time periods together.

How to Create Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

You will need:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup salt
  • ½ to ¾ cup of water
  • Paint or markers
  • 2 Printouts of  a  US Map
  • Gallon Ziploc bag
  • Large bowl for mixing
  • Spatula
  • Measuring cups
  • Skewer or toothpick

Print 2 copies of a US map.

Trim the edges down so that it fits in a gallon ziploc.

And then place inside the bag. Using the link above, there is both a labeled and unlabeled map.

Print one of each and set one aside.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

Combine flour and salt in a large bowl until mixed well.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

Add water a little at a time until you get a playdough consistency.

You do not want your dough to be sticky and wet but neither should it be crumbly.

We need a baby bear porridge situation here… just right.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

Knead dough for 2-3 minutes by hand to make sure it is all well combined.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

Once you are satisfied with the consistency of your dough you can begin spreading it out all over the map in the bag.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

To get a thinner and even thickness roll it out with a rolling pin.

Or just use a smooth jar to make it a quarter inch thick or less.

This will help it dry faster and reduce the risk of mold growing.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

Cut away the excess using a craft stick,

If you cut too much it’s very simple to press and pinch the dough to straighten up your edges of the map.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

Take your second paper map print out and trace Daniel Boone’s Journey.

We also traced the Mississippi River as a landmark to show that the trail was on the eastern side of it.

Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map Activity

Lay the map over your salt dough map.

Lining it up as closely as you can.

Then use a skewer or toothpick to trace the trail by poking over the lines into the dough

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

Remove the paper and deepen your marks a little to give them definition.

Pinch up the dough just a bit along the area where the Appalachian Mountains would be.

Add a little muted paint if you like to give it some more texture.

You can use a marker or paint on a very thin brush to trace the river and the routes.

But paint will allow you to do it right away instead of waiting on your salt dough map to dry.

You can either let your map sit undisturbed to dry or bake at 200 degrees until completely dry.

If you are air drying, flip the map over after 24 hours and let it sit another day.

Continue flipping back and forth until completely dried out.

If you want to preserve your map longer you can give it a couple coats of mod podge or spray it with a couple coats of clear sealer outdoors.

Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: american history, DanielBoone, early American history, geography, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolgeography, salt dough map

Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map

September 21, 2018 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Teaching your homeschoolers about ancient civilizations should be engaging and fun. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

After all, there is so much to learn about how we humans came together, created society, and learned to use tools to make our lives better. Every society in history is fascinating to study, but if you want to start at the beginning, Mesopotamia is the place.

Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map. Studying Ancient Civilizations doesn’t have to be boring. Your kids will love this EASY hands-on geography. CLICK HERE to create a Mesopotamia salt dough map!

According to Merry E. Weisner in Discovering the Western Past, historians and archaeologists define a city as “a place inhabited by more than 5,000 people.” The remains of the earliest communities of this size can be found in ancient Mesopotamia.

Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia, located in what is now southern Iraq, has been called the cradle of the human race. It is considered by many to be the birthplace of western civilization.

Its location between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers is to blame. In fact, Mesopotamia means “the land between the rivers.” The rivers originate in the Armenian Highlands of Eastern Turkey and empty into the Persian Gulf.

The valley between these two long rivers had rich soil capable of producing abundant crops which could sustain an early civilization. Believe it or not, the region got very little rain even in ancient times. The soil was enriched with silt each spring when the rivers flooded due to snow melt in the upland mountains where the rivers began. The problem was that the rivers flooded with the snow melt and the times and amounts were unpredictable.

As rich as the soil was, it couldn’t be farmed unless people could control the flooding. They came up with a large-scale system of water control that included irrigation and drainage ditches, making it possible to grow crops on a regular basis. The resulting abundance of food enabled large numbers of people to live together and create a civilization.

Hands-on Ancient Civilizations

Sometimes it’s hard for kids to get a grasp on a place that existed 5,000 years ago. It sounds made-up and is hard to picture in the real, modern world. Learning about Mesopotamia should include all the cool facts, like the ziggurats that housed holy temples, the Code of Hammurabi, and cuneiform–the world’s oldest writing system.

But you should also make sure they understand exactly where it is. Maps will help, but creating a hands-on experience will help even more.

Hands-on learning is the best learning. When your kids engage in kinesthetic activities while you’re teaching them with auditory or visual methods, they can retain the information better.

In other words, the more ways you engage them in a lesson, the more they’ll remember what they’ve learned.

Especially when you’re dealing with something for which they can’t get a true visual (like the geography of an ancient civilization), giving them a hands-on activity to do can help them wrap their minds around the lesson.

Salt-Dough Map of Mesopotamia

Help your kids get a visual of Mesopotamia and remember where it is with this fun activity. Make sure you have some books or other materials for them to learn from along with their map-making.

What you need:

Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • A map of Mesopotamia for reference
  • Printable Map of Modern-Day Middle East
  • Printable Mesopotamia template
  • Laminator and laminating sheets (optional)
  • Tape
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 cup water
  • Blue, green, white, and brown craft or tempera paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Plastic knife

What you do:

Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Print out Map of Modern Day Middle East: In printer properties change multiple page function to “1 in 2×2 pages.” (This will allow your printer to print a larger map on 4 pages.) Or enlarge the map 200% on a copier
  • Laminate map pieces (optional)
Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Tape map pieces together
Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Mix flour and salt in a medium bowl
  • Add water slowly, stirring as you go
  • Mix until it resembles play dough–if it’s too sticky, add a bit more flour
  • Knead the dough for a couple of minutes till it’s easy to work with
Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Roll it out on a floured surface
  • Print and Cut out template of Mesopotamia and use it to shape salt dough, cutting away excess with plastic knife
Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Use the back of the plastic knife to trace the rivers onto the salt dough
Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Remove the template and deepen the river outlines in the salt dough with the back of the plastic knife; paint them blue
Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Use extra salt dough to add Armenian Highlands at the north end, keeping the flow of the rivers going through them; paint tips white and bases brown
Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Use finger tips to thin dough between rivers into a valley and paint valley green
  • Allow to dry several days or dry quickly in oven by covering loosely with foil and baking 20 minutes at 250F
Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Place your salt dough Mesopotamia on your map whenever you’re learning about the ancient civilization

Mesopotamia Geography

If you want your kids to get an even deeper experience of the geography of Mesopotamia, try these ideas:

  • Label the rivers on your salt dough map
  • Use black paint to make dots on your salt dough map that represent the cities of Mesopotamia (Babylon, Uruk, Ur, Eridu, Nineveh, and Susa)
  • Use white or another color to paint the borders of the 3 regions of Mesopotamia on your salt dough map (Assyria, Akkad, and Sumer)

Fun, useful, and memorable, this activity is sure to help your kids remember where Mesopotamia was and the topography that made it possible.

And also we love hands-on history activities from Home School in the Woods. Be sure to look over their beautiful timeline materials.

Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map. Studying Ancient Civilizations doesn’t have to be boring. Your kids will love this EASY hands-on geography. CLICK HERE to create a Mesopotamia salt dough map!

Don’t miss tutorials for a Salt Dough House from Ancient Mali and Egg Carton Rainbow Dragon from Ancient China.

You’ll love these other hands-on activities:

  • Hands-on History Activities for Learning about Ancient Civilizations
  • Marco Polo Unit Study – Salt Dough Map + Free Printable Map Flags 
  • South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants
  • Arctic Region Salt Dough Map + Free Map Flag Printable

Written by KT of Lit Mama Homeschool

1 CommentFiled Under: Ancient Civilizations, Geography, Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, History Based Tagged With: ancient civilizations, geography, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolgeography, mesopotamia, salt dough map

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

September 8, 2013 | 19 Comments
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Tiny never gets his fill of doing something fun and hands-on when we start  a geography unit. We did a salt dough map in our Arctic & Inuit Unit Study and he remembered and ask for it again to start our South America Unit Study. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

Why mess with something working? Besides after you make it, you can use it again and again as review during the unit study. It’s so much more fascinating and interactive than a worksheet too.

Before I forget though I want to update the salt dough recipe I had used before because it was wayyy too much. So I cut it in half this time and still had plenty left over.

We tend to use left over pizza box lids as our platform and unless you are going to make your salt dough map giganto, you should be fine with this new recipe. Of course, you can double it if you need more.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

So here is the update recipe for you which is all the ingredients cut in half. If you want to see how we create it, look at my post on the Arctic & Inuit Unit Study.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants


Also, a really good map is needed and we had a big map that pulled out of the center of our atlas. This was really way more helpful than just printing one off the internet.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Since we are working on identifying more of the landforms, we wanted to draw those in and so Tiny use the most complicated tools

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants
South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

—like a toothpick and plastic clay roller —to draw in the political boundaries of each country.  Simple I am telling you, so simple to keep it fun.

Remember you have to draw in your land forms and place a toothpick in the holes before it dries overnight.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

We also took time to look at the Amazon and some of it’s tributaries and used the toothpick to draw it going through Brazil (top right) and he formed the Galapagos Islands on the left side.

Tiny only put one island there though there are many islands that Charles Darwin investigated. Of course this is why it’s important that he learn to use the map to see that the Galapagos are made up of many islands and not just one.

Then next we went about locating the Andes mountain range.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

He had the idea of forming little peaks or mountains down the left side to show the stretch of the Andes mountains.  I think they turned out so cute, but he was disappointed. Tiny is like Mr. Senior 2013, he has a high standard for his work and expects perfection. I just expect fun.

Of course after he painted the peaks brown they did look like chocolate kisses which gave me another idea.  This map could be made out of sugar cookie dough and use chocolate Hershey kisses for the mountains. Use frosting to decorate each country and make this edible.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Then because we are working on identifying/locating all the countries and one French territory, and Galapagos Islands, I created some country flags or pennants. Not only that, but by him painting each country a separate color, it really has helped to identify each one, which is another objective of mine.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Lastly, he labeled it and added in the equator and showed it running through Ecuador, which in Spanish means “equator”. We still need to add in the Tropic of Capricorn.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Tiny has loved doing these maps each time and it is a great way to bring geography and history alive. I guess you can say we never tire of hands-on geography and fun sets the tone for learning.

More to come as we trek our way through South America.

South America Printable Minibooks

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

  • Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
  • Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
  • Simon Bolivar Copywork
  • Map of South America to label and one labeled
  • Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
  • Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
  • Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
  • 2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.
  • Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words

More South America Unit Study Resources

  • Appreciating the Culture of South America Through Dance
  • Free Machu Picchu Mini Book & Completed South America Lapbook
  • 6 South America Country Notebooking Pages
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America & Mountain Climate Zones Minibooks
  • South America Unit Study– Colorful Free Printable Map
  • South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants
  • South America Unit Study resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

Ocean Currents and The Galapagos1

19 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Geography, Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Science Based Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on activities, handson, salt dough map, south america

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