What's the easiest and cheapest way to model a relief map?
April 18, 2004 8:16 PM Subscribe
I want to create a dimensional map of the state of Washington for the students in my fourth-grade classroom to paint and otherwise adorn with little educational bits. What's the easiest and cheapest way to model a relief map? [more inside]
It's the whole state of Washington, which has a ruggedly curvy coastline. I don't care about exact topography -- I just want to show where the mountain ranges and maybe two or three important mountains are. Maybe carve out a Columbia River. The rest the kids can add.
It's the whole state of Washington, which has a ruggedly curvy coastline. I don't care about exact topography -- I just want to show where the mountain ranges and maybe two or three important mountains are. Maybe carve out a Columbia River. The rest the kids can add.
papier mache is also very easy to do, and something the kids can have fun making themselves (if messy)
posted by kitschbitch at 12:23 AM on April 19, 2004
posted by kitschbitch at 12:23 AM on April 19, 2004
There is a very popular school of thought among academic cartographers that maintains that the vertical exaggeration required for a raised relief map skews childrens' perceptions of scale and is detrimental to their spatial reasoning.
Consider this before you continue. I'm not saying that you're going to "poison their minds" or anything... just that the "cool" thing (and what you're trying to do does sound cool) is not always the best thing.
posted by cadastral at 2:26 AM on April 19, 2004
Consider this before you continue. I'm not saying that you're going to "poison their minds" or anything... just that the "cool" thing (and what you're trying to do does sound cool) is not always the best thing.
posted by cadastral at 2:26 AM on April 19, 2004
I would suggest, instead of using cardboard for the base, to get yourself to a store that sells drafting supplies to architects and get a sheet of "foamcore". This is a sheet of styrofoam (it comes in varying thicknesses) sandwiched between two sheets of paper. Stiffer than cardboard, it's also water-resistant and won't warp if you use papier maché.
Rather than make a whole mountain out of papier maché, first make a skeleton for it out of cardboard or something similar, then cover the skeleton. If your papier maché gets too thick, it can crack as it dries.
Get a huge tarp and put it down on the floor first. Or do your project outdoors!
posted by Daddio at 10:11 AM on April 19, 2004
Rather than make a whole mountain out of papier maché, first make a skeleton for it out of cardboard or something similar, then cover the skeleton. If your papier maché gets too thick, it can crack as it dries.
Get a huge tarp and put it down on the floor first. Or do your project outdoors!
posted by Daddio at 10:11 AM on April 19, 2004
For mountain ranges: make dough, flour & water, shape onto map, then bake it with a blow dryer. Then paint.
Did the state of California in 4th grade but can't recall if I glued the dough down or not. Think after painting the whole map, sealed it with a spray.
Maybe you could try a test map before hand with some of the ideas here. Have fun.
posted by thomcatspike at 12:47 PM on April 19, 2004
Did the state of California in 4th grade but can't recall if I glued the dough down or not. Think after painting the whole map, sealed it with a spray.
Maybe you could try a test map before hand with some of the ideas here. Have fun.
posted by thomcatspike at 12:47 PM on April 19, 2004
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1. big sheet o' cardboard..heaviest thickest you can find.
2. home made play dough. add elmers glue.
3. little pins of some type stuck thru cardboard from back to front maybe 1/2 inch high.
4.put playdough on board, pins hold it on for good, glue makes it strong and less tasty.
5. go nuts.
works nice, takes tempra paint really well, last forever, except when bugs are around in high numbers (yes, voice of experience.)
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 8:47 PM on April 18, 2004