California Relief Map

Each student is asked to make a California Relief Map, using dough, salt, and water. This is a two-day project. The first day is spent making the relief map out of dough and baking it. The second day is spent painting the relief map. This map should be mounted on cardboard or wood when brought to school.

In class each student will complete an outline of California on paper. Using this outline, students will form the relief map. Use the recipe below. Students really need to do this project themselves. I encourage students to work in groups of 2-3. Parents can help by giving advice and by baking this project.

Recipe:

1. Mix together 4 cups of flour and 2 cups of salt.
2. Slowly pour in 1 ½ to 2 cups of water. (Add water only as needed.)
3. Knead well.
4. Bake slowly at 300 to 325 degrees.
5. The map is done when the dough has hardened.

When forming the map, make sure you include the following:

• The San Joaquin River
• The Sacramento River
• The Sierra Nevada Coastal Range
• The Coast Mountain Range
• The four main regions (desert, Central Valley, mountain ranges, coast) Label the regions and color them different colors.
• Hints: Use toothpicks to carve the rivers. Pinch the dough to rise up mountain ranges before you bake your map. Paint your map using the correct colors for geographical features (e.g. blue for the river line).

Grading: 80 points total