Salt dough maps bring landscapes to life at Peeples

The Rockets got hands-on to study some of nature’s most important landmarks. Peeples Elementary 4th graders made salt dough maps to learn about physical and man-made features in the United States.

The social studies activity is designed to motivate students to learn more about natural physical features, which correlates with a key geography standard. Instead of sticking to the traditional paper pencil mode of learning, the teachers wanted to be intentional about incorporating tactile learning into the curriculum.

With salt dough, students build their own 3D maps of landmarks like the Great Plains, Gulf of Mexico, Continental Divide, and the Rocky Mountains. They have fun and retain pertinent information when they are able to creatively express themselves while learning.

For teacher Dr. Angela Brown, the activity emphasizes the significance of various physical features, like how the Rocky Mountains posed a major obstacle to westward expansion due to its steep mountain range.

“We hoped the students gained a deeper understanding of where key natural physical features of the United States are located,” said Dr. Brown. “The students were able to physically mold the mountain range on the salt maps, which made it a tactile experience that could be felt as well as seen, making the experience much more enjoyable and significant than simply locating the Rocky Mountains on a map.”