Magic Dust: Salt Dough Map

Estimated Time: 30+ minutes

Today, we're going to make a map of Ancient Rome using salt dough. This hands-on activity will help you learn about the geography of Ancient Rome and understand the layout of its land. Making a map is a fun way to see where important places were located and how the Romans expanded their territory.

For this project, you will need:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 cup water
  • Mixing bowl
  • Spoon
  • Rolling pin
  • Parchment paper or aluminum foil
  • Map of Ancient Rome (see below)
  • Paint (various colors)
  • Paintbrushes
  • Toothpicks
  • Small pieces of paper for labels

Instructions:

Prepare the Salt Dough:

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of flour and 1 cup of salt.
  2. Gradually add 1 cup of water while stirring until the mixture forms a dough. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If it's too dry, add a bit more water.

Create the Base:

  1. Lay a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil on a flat surface. This will be the base for your map.
  2. Place the dough on the parchment paper and use a rolling pin to flatten it out to about 1/2 inch thick. This will be your map base.

Shape the Map:

  1. Look at the maps of Ancient Rome below for reference.
  2. Use your fingers to shape the dough into the outline of Ancient Rome.

Add Details:

  1. Use toothpicks or small tools to carve out rivers, mountains, and other geographical features.
  2. Create small mounds to represent important cities like Rome, Carthage, and Alexandria.

Let the Dough Dry:

  1. Allow the dough to air dry overnight or bake it in the oven at a low temperature (200°F) for 2-3 hours until it hardens. Be sure to check it regularly to avoid over-drying.

Paint Your Map:

  1. Once the dough is dry, use paint to color different areas of your map. For example:
    • Blue for rivers and seas
    • Green for land
    • Brown for mountains

Label Your Map:

  1. Create labels for important locations using small pieces of paper and toothpicks.
  2. Stick the labels into the dough.

Share pictures of your map in the comments below. We would love to see it!

Ancient Rome Classical Curriculum - Heritage History - Revision 2

Printable Geography Terms Central Italy Cities: Rome, Alba Longa, Veii, Ostia, Tarquinii Regions: Etruscia (Tuscany), Latium, Umbria, Sabini Rivers: Tiber, Anio, Alia Italian Peninsula Cities: Pompeii, Capua, Naples, Syracuse, Ravenna, Tarentum, Genoa, Venice, Pavia, Milan, Bologna, Florence Regions: Campania, Samnium, Magna Graecia, Sicilia, Cisalpine-Gaul Water Bodies: Tyrrhenian Sea, Adriatic Sea, Gulf of Tarento Roads: Via Appia Rivers: Arno (Arnus), Po (Padus), Islands: Sicily Mountains: Apennines, Mt.

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