Are you looking for a fun, easy, creative, slightly messy, and hands-on way to learn about maps, land forms, and geography? Salt-Dough Maps are such a fun way to add the fun wow factor to your homeschooling lessons.

What kid doesn’t enjoy learning while creating a piece of hands-on art?

Here you will find directions on how to make salt dough, make a relief map, and other fun uses for the salt dough. While there is a little bit of added prep, the rewards of your child’s hands-on learning will be worth it.

Caution: Raw flour is safe safe for consumption, make sure that all participants wash their hands after each use.

“This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.”

How to Use Salt Dough Maps to Make Learning Creative and Fun!

Sure, you can print that map off of the internet and have your kiddos fill in the cities, mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, and other important landmarks… But that may not be the most effective way for your child to truly learn. Often, taking the extra time to prep for an engaging learning opportunity will reap the reward of long term learning.

Our brains are designed to connect with the physical world through hands-on interaction.

A Creative Learner

Hands on learning is so effective because children learn by doing. Creating a map using salt dough is not only fun, but will encourage your child to truly learn and have fun at the same time.

What is a Salt Dough Map?

A salt dough map is a three-dimensional map that allows children to create mountain ranges, hills, lakes, rivers, oceans, and so on. It is more useful for a child to see that maps represent different topographical features that are not easily seen with a paper map. The main components are salt, flour and water. Salt dough is super easy to work with and is fun to play around with.

These 3D maps are super effective for younger children that are just starting to work with maps. It helps them to see and understand the different characteristics of regions on a map. But don’t necessarily leave out your older ones. They can benefit from this hands-on lesson as well.

How Do You Make a Salt Dough Map?

Salt dough maps are super simple. They require a minimal amount of prep. They can, however, be quite messy. The mess, however, is well worth it!

Prior to beginning a salt dough maps, I would suggest spending a little time researching what relief maps are. We decided to research topography maps first, using the colors that are typically used for altitude differentiation.

There are so many amazing map books that you can purchase or check out from the library. Having a couple for reference is helpful.

We were learning about the Lewis and Clark Expedition in our history studies. This was a great opportunity to incorporate geography in a way that catered to my children’s kinesthetic and artistic learning styles.

Here are simple directions to create your own salt-dough map for any geographical region. We chose to create a map of the United States of America because we were studying the landscape in which pioneers traveled west. My children were learning about the different regions that were traveled through such as Mountain ranges, plains, rivers, lakes, etc.

We copied the colors of altitude from a geology website. You can even use a geography map book to use as an example for which colors to use.

What are the Supplies and Materials Needed to Make a Salt Dough Map?

Salt

flour

water

bowl

stirring utensil

pencil

acrylic paint

paint brushes

wood panel (or you can use thick cardboard)

paper to cover surface of table

365 by Whole Foods Market, All Purpose Flour, 80 Ounce

Morton, Iodized Salt, 737 Grams(gm)

Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Set (2-Ounce), Best Colors Count, 32 Fl Oz (Pack of 16)

9×12 Wood Canvas for Crafts, 6-Pack Framed Wooden Panel Boards for Painting Pouring Crafts

Acrylic Paint Brush Set, 6 Packs / 60 pcs Nylon Hair Brushes for All Purpose Oil Watercolor Painting Artist Professional Kits

What is the Recipe for Salt Dough?

In a bowl, mix:

2 cups all purpose flour (cheap is fine)

1 cup salt

1 cup water

1 TBSP cream of tartar (ONLY for Play dough- not necessary for the salt dough maps)

Stir with a spoon, until it is too difficult, then use your hands. The goal is to mix until it has the consistency of play dough. Sometimes you may need to add more water or more flour. Find a consistency you like.

****Remember to always wash your hands after handling raw flour!!!****

Directions for Salt dough map

• Sketch out the region on your panel of wood with a pencil
• Cover your work area with newspaper or messy tablecloth
• Make your salt dough (don’t eat it, its disgusting :-)- see recipe above.
• using small amounts, begin to add the salt dough to your wood panel
• add layers of salt dough to the regions that are mountains
• using a pencil or other tool, etch out lakes, rivers, and other low areas.
• smooth your map gently with fingertips
• once you and your children are happy with your salt dough map, allow 1-2 days for the dough to dry completely.
• paint your dry map according to a key that you create (or copy)

How Long Does it Take for a Salt Dough Map to Dry?

I live in a dry climate (southern California). We did our map during late spring, and it took 1 day to dry. It may take longer if you live in a humid climate. You know it is dry if it is all the same light color and it will feel dry as well. Make sure that there is no more moisture in the salt dough.

What Paint do You Use for Salt Dough Maps?

Acrylic paint is the best paint to use for your salt dough maps. Make sure your Salt dough map is dry prior to painting as Acrylic paint is vibrant and dries rather quickly. It is best if you use a variety of brushes for your map so that you can add in details such as rivers and lakes. When we finished our United States of America salt dough map, it was so beautiful that I started using it as a decoration.

Practical Tips Before You Get Started

If you are working with super young kiddos, give them some exploration time with the dough before you begin constructing the map. Little ones love to experiment with new things, so you will notice they will be easily distracted observing and manipulating their fresh salt-dough. Let your young kids know that have a set time to play around with the dough before the lesson begins. They will be more ready to learn once they have explored and played with the salt dough.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

Benjamin Franklin

Now, if you are like me, stepping in to help (or take over) for your child is a real temptation. However, it is important to not take over this project for your kids. During the map creating project, try to let your child create and take ownership of this project, helping as little as possible.

What are some more uses for Salt Dough? Taking Salt Dough to the Next Level

The Uses are really endless! There are so many things you can make with salt dough! If you give salt dough as an option to your children to extend their learning they will take it. (Mine children LOVE using salt dough!)

Art

Create replica sculptures from famous artists or old artifacts that you see at the museum.

Geography

Choose any region and create a three-dimensional map. You can even add buildings, roads, parks, etc.

History

Create a bust of a famous person from history or recreate one of the seven wonders of the world.

Science

Create a habitat, mold an organ from the human body, make a model of a cell and label it.

Create Fossils and bones, and recreate an archaeology dig.

FREE CREATIVE TIME (My children’s favorite)

Math

Make manipulatives to practice addition, subtraction, and other math properties. The recipe is a good lesson in measurement.

Make some Salt Dough and simply let your children play.

You can make your own play dough. BUT, you will need to add 2 more special ingredients… Cream of Tartar and food coloring.

What is the Purpose of Cream of Tartar in Salt Dough?

The ingredient Cream of Tartar makes the dough super soft and easy to work with. If you place your dough in a zip lock bag, it will keep for quite a while. The salt is a preservative, so it could last for months.

Hands-On Learning Benefits

There are many benefits of hands-on learning! When children interact with the world they take ownership of their learning. Chances are they are having fun as well when they are learning in a hands-on way. This emotional connection to learning is another important aspect of their education.

What are some ways that you can integrate salt-dough into your child’s hands-on learning? Do you have any other ways that you can use salt-dough in homeschooling?

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A Creative Teaching Series

When I started teaching my kids at home, there was nothing better than watching them light up and get excited when they were learning. History was not always easy to get them excited about until I took the approach of making it come alive. One way that we did that was through dressing up for the time period or historical event we were learning about… or Costumeschooling.

Reading about history, especially through a dry textbook, is anything but engaging. “Mom, why do I have to learn about these people that lived hundreds/thousands of years ago???” is a question that sometimes is asked by children. (I know I asked that question of my teachers).

But when we make history come alive and show them the importance of understanding our past, the desire to learn increases in children. The imagination of children is amazing, so including this into history lessons by dressing up is a way to help them get excited about history.

Another way to make history come alive is through living books (you can read this article here)

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

As homeschool parents, it is important to engage all the senses when teaching and learning. That is why I encourage costume wearing when we are learning. It creates lasting memories. And boy, is it fun!

Most kids enjoy dressing up and living in a world of make-believe, that is why integrating dress-up into homeschooling lessons is so essential and beneficial. Emotionally and physically connecting to moments in history through costumes and dress up can help children appreciate and remember those events. The best part is that it involves their imagination and intellect and you can’t go wrong there!

What is Costumeschooling?

Well, it is a word that I made up to encompass a style of homeschooling where the children dress up for whatever time period they are learning about. Kids feel like they are a part of the history they are learning about.

We even dress up in character with literature that we are reading. Think about it…What is more fun then wearing attire of Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe while we do a unit study on Anne of Green Gables??? Throw in some linament cake and raspberry cordial while you read L.M. Montgomery’s classic and you have for yourself a deep rooted memory of what you are learning. Not to mention fun family memory building time as well.

You can add to the excitement by getting other homeschoolers involved from your community. Host a dress up Civil war era party and invite others to dress up in the time period clothing. Have kids give speeches as different people in history. AND don’t forget to take lots of pictures.

Costumeschooling for History

The possibilities are endless here. You can dress up as often as you would like (or as little) based on whatever history you are learning about. You can attend museums or historical sites in costume and take lots of pictures.

Recite famous speeches in costume.

Memorizing good content has long been popular in homeschool circles. Memory work is often found during morning time (that is when my family does it). After you memorize and amazing speech such as Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream” Speech,  Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”, or Elizabeth I “Tilbury Speech.” Have your child dress up in character and recite it. Invite a group of people over to witness this momentous time in history or record it on video to watch as a family. I guarantee that your child will never forget the time they gave a speech as Elizabeth I!!!

Costumeschooling for Language arts

Like I mentioned earlier, your children can dress up in character as someone from a book that you are reading. The costumes don’t have to be anything expensive. Simply google or look up on Pinterest for ideas for diy simple costumes that you are trying to create. Go to thrift stores and look for after Halloween deals on constumes.

Constumeschooling for Science

My kids dressed up as important figures in science, Marie Curie and Benjamin Franklin. Each learned important facts from their lives and then we did a short documentary style video of them being interviewed as that person. Because they were so young, it was the cutest thing ever. We laughed till our stomachs hurt as we watched them act on video and answer questions as if they were that important historical figure. Years later, we watch that video and let me tell you, they will never forget who Marie Curie or Benjamin Franklin were or what they accomplished.

Again, this is an opportunity to invite others over and allow the historical figure to present who they are to the others. You can encourage acting and getting into character if the child is comfortable. Try getting involved as a parent. Dress up as your favorite scientist and present who you are to your children

As a teacher, I often dress up as well for the co-op classes that I teach. The children love it. Add in a fun accent and make their learning come alive.

Costumeschooling in Art History

Dressing up and recreating famous art

We did this activity during a covid-19 quarantine challenge. My kids and I (and dad too) really got into this fun idea. We perused through art books and thought about the costumes and clothes that we already had and were able to recreate some pretty famous art. Now, I could have extended the learning, but my kids are young, so we really just had fun with it. In the future I plan to spend more time studying the artist before we re-create it.

Search the internet for ideas from other families.

Here are some of our recreations:

Tips for Creating an Amazing Costumeschooling Environment

Here are a few tips to add dress up to your curriculum:

List out all the major historical periods that you will be covering. If your children are older, have them work out this part with you. Talk about what was worn and start brainstorming possible costumes you can create. You can search online or go to the library for books that have LOTS of pictures.

Visit Living Museums in time period attire

Depending on where you live, there are living museums that you can attend in costume. We have a field trip planned to a colonial farm where we will make butter and do other time period activities. Since we have been learning about early American History, adding the costumeschooling component will add to the richness of this learning field trip. We will take lots of pictures and most likely turn our adventures into our own book. The book will become a fun keepsake that we will reference over and over as we enjoy it through the years.

Don’t Forget the Food!

What is better than eating time period food while dressed up in costume? This is great for both young and older children. Getting them involved in the planning and baking of the food. Allow them to be creative in the presentation of the food. I have collected inexpensive dishes along the way at yard sales and thrift stores that way I can give my children the opportunity to use them without the fear of them breaking great grandma’s wedding china…

Costumeschooling doesn’t have to be expensive

While it is fun to purchase new costumes online or go to a costume store, it isn’t necessary.

I have found some of the best costume attire at thrift stores and yard sales! It is important to have a rough sketch or list of items that you are on the lookout for. I keep a tub and a clothes rack available for all of our costumes readily available so that my children can dress up whenever they would like.

If I am looking for a particular historical era of clothing, I search for authentic pictures and then screen clip them on my phone. I reference them when I go out.

I have found that the Goodwill and Salvation Army are reasonably priced during the Halloween season, so go around that time for good deals.

Make thrift store and yard sale rounds and do some searching often. Get a babysitter or take your kiddos along for the search. Pack your cup of coffee and a snack and have fun. You can even plan a friend date and have some down time while you search for costume treasures :-). Don’t forget to be hunting for used books as well!!!

If you DO have the funding to buy or make costumes (or you want to splurge on a couple), here are my suggestions:

How Do We Store Our Costumes?

I have a smaller house, so we don’t have a ton of space to store things in the house. I keep a rolling clothes rack in the garage of all of our costumes. Some costume accessories are stored in clear plastic tubs and labeled for ease of locating.

DON’T FORGET YOUR CAMERA!!!

Take lots of pictures of your children dressing up. You will not regret it! Even taking videos of them reenacting scenes from history is a fabulous idea.

Some of my fondest memories of school (I went to public school) was when we had dress up days. I remember it like it was yesterday… We had just learned about the California Gold Rush, and my teacher planned an entire week of festivities to celebrate. We planned and organized events, food, songs, plays, and so much more. We dressed up in attire from that time period and had such a wonderful time recreating history. I think of all the reasons why I remember that week like it was yesterday. There are so many reasons but dressing up made the emotional connection for me very real and memorable.

One More Thing…

You can extend your child’s learning by creating books about the historical event or scientist that you are dressed up as. See my post about making books to extend learning.

Chat with me:

Let me know if costumeschooling is a part of your homeschooling routine? Could you add it if not?

The post Costumeschooling: What it is and Why you Need to Add it to your Homeschooling appeared first on .

With everything being virtual right now because of Covid-19, putting together ways for your child to display their art creations needs to be creative. That is why I started using YouTube for my creative and artistic child. This allows my child to share their art with their family, friends, and other artistic kiddos!

Want to know how to create a virtual art expo for your artistic child on YouTube? I will give you step by step information on how to do just that.

Important YouTube note:

This is just my preference and how I view YouTube: I do not like showing my child’s face on YouTube, so I never showcase my child, just their art.

Also, I do not allow my child to be the one to check comments or view anything without me first doing so. I have had inappropriate comments made on my child’s art videos, which is sad.

I NEVER allow my child on YouTube without me first checking and then sitting by their side. YouTube can be used for good, however, sadly there is a lot of bad uses as well. PLEASE take caution. You can even set your videos to PRIVATE (which I sometimes do as well) and share them only with your specified audience.

What you need to make a YouTube Art Video:

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

iPhone or iPad (you can use any camera, however I will be using iMovie to edit the video, so you will need to use a different editing tool if you use something other than apple products.

a stand (I got mine from the 99cents store!!)

Paper

Art supplies

Your child’s creative and artistic mind

a YouTube channel (super simple to set up if you have an email account

Decide whether your videos will be private or public—A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION!!!

Steps to Make Your Virtual Art Show Using YouTube

Step 1. Allow your child to choose what they will draw. They need to be in the mood for this. (Never make your child to draw when they are not in the creative mood.)

Step 2. Once they have decided on what they will draw, set up their station. Pick a nice quiet place in your home with lots of natural lighting.

Step 3. Gather all their supplies: Art tools, art paper, etc.

Step 4. Set up the stand on a table and attach your iPhone to the stand.

Step 5. Make sure that the camera is turned around and that the drawing space is centered on the art paper.

Step 6. I put the camera on time-lapse, but you don’t have to.

Step 7. Record your child (only their hands) drawing their art piece.

Step 8. Periodically check the phone to make sure it is still recording and that the art is still centered. Sometimes our kids move the paper around, so check this often.

Step 9. When they are finished, stop recording, and take a picture of their finished art. You will use this final picture as their YouTube thumbnail.

Step 10. Upload your video into iMovie.

Step 11. Allow your child to choose from the free music available on iMovie and add it to their art video.

Step 12. Save video and upload it to your YouTube channel.

Step 12b. I do not have YouTube loaded on my phone, so I email the final video product to myself and do the YouTube work on my PC. Or I share it with dropbox.

Step 13. Add a fun title and decide whether you want your child’s video to be PUBLIC or PRIVATE. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!

Step 13b. Choose that the video is for kids for added safety.

Step 14. Share with Friends and Family!

Here is another example of my child’s art process videos:

Creating a Virtual Art Expo on YouTube Final Thoughts

YouTube is an easy platform to share your child’s art with friends and family (even the whole world). However, it is a platform that needs to be carefully monitored. We have successfully been able to share our child’s fun and creative art with others, inspiring other kids to be artists. We never allow our child to go on YouTube without one of us parents sitting by their side and we never allow our child to view comments made by others without us first seeing those comments.

I would recommend you set your video to “PRIVATE” and “Just for kids”

There have been times where we have only allowed her videos to be private, and other times where we have allowed them to be public. Again, we have decided to never show our child’s face. This is a decision you must carefully make for you and your family.

We have had a lot of fun watching the videos ourselves as a family, being proud of the gift of art that God has given to our child. Grandma and Grandpa also love being able to see videos that are sometimes too long to share via text or email.

Have you made any videos of your child’s art process?

What types of art have you posted on YouTube?

Can you share any tips on making videos?

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