Arkansas Salt Relief Map
Lesson Plan by Maenette LaRue, Alma, Arkansas
2000-2001 Butler Fellow
Revised 2007-08 School Year Utilizing 2006 Social Studies Frameworks Including
2007 Arkansas History Amendments and 2007 School Library Media Frameworks
Students will construct a relief map of Arkansas using salt, flour, and water. They will then
paint their three-dimensional maps and label the important geographic features of our state,
such as mountain ranges, rivers, cities, surrounding states, etc. This lesson works well as a
culminating activity after in-depth study of the geographic features of Arkansas. It can be
used as extra points or for a grade.
Making an Arkansas salt relief map will take one class period to explain to students and
approximately six weeks for them to complete at home, with help from their families. Since
many parents are not native Arkansans or did not take Arkansas History when they were in
school, they often get as much out of constructing and labeling the maps as do the
students.
Grades:
3rd - 4th
Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks:
Arkansas History Student Learning Expectations:
G.1.3.8
Locate mountain ranges in Arkansas:
*
Ozark
*
Ouachita
G.1.3.9
Locate major rivers in Arkansas:
*
Arkansas
*
Mississippi
*
Red
*
White
*
Ouachita
*
St. Francis
G.1.4.2
G.1.4.9
Locate and describe physical characteristics of the six natural regions
of Arkansas:
*
Arkansas River Valley
*
Crowley’s Ridge
*
Mississippi Alluvial Plain
*
Ozark Mountains (plateau)
*
West Gulf Coastal Plain
*
Ouachita Mountains
Locate major rivers in the United States:
*
Mississippi
*
Ohio
*
Arkansas
*
Hudson
*
Missouri
*
Colorado
Social Studies Student Learning Expectations:
G.1.3.11
Explain the purpose of a physical map
G.1.3.12
Utilize the map key/legend to interpret physical maps
School Library Media Student Learning Expectations:
A.4.3.1, A.4.4.1 – Use information from a variety of sources to accomplish a specific purpose
A.5.3.2, A.5.4.2 – Collaborate responsibly to solve problems
Related Encyclopedia of Arkansas Entries:
Media Gallery: Maps
Introduction:
The teacher will select the appropriate student learning expectations for his or her class,
review the key terms, and make copies of selected activities included in the lesson.
Collaboration with the school library media specialist for assistance with the utilization of
the technology resource tool for Arkansas History is suggested. See above links or visit
the online Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture at
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Collaboration with the art teacher is also
suggested. Salt Relief Maps could be part of an art display.
Materials:
• Access to a computer lab
ƒ An Arkansas map that shows topographic information for each student (not included)
ƒ A copy of the Arkansas Salt Relief Map Instruction Sheet for each student (included
below)
ƒ A copy of the Arkansas Salt Relief Map—Required Items for each student (included
below)
ƒ Optional: Examples of salt relief maps made by previous students
ƒ Optional: Arkansas Salt Relief Map Grading Sheet for the teacher (included below)
Activities:
1. After teaching the geographic regions, rivers, cities, historical landmarks, and other
features of the state in-depth, take one class period to explain the salt relief map project to
students in detail. Give each student an Arkansas map, a copy of the Arkansas Salt Relief
Map Instruction Sheet, and a copy of Arkansas Salt Relief Map— Required Items.
You may want to add or delete items from the list of required items, depending on
what you have talked about in class and what you want your students to be able to identify.
2. Explain relief map, map legend, and compass rose to your students. Be sure they
understand that they are going to make their own relief maps of Arkansas, what they are
expected to include on their maps, when the project is due, and how it will be graded.
Students will have lots of questions as the project goes on. Maps made by previous
students can be helpful in answering their questions and clarifying your expectations.
3. Remind students on a regular basis of how much time they have left. Stress that they
can not complete their maps in one or two nights because the salt, flour, and water mixture
has to dry naturally and then be painted and labeled.
Evaluation:
Students’ maps can be required projects for a grade or for extra credit. See the Arkansas
Salt Relief Map Grading Sheet (below) for one potential grading rubric. On the grading
sheet below, each of the 34 items on the required list is worth three points, except the
compass rose which is worth one point. Students receive one point for having the required
item on the map and labeled, two points for having it close to the correct location and
labeled, and three points for having it in the correct location and labeled. Remember to
deduct one point if they do not use the numbering system properly.
If the teacher chooses to grade the maps differently, he or she should be sure to
change the handouts you give to students where necessary.
Extensions:
1. Have students make a salt relief map of the United States or the county in which they
live.
2. Have students draw or paint a map of the town or city in which they live or an Arkansas
historical event they have studied.
See Butler Center Lesson Plan: Arkansas Highlands and Lowlands
For Grade Levels K-2
Lesson Plan by Carrie Hardin, Joe Mathias Elementary, Rogers
2005-06 School Year
Revised 2007-08 School Year Using 2006 Social Studies Frameworks
The goal of the unit is to provide kindergarten teachers with a plan to help them teach Arkansas
history student learning expectations about basic geography in the state. The lesson also
provides the teacher with information on an art activity to accompany content. It is suggested
that this unit could be a part of a longer unit on communities. The lesson can be adapted for
first and second grade students
***************************************************************************************************
These lesson plans are made possible in part through the support of the Arkansas
Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Taylor Foundation (Little Rock, Arkansas) makes Butler Center lesson plans possible.
Contact the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System, 100 Rock St., Little
Rock, AR, 72201. 501-918-3056 www.butlercenter.org and www.cals.lib.ar.us
Arkansas Salt Relief Map Instruction Sheet
Worth: _______________
Date project is due: _______________________
Materials you will need:
A flat piece of heavy cardboard (such as the side of a heavy cardboard box), a very large
pizza box, or a thin, square piece of wood; large mixing bowl; measuring cup; pencil;
watercolors, poster paints, or food coloring; paint brushes; Arkansas Road Map; the list of
required items; and lots of time and patience.
Parental guidance is advised but remember this is the student’s project, not the parents’.
Recipe:
1 cup of table salt
2 cups of flour (use all-purpose flour, not self-rising flour)
1 cup of water
Directions:
1. In pencil, draw or trace an outline of Arkansas on your cardboard or piece of wood.
2. Mix the salt, flour, and water in a large bowl until smooth and pliable (like cookie dough,
not runny like cake batter). You might need to add more water or flour and salt to get the
right consistency. You might also need to double or triple this recipe, depending on the size
of your map.
3. Spread a thin layer of the mixture within the outline of Arkansas, trimming any excess.
4. Refer to your state map. With your hands, use more mixture to form the elevated regions
(Ozark Plateau, Ouachita Mountains, Mount Magazine, and Crowley’s Ridge). Remember
that the Ozark Plateau is a region of flat-topped mountains and the Ouachita Mountains are
folded with narrow ridges running east and west.
5. Form the rivers with a pencil or knife.
6. Set your relief map aside in a safe place to dry. The drying time will depend on how thick
your mixture is and the weather. Your map must dry naturally. If you try to speed up the
drying process in any way, such as putting it in an oven or using a hair dryer, it is extremely
likely to crack and you will have to start over.
7. After your map is dry, make a map legend.
8. Paint your map according to your legend and locate and label the required items on your
map. BE CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN AS YOU LEARN ABOUT OUR STATE.
Arkansas Salt Relief Map—Required Items
Instructions:
The following geographic locations must be clearly labeled AND in their correct locations on
your salt relief map. Use the same numbering system as below. If you do not, one point
will be deducted for each item. Each required item is worth three points.
Color the geographic regions of the state (#19-24) so that they can be easily distinguished
from each other. Be sure the colors match those on your map legend. Your legend is worth
three points. Include also a compass rose, worth one point.
You may add more items for extra points, but be careful not to add so many that your map
is crowded and hard to grade.
1. Missouri
2. Tennessee
3. Mississippi
4. Louisiana
5. Texas
6. Oklahoma
7. Little Rock/North Little Rock
8. Fort Smith
9. Pine Bluff
10. Jonesboro
11. Fayetteville
12. Hot Springs
13. Springdale
14. West Memphis
15.El Dorado
16. Texarkana
17. Helena
18.Arkansas Post
19.Mount Magazine – add its elevation for an extra point
20. Ouachita Mountains
21.Ozark Plateau (Mountains)
22.Crowley’s Ridge
23.Mississippi Alluvial Plain
24.West Gulf Coastal Plain
25.Arkansas River Valley
26.Arkansas River
27. Red River
28.St. Francis River
29. White River
30. Ouachita River
31. Mississippi River
32. Buffalo River
Arkansas Salt Relief Map Grading Sheet
ITEM
POINTS OUT OF 3
1. Missouri
_____
2. Tennessee
_____
3. Mississippi
_____
4. Louisiana
_____
5. Texas
_____
6. Oklahoma
_____
7. Little Rock/North Little Rock
_____
8. Fort Smith
_____
9. Pine Bluff
_____
10. Jonesboro
_____
11. Fayetteville
_____
12. Hot Springs
_____
13. Springdale
_____
14. West Memphis
_____
15. El Dorado
_____
16. Texarkana
_____
17. Helena
_____
18. Arkansas Post
_____
19. Mount Magazine
_____
20. Ouachita Mts.
_____
21. Ozark Plateau
_____
22. Crowley’s Ridge
_____
23. Mississippi Alluvial Plain
_____
24. West Gulf Coastal Plain
_____
25. Arkansas River Valley
_____
26. Arkansas River
_____
27. Red River _____
28. St. Francis River
_____
29. White River
_____
30. Ouachita River
_____
31. Mississippi River
_____
32. Buffalo River
_____
33. Map Key
_____
34. Compass Rose (1 point)
_____
TOTAL POINTS
Extra Points +
Deductions FINAL GRADE
_____
_____
_____
_____