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:

• In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of flour and 1 cup of salt.
• 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:

• Lay a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil on a flat surface. This will be the base for your map.
• 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:

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

Add Details:

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

Let the Dough Dry:

• 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:

• 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:

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

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