Nature Finds: Map Making

Make a map for an imaginary island or make one to hide a real treasure in your home or neighbourhood!

Materials

• Cardstock
• Tea bag (black tea or something similar works best)
• Felt or construction paper
• Permanent marker
• Water
• Small plastic container
• Smock
• Stick(s)
• Glue
• Scissors
• Ribbon (optional)
• Craft tray
• Any other embellishments you might like to add (we used craft gems)

Directions

• First we are going to make your map paper look aged.  Rip the edges of your cardstock slightly.  Fill your plastic container with approximately 5 tablespoons of warm water. Allow your tea bag to steep in the water for about 5 minutes.  Then using the tea bag, gently wipe it over your paper (after you have placed it in your craft tray as tea can stain light surfaces!).  Discard the bag and the water.   Allow your paper to dry overnight.

• Cut out land forms and water out of felt/construction paper or structures, road ways if you are making a city map.

• Create a dotted line for the pathway to find the treasure, adding an “x” to mark the spot where the treasure is buried.

• When your map is complete, glue a stick to the back on the edge of the paper and wrap the map around (creating a scroll of sorts).  Tie it closed with a ribbon.  Or add two if you want to hang it for display instead.

• If you made a map that is “real”, then create a series of written clues and hide a real treasure!

Extensions:

• Draw a compass on your map and write up a set of clues based on directions (e.g, Go north until you reach the bubbly creek and then go west until you are at the foot of Munson Mountain…)

• OR with a ruler, make your map into a grid using letters and numbers and set up an activity where another person (such as a classmate) needs to find items at certain locations (“What is at C3?  Or describe the location of an item: “What are the coodinates of the palm tree?”)

Purpose

• Understanding that maps correspond to locations.
• Making props for pretend play.
• Learning directionality and spatial awareness.

Safety Notes

• Be aware of others when using/playing with a stick.
• Put a craft tray under your paper when applying the tea so as to not stain a surface.
• Use warm water, rather than boiling to prevent potentials injuries.