For this lesson, we were instructed to pick a state, draw it out on the piece of plywood, and then use fast setting papier mâché to construct a topographic map. There were many steps to this entire project including drawing, shaping, and painting, so following directions is a social skill needed. First, students choose a state individually, then using transfer paper (carbonless copy paper) trace the outline of their chosen state from a paper to the piece of plywood. After copying the shape, students then take fast setting papier mâché (mix the solution with water so it is sticky) and shape out the state, creating the terrain of their state. After shaping all of it and letting it dry, students then paint the terrain to indicate its elevation for valleys, lakes, hills, mountains. After letting the paint dry, students then trace/draw in any rivers or major highways or label any towns or cities (if required).

One of the questions that our professor asked as we finished shaping our state and painting our state was are you satisfied with this work? meaning is this our best work. One of the reasons that I appreciate this sentence–especially when it comes to art–is because everyone is their own great artist. Some of us cannot paint or draw like van Gogh or Picasso, but can draw an amazingly realistic stick figure; that is their own artistic ability. So for this project specifically, some of us were looking at the fine details and making sure the fast setting paste got into every nook and cranny while others just did enough to make it look like the state. However, that is the aesthetic quality of the work of art to the artist. 

In full disclosure, we performed this project in EDUC-357, so we did not try it out on students. However, I remember doing a topographic map during my elementary years and it was a great visual for learning about maps and scaling. One thing that I learned while during this process is how big of a process it actually is, especially if it is done at the end of the week. The drying alone for both the paste and the paint will take a day for each. Making sure that students know the procedure for leaving supplies out (where the tracing, shaping, drying, and painting stations are) until the project is over.