How to Make a Map of Rivers & Mountains on Posterboard

Maps today are made by using satellites and advanced technology, normally requiring the skills of an experienced cartographer. Traditionally maps were made from vague drawings of land and water features. Making a map on a piece of poster board is a great way to teach your kids about local geography. A project like this can help your child develop geography skills and enhance creativity. All you'll need is a poster board and a few markers.

Things You'll Need

  • Poster board
  • Markers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set the poster board on a flat surface to work such as a table or on the floor.

    • 2

      Select an area on a map that you and your child have been to with a few rivers and mountains. If you haven't been to an area like this, select an area that you or your child are interested in visiting, perhaps for vacation.

    • 3

      Draw a map compass with a black marker in the upper right hand corner of the poster board. You can draw a plus sign or a cross, and label each point of the symbol with the corresponding directions. North at the top, east at the right, west at the left and south at the bottom.

    • 4

      Draw a large circle to indicate the base of a mountain with a brown marker corresponding to the map you're reading. In the center place a small circle, and extend a few lines from the small circle to the base circle to indicate the lines or ridges that a mountain has. Color in the mountain using brown and black to add detail. Repeat this step with any other mountains that you need to draw.

    • 5

      Use a blue marker and draw a wavy line in the pattern of the river on the map you're reading. Draw another line parallel to the original blue line to make the river look wider. Ensure that you widen the river corresponding to the river on the map. Repeat this for other rivers and streams on your map.

    • 6

      Color in the vacant areas with green to indicate land and trees corresponding to your map.