Art Lesson Plan for Stage 2 Children: Map of the World Relief Art

Combining art with geography engages more learning channels than the two subjects separately. This art lesson plan involves studying maps and expressing what has been learned in an art form with 3D elements, ideal for kids in secondary schools.

Creating Maps with Art Materials

Map of the World Joseph Busby

Combining creative art activities with an academic subject matter, in this case, geography will help children absorb information more easily. In this art lesson, the shape of continents, countries and oceans are the focus of the lesson. Children will then recognize the shape of the world map instinctively, as each shape becomes meaningful. Emulating an old map such as that seen by Sir Francis Drake (see illustration) can be used as an example.

Art Materials for Kids’ Activities

A simplified map may be prepared. Intricate maps or one with small print or faded illustrations should be avoided. The map may be photocopied and overlaid with marker pen. Children may trace the outlines of the map themselves before selecting the art materials required. An aged map can be suggested by staining the paper with tea or simply overlying the paper with diluted brown paint; a colourful map can be produced with bold colours or patterns. Good quality kids’ paints should be used, which means avoiding cheap tablet paints that yield little colour. Whatever the effect the contours of the world map must be easily decipherable within the design.

3D Art Lesson for Schools

Children may embellish the map of the world in whatever style they choose, including the use of glue, string, paper Mache, ribbon or tissue paper. In this illustration, we see the contours of the world have been fringed with dark brown tissue paper in keeping with an aged effect. Care has been taken the 3D element follows the contours of the continents faithfully.

Map Making for Kids

As hands-on activities are being incorporated whilst learning about the map of the world, different learning channels are being fulfilled via the exploration of textures simultaneous to learning about the chief countries. This is likely to stimulate children’s interest in geography in a way that merely listening the teacher or studying maps may not satisfy.

Countries in Art

At some point, children must write on their artwork the chief countries, continents and the oceans of the world. This will help consolidate what has been learned so far. The teacher may decide but in this example, the following suggestions might help.

The oceans: Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Continents: Africa, Europe, Asia, Australasia, North America and South America.
Countries: US, China, Russia, Australia, Argentina, Canada, UK and others.
Chief Features: River Nile, the Amazon, Mount Everest, Kilimanjaro, Antarctica the equator and the poles.

Art Lesson Idea for Creating Maps

Creating a map of the world with 3D elements will help children learn about places and their locations on the globe. The map of the world will also be instinctively recognized. With various art materials at the children’s’ disposal, several learning channels are being stimulated, via the use of textures, colours and contours, which include visual and kinesthetic.

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