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Learning Stick
Papier-mâché Landforms
Who says learning about landforms can’t be fun?
Engage students in a collaborative, hands-on
activity to teach topographical features.
Grade Level: 3-6
Objectives
Students will identify the characteristics that scientists use
to classify land forms and bodies of water.
Students will use nonfiction text to build their
understanding of landforms.
Students will follow directions in sequential steps to create
a model of various landforms and bodies of water.
Literature Selections
Investigating Landforms: Earth and Space Science by Lynn
van Gorp
What is a Landform by Rebecca Rissman
U.S. Landforms by Dana Meachen Rau
Skills
topographical features, papier-mâché, painting, collaboration
Set up and Prepare
Content Overview
Write the word geomorphology on the board or chart paper. Explain to students that geomorphologists are scientists
that study the topographic features of the earth’s surface. Engage prior knowledge and spark curiosity about
landforms by creating a KWL chart on the board or chart paper to identify what students already know and the
questions they may have. Introduce the lesson by reading the book Investigating Landforms: Earth and Space
Science by Lynn van Gorp aloud to the students. Share the illustrations as you read, and stop periodically to engage
students with the discussion questions provided in the text. Revisit the KLW chart to add new information students
glean from the text. Pay special attention to the map on page 6, and explain that the students will be working in small
groups to create a topographical model of various landforms and
bodies of water found on earth.
Materials
Elmer’s® School Glue, large pieces of cardboard for the base,
newspaper, masking tape, paint, paper towels, shallow bowls (for the
glue/water mixture), toothpicks
Preparation
Cover the work surface and provide materials necessary for small
groups of students to work together. Create a glue/water mixture of 3
parts glue and one part water. This is a multi-step project that requires
drying time between each step. Make sure you allow several days to
complete the project.
Elmer’s Products, Inc., © 2015
Directions
Begin by sketching the map of topographical features with pencil on a
piece of cardboard. Create the main landforms (i.e., mountains,
volcanoes, peninsula, etc.) by crumpling and twisting large pieces of
newspaper. Brush a generous amount of the glue/water mixture on to
the cardboard. Place the newspaper shapes on to the cardboard and
use masking tape to “tighten” them.
Next, dip large pieces of paper towels into the glue/water mixture and
smooth them on the newspaper shapes. This will create a foundation
for your model and a more solid surface for painting later.
Place the model aside to dry. Depending upon the layers, it may take
24-48 hours to dry completely.
When the base layers are dry, continue to add to the model by sculpting
features using paper towels dipped in the glue/water mixture. Continue
to add layers, sculpt the features, and build the model until it represents
the landforms appropriately. Brush a final coat of the glue/water mixture
over the entire model. Let dry completely.
Finally, paint the features. Complete the model by adding markers to
identify the landforms.
Lesson Extensions
Explore images of landforms taken from space and research the
technology used to do this.
Conduct a gallery walk of the models so that the student groups can
share the landforms they’ve created and demonstrate their
understanding of topographical features.
Write a paragraph that describes the landforms in your model.
Learning Standards
CCSS: ELA-Literacy: Explain how specific aspects of a text's
illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story.
CCSS: ELA-Literacy: Ask and answer questions about key details in a
text.
CCSS: ELA-Literacy: Identify the main purpose of a text, including
what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe.
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Elmer’s Products, Inc., © 2015