On smaller sheets of paper, groups or individuals create environmental 'background'. In the Pacific Northwest, background will be forested areas filled with trees or meadows, and wetlands. These pieces can be placed on the scene after the major landforms and water are down and secured. Having each student or pair create a part of the background is easiest if they have a small piece of similarly colored paper on which to glue trees, etc. Lay down the grid for mapping using lengths of string.
Class decides on symbols for map legend and students fill in own map accordingly.
A transparency is helpful so the teacher can model-starting with major landforms, then adding water bodies, swamps, etc. Summarize the environment. Discuss placement of land and water forms. Practice talking about the location of specific landforms using the map coordinates. The following are suggestions to extend the project into various curricular areas.