A second type of spatial dynamics activity involves using a papier mache model. Materials needed for this activity are cardboard, papier mache, paint, balsa wood, and newspaper. For a unit on the Civil War, the class can construct a model of the Gettysburg battlefield measuring three feet by six feet. The students outline the battlefield, including the city of Gettysburg, roads, Culp's Hill, Little Round Top, Big Round Top, Devil's Den, Cemetery Ridge, and Seminary Ridge, all according to scale. Next, the papier mache model is created using cardboard and paint.
Students can add rocks and trees, as well as buildings and cannons constructed out of balsa wood.
Finally, students paint the model to add clarity and accuracy. Teachers can also use this model to stimulate student interest in other aspects of the war, such as tactics, weapons, use of geography in battles, and features of common soldiers' lives. Using the papier mache battlefield as a focal point for a Civil War study adds detail, dimension, and substance to this topic and promotes active learning. The lesson can focus on the origins of the trenches in World War I, living conditions in the trenches, and the use of new technologies invented during this war. The realism of this model can greatly enhance students' understanding of many aspects of this war.