Suggested Grades

5+

Objective

Students will examine basic world geography to create a papier mâché globe.

Materials

• newspapers
• balloons
• 10 lbs. of flour (for 30 or so globes)
• big pail for papier mâché mixture
• green and blue tempera paint & brushes
• markers (to draw in borders, features, etc.)

Method

• Tear newspaper into one inch strips.
• Have each student inflate a balloon.
• Cover desks with newspaper.
• Distribute strips of paper.
• Mix flour and water to a paste consistency and put in pans (you may want to do this in advance), and distribute.
• Dip strips of paper in pans and wrap around balloon (at least 4 layers- you may want to apply layers over a few days for it to dry fully).
• Put finished globes on clean newspaper and let dry overnight.
• Pop and remove balloon.
• Draw in continent boundaries.
• Paint in continents with green tempera paint, and allow to dry overnight.
• Paint in water masses with blue tempera paint, and allow to dry overnight.
• Using markers, redraw continent borders and label land and water masses.