California Four Regions Project

In history, students are learning about California’s four regions: the Pacific
Coast, Mountain, Central Valley, and Desert.

Project:
 Each student will be able to identify and share special
characteristics and features of one distinct region of
California.

Directions:
 Students have three choices on creating one of the following projects:
region collage, region salt-dough map, or a region cookie map.

Goal:
 Your project must include the following:

1. Salt dough or cookie region:

o A small map of California (on the side) with the region
distinctly represented inside and labeled.
o The region must include a map key (legend).

2. Collage: Pictures must be labeled.

** All work must be labeled (your name, date, and name of region)

Magazine cut-outs, illustrations, objects, food, or words that evidence

knowledge of the region’s characteristics and features:

 Two landforms: _______________, _______________

 One natural feature (industry) _______________

 One job: _______________

 One recreation: _______________

 Two landmarks: _______________, _______________

  One wildlife (animal) _______________ (extra credit)

 One vegetation (plant) _____________ (extra credit)

** Extra credit will be determined by your creativity.

1. Collage:
 Poster
 Pictures (magazine cut-outs, pictures from the internet, postcards,
and/or pictures you draw
 Side map/label all pictures

2. Salt-dough map:
 One plywood base, a cut out piece of cardboard box, or a poster board
(the ones you use for a science project)
 Dough mixture
 Small figurines (don’t really need to buy them – first look around the
house or try to make them) to represent plants, people, animals, and
more.
 Paint or markers (paint would be better)
 Glue, tape or something used to stick your objects

Salt-dough recipe:
 3 cups white flour (not self-rising)
 1 ¼ cups of warm water
 1 cup of salt
Prepare the salt dough as follows:
 Pour the salt into the bowl.
 Add the warm water, stirring until the salt is dissolved.
 Add the flour and stir.
 Mix and knead the dough by folding and refolding until it is smooth
and firm.
 Form the dough into a ball. (If placed in a covered container in a
refrigerator, the dough will last up to a week.)

3. Cookie map: (You can make any kind of cookie you want, but this is a
recipe for snickerdoodle cookie.)
  Prep Time: 15 mins
 Cook Time: 10 mins
 Total Time: 25 mins
 Serving: 24 cookies (You will have to figure out how much to divide
from the batch to make your region.)

Ingredients:

 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)

 1 ½ cups sugar
 2 large eggs
 2 teaspoons vanilla
 2 ¾ cups flour
 1 ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
 1 teaspoon salt

Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture:

 1 ¼ cup sugar
 1 ½ tablespoons cinnamon

Instructions

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

 In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar for 4-5 minutes until
light and fluffy. Scrape sides of the bowl and add eggs and vanilla.
Cream for 1-2 minutes longer.
 Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt, just until
combined.
 In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon.
 If time allows, wrap the dough and let it refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.
Roll into small balls (but a bigger ball for the region) until round and
smooth. Drop into the cinnamon-sugar mixture and coat well. Using a
spoon, coat for a second time, ensuring the cookie balls are
completely covered.
  Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-11
minutes. Let cool for several minutes on baking sheet before
removing the pan.

This homework project is due on Wednesday, October 7, 2020.

Student’s acknowledgement: ________________________________

Parent’s acknowledgement: _________________________________