This activity is nice to undertake during Book 4's Units 2 or 3. The Study Circle can make their relief maps one week, let them dry for a week, and then paint them with water colors or tempura paint.

Purpose

An arts activity to create relief map of the Bab's (or Baha'u'llah's) journeys, to reflect on the scope and distance the Bab traveled.

Materials

A base for the relief map, like thick cardboard or a stiff material such as thin plywood.

Water colors or tempura paint, paint brushes, plastic cups for rinsing the paint brushes

Salt dough recipe (enough for 10 maps, 12 x 12 inches or 30 x 30 cm)

• 1 cup table salt (metric: 285 ml)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (metric: 570 ml)
• 1/2 -1 cup cold water (metric: 142 ml - 285 ml)

Time Period

45 minutes

Steps

Prepare salt dough just before the project, do not allow it to dry!

1. In a large bowl mix salt and flour ingredients together with a spoon.

2. Gradually add 1/2 cup water (142 ml) and continue to mix. Keep adding the remaining water until desired consistency. The dough should form a large ball.

3. Divide salt dough into 10 equal portions and distribute to each participant along with the base for the relief map.

4. Each participant should roll out the dough with a rolling pin or a jar to flatten it out over the base.

5. Create mountains by pinching the dough upwards, or other relief effects. Look at the map on page 45 in Book 4 for ideas. See also the various historical maps on the Ruhi Resources site.

6. Finish shaping and molding the maps, store in a cool, dry place until the next Study Circle session so the maps can dry.

7. At the next session, paint the maps with water colors or tempura paints. Again, look at the map on page 45, Unit 2, section 9 in Book 4 for ideas. You can mark out the Bab's journey's using a dotted line, or however you wish! You can identify key cities, paint the mountains, lakes, rivers, etc. Be creative, and while you work, reflect on the enormity of the Bab's travels.

Notes

You can make a larger map if you wish, which will allow for more relief elements to be created.

Other Applications

This activity can also be done for the exiles of Baha'u'llah.