I don't think this will help you much if your map is dry, but we stuck toothpicks into ours when the dough was still moist and used stickers like flags to label those areas.  Maybe you could write on it with a sharpie.

Hi there, 

We're really enjoying using our salt dough map for Module 2.  However, we're having a really hard time finding a way to get our battle labels to stick.  Anyone have suggestions?  What have you done that's worked?  I thought about using the putty you use to hang posters and sticking a flag in it for each battle, but even it won't stick to the salt dough.  I don't know about my children (almost 9 and 4 1/2) but the map is really helpful to me, and I'd like to be able to label things well :o(

Thanks, all!

LillyLou

We made maps of MO for our state history with sugar cookie dough.  I cut a large pattern of the state out and we baked one for each child.  Then we made icing in green and blue and they looked at the map to see where land and water was.  Then I had them use choco chips to put in the mountains and some sprinkles that were shaped like pine trees (Christmas sprinkles) for the forests.  We had flower sprinkles and they used those for the major cities.  I can't remember what we used for roads, but a piece of licorice lace would work.  Then we took pictures of them and they shared their states with the family - and I admit it, I threw the rest away.  =)  But htey still talk about it, so it was worth it.  i haven't read about what you do with the salt dough yet, so I hope this is in context. 

I also read the idea to take a picture of the finished product so it can be thrown away.  We'll keep it a little while...but not forever. :)  I can see with a larger family to work in teams.  With my 2, I'm pretty sure now, we'll do them individually.  Thanks for your input!

We did salt maps and I had each make their own. I didn't know what to do with them when they were done and the littlest one was appalled when I finally threw them away. THEN I came across the idea (I think Mystery of History's author gets the credit for this one) to make a cake and decorate it just like we would a salt dough map. I can have the children each make their own and we can then give the cakes away (and give the recipient a little geography lesson!). However, if we were to make anymore salt maps, I'd have them work as teams.

Blessings,

Cindy

I have started looking in depth at the Genesis-Deuteronomy Ancient Egypt family study handbook.  So far I am really liking what I see!  I just came across the activity for making a salt dough map of Egypt.  My question is, for those of you with more than one child, does each child make their own?  My first thought was we'd make only one (I will have a 1st and 2nd grader), but then I thought it might be better for each one to make their own.  That way they can make it how they want.  I was just curious what others have done.
Thanks!