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HOW TO MAKE A RAG MAP
OBJECT: A Map of Palestine Constructed with Pieces
of Rags
Here is another way of teaching children sacred geography.
It is a map of the Holy Land made of pieces of canton flannel cut out into various forms and put together in map form before the class. Secure a piece of black canton flannel or dye it black if it cannot be secured in that color. Mount it on a frame with the rough finished side on the front, giving it a slight tilt backward. Make this background as large as you desire, the larger the better, and make all the figures herein mentioned of the same material and put the rough side of each figure against the background, pressing down the figure and smoothing it out with the hand, and it will stay in its place without the use of pins or tacks. The fact that it stays put develops a great degree of interest in the little folks, and they will watch you with big eyes of curiosity. In building this rag map first cut out a number of strips about one inch wide, and with these make the coast-line.
After this cut out strips of blue representing the water ways and put them in their proper places. After this cut out a number of pointed pieces about five inches to the peak. These will represent the mountains. Put these in their respective places. Now cut out a number of square red pieces about two inches square, and cause these to represent the cities and put them in their proper locations.
After this much of the map is finished drill the children in the location of the rivers, mountains, and cities. Let them put the figures in their proper places and build that part of the map themselves. After this teach them the Bible history of each locality.
Cut out a star in yellow, put this over Bethlehem, and tell them the Christmas story. Put a red cross over Jerusalem, and call it the Crucifixion City, and tell them the story of the Cross. Now make a flat form of a water-pot and place it next to the city of Cana and tell the story of the first miracle.
Next cut out in brown a small ladder and place it next to Bethel. Tell the story of Jacob and his dream.
Cut out a representation of a bottle which you call a "bottle of oil," and place it near to Jericho, and tell the story of the Good Samaritan and how the oil was poured into the wounds of the man who fell among thieves.