Explore World Climate Zones with This Easy Salt Dough Map Project
Try this easy salt dough map to learn more about world climate zones!
Have you ever wondered what the weather is like in other parts of the world—or which countries have similar climates to where you live? That’s where studying world climates (and using a climate zone map) comes in handy. You might be surprised to find out that places on opposite sides of the globe actually share similar weather patterns. And sometimes, the climate in a place isn’t at all what you’d expect!
If you’ve ever wished the world came with a giant “climate cheat sheet” to explain why it’s snowing in one place and scorching hot in another, well, good news—you (or your teens) are about to make one. Out of salt dough. Yes, the same stuff your little cousin used to make a lumpy dinosaur.
(And the same thing we’ve used to make everything from maps to cell models.)
World Climate Zones
Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of climate zones—Earth’s way of saying, “Not all weather is created equal.” In this blog series, we’ll be exploring the big picture of global weather patterns: what they are, where they are, and why they matter.
This post kicks things off with:
- A quick intro to what climate zones even are (spoiler: they’re not some kind of sci-fi force field)
- A hands-on salt dough project to make your very own climate zone map—bonus points if you don’t eat it!
- A light sprinkling of science, a pinch of geography, and maybe a glob or two of glue
Whether your teens are obsessed with weather, looking for an excuse to dodge today’s math assignment, or just excited to play with dough, you’ve landed in the right spot. No passport required—just bring your curiosity… and maybe some paper towels. Things could get a little messy. (That just makes stuff more fun!)
What Are Climate Zones, Anyway?
Climate zones are regions of the world that have similar patterns of temperature, rainfall, and seasons. In other words, they’re like “weather neighborhoods” where the climate behaves in a certain way most of the time. Some zones are hot and wet (like tropical rainforests), some are dry and dusty (hello, deserts), and some are cold enough to keep snow on the ground for months.
Scientists use climate zones to help explain why certain plants, animals, and lifestyles are common in some places—and totally different in others. It’s all about long-term weather patterns, not just what’s happening outside today.
Fun Facts About Climate Zones
To give you some ideas about what we mean about climate zones and their differences, check out these fun facts:
- Antarctica is a desert.
Yep. Cold, icy, and technically a desert. It gets less rain than the Sahara—just way colder and with more penguins. - The Tropics are basically Earth’s sauna.
Located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, these zones stay warm all year long. You can leave your hoodie at home. (Yes, even those teens who wear them all summer long!) - Deserts aren’t always hot.
Some deserts, like the Gobi in Asia, get freezing cold at night. So pack your sunscreen and your hoodie. - Mountains mess everything up (in a good way).
Altitude can create little “climate bubbles” where the weather is totally different from the areas around it. It’s like the mountain said, “Nah, I’m doing my own thing.” - Rainforests don’t take breaks.
In tropical rainforest zones, it can rain every day. Your umbrella would become a permanent accessory. - People have adapted to live in every climate zone.
From igloos in the Arctic to stilt houses in the tropics, humans are incredibly good at figuring out how to make weird weather work. - The equator gets 12 hours of daylight… all year.
No early sunsets. No dragging yourself out of bed in the dark. Just endless perfect lighting for selfies. - Some places have more than one climate zone. Yep, a single country—or even a single state—can have multiple climate zones. Take the U.S., for example: Hawaii has tropical rainforests, Alaska has polar tundra, and Arizona has desert. It’s like a climate buffet, all in one nation.
- Your climate zone might decide what snacks grow near you.
No tropical climate? Sorry, no local bananas. But cold climates can give you awesome berries, root veggies, or apple trees. - The word “climate” doesn’t mean “today’s weather.”
Weather is what’s happening now. Climate is the big-picture average over decades. So if it snows in Florida once, it’s weird—but it doesn’t make Florida a snow zone.
World Climate Zones Salt Dough Map
Now that you know a little bit about what climate zones are, let’s make a map that you can use for easy reference as you dig a little deeper! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Flour
- Salt
- Water
- A blank outline map of the world (Unless you’re more artistic than we are!)
- Cardboard (A pizza box works great or you can cut up one of the many Amazon boxes you probably have lying around.)
- A pencil, a Sharpie, and some paint
Step 1: Prep Your Map Surface
Start by getting your base ready. We took a blank world map and had it enlarged to 11″ x 16″ at a local office supply store. Bigger is definitely better here—small details can be tricky to handle with salt dough.
Next, place your enlarged map on top of a sturdy piece of cardboard (we used a recycled pizza box). Using a pencil, trace the outline of the continents onto the cardboard. Press firmly, and go over each line a few times to leave a clear impression in the cardboard.
Once you’ve got the full outline pressed in, grab a Sharpie and trace over the lines to make the map easier to see. This will be your guide when adding the salt dough in the next step.
Step 2: Make Your Salt Dough
In a large bowl, mix equal parts flour and salt. We used an entire 26-ounce container of salt (about 2 cups) and added 2 cups of flour to match.
Then, slowly add water a little at a time, mixing as you go, until the dough comes together. You’re aiming for a smooth, moldable texture—not sticky, but soft and easy to shape. Think Play-Doh, not pancake batter.
Dough Troubleshooting Tips:
- Too sticky? Add a little more flour and knead it in until the dough firms up.
- Too dry or crumbly? Add a splash of water and mix until it softens.
Step 3: Add the Salt Dough to Your Map
Start filling in your map outline with the salt dough. Since this isn’t a topographic map, there’s no need to build up mountains or create elevation. Keep it simple—thin and smooth works great, kind of like a thin and crispy pizza crust!
(Added bonus: the thinner the dough, the faster it dries—much quicker than some of our past salt dough projects.)
Don’t stress over tiny details. Some of those little islands are nearly impossible to sculpt out of salt dough anyway. Keep a bit of dry flour nearby in case your hands get sticky.
Focus on shaping the continents and larger islands with a general outline. You can always draw in the smaller ones later with a marker if you want to add more detail.
Once you’ve got your map shape put together, just let it dry for 24-48 hours. Then, you’re ready for the next step.
Step 4: Time to Paint!
Now for the fun part—painting your climate zones!
We used a printed, color-coded world climate zones map as our guide. First, we marked off the different climate regions on our salt dough map with a pencil. To keep things straight, we also lightly labeled each section with the first letter of its color (like “G” for green) before painting—super helpful to avoid mix-ups!
Once your zones are marked, it’s time to add color! Here’s the color key we used:
- Polar – light blue
- Subpolar – dark blue
- Temperate – green
- Subtropical – orange
- Tropical – yellow
- Equatorial – red
We chose to leave the oceans unpainted, but feel free to get creative and add water or waves if you’d like!
And that’s a wrap on your salt dough climate zone map! You’ve shaped continents, painted your way through global climates, and maybe even ended up with a little flour on your elbows (happens to the best of us).
This project isn’t just a creative way to get messy—it’s a fun, hands-on intro to how our planet’s climate works. From the chilly polar zones to the toasty equator, you’ve built a colorful snapshot of Earth’s incredible weather patterns.
We’d love to see what you made!
Snap a pic of your finished map and share it with us:
- Tag us on Instagram
- Post it on Pinterest
- Drop it in the comments on our Facebook page
- Or feature it in the comments right here on the blog!
Let’s see those salty masterpieces!