Students at Wea Ridge Middle School worked in small groups, leaned over tables, piecing together continents, oceans and mountains. They are learning geography in a way no flat map could teach. Thanks to a grant from the Lafayette Breakfast Optimist Club, they are building a 3D world map that shows the Earth's elevations and contours.

"Maps on paper or on a computer are flat," social studies teacher Michelle Sanson says. "It's hard for students to grasp how elevation affects where and how people live. This project brings those concepts to life."

Sanson applied for a grant to purchase the 3D world map. Eighteen seventh grade students were selected through a lottery to help assemble the 41.5-by-26.5-inch map, which took roughly 55 hours to complete. Another 65 students had volunteered to participate, showing the excitement around the project.

As they worked, students asked questions about placement, direction, and continents, collaborating to ensure each of the 11,000-plus pieces was in the right spot. "It was wonderful to see everyone working together," Sanson says.

The finished map will hang in Sanson's classroom for years, helping students understand elevation, latitude, longitude and why populations and farming are concentrated in certain areas. Beyond geography, Sanson hopes students take away lessons in teamwork and persistence. "Assembling a puzzle this big takes time, effort and cooperation," she says.

Sanson hopes a new group of Wea Ridge students will benefit from this hands-on approach to learning about the world each year.