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Welcome to Map World
The Problem Going From Globes To Maps
UNLIKE GLOBES, EVERY FLAT MAP MISREPRESENTS THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH IN SOME WAY
When we try to squash the round surface of the globe onto a flat map we must change one or more of the Four Sisters of Map Characteristics....(1) Direction, (2) Distance, (3) Shape and (4) Style
There is a special word geographers like to use for squashing round globes into flat maps. This word is PROJECT (right, its similar to your teacher's overhead projector). Actually they do try to squash the globe with their hands or feet or hammers. No, they like to use mathematics to PROJECT their maps. There are many different ways to PROJECT the globe into a map, and each way of projecting creates a map that looks different. PROJECTIONS are the different kinds of maps Geographers create when they PROJECT the globe in different ways.
Activity hints...
[1] Why don't you use your imagination to draw pictures of what you think the four sisters would look like? Be sure to write the name by each picture. This might help you to remember.
[2] You know that geographers really use mathematics to project their maps, but can you draw a cartoon of a funny way somebody might try to uses threir hands or hammers or what ever to squash a globe into a map?
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