Map Projections: Representing a Sphere

Active learning works well for map projections because students need to physically engage with the concept of representing a three-dimensional world in two dimensions. By moving, building, and discussing, they connect abstract lines and symbols to real landscapes, making the abstract concrete.

• 6th Class
• Global Explorers: Our Changing World
• 3 activities
• 25 min–45 min

Learning Objectives

1. Explain why all flat maps inherently distort the Earth's surface.
2. Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of at least three different map projections (e.g., Mercator, Gall-Peters, Robinson).
3. Evaluate the suitability of specific map projections for tasks like navigation, thematic mapping, or global communication.
4. Identify the type of distortion (area, shape, distance, direction) present in common map projections.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Great Map Scavenger Hunt

In small groups, students use a local OS map to find specific features using 6-figure grid references. They must identify a church, a bridge, and a specific height above sea level, recording the symbol and name for each.

Prepare & details

Explain why all flat maps distort the Earth's surface.

Facilitation Tip: During The Great Map Scavenger Hunt, circulate with a checklist to ensure all groups interpret grid references correctly before moving to the next clue.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Simulation Game

⏱ 45 min·Individual

Simulation Game: Contour Clay Models

Students look at a simple contour map of a hill and recreate it using layers of playdough or clay. Each layer represents a 10-meter interval, helping them visualize how close lines represent steep slopes and wide lines represent gentle ones.

Prepare & details

Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of different map projections.

Facilitation Tip: When making Contour Clay Models, demonstrate how to slice the model vertically to reveal the cross-section that matches the contour lines.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Route Planning

Pairs are given a starting point and a destination on a map. They must plan the 'easiest' walking route, taking into account distance (using the scale) and elevation (avoiding steep hills), then explain their choice to another pair.

Prepare & details

Evaluate the suitability of various map projections for specific geographical tasks.

Facilitation Tip: In Route Planning, assign roles (navigator, recorder, timekeeper) to keep all students accountable for their shared decisions.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should start with students’ lived experiences, like walking local paths or looking at familiar hills, to build intuition about elevation and slope. Avoid front-loading too much technical vocabulary; instead, introduce terms like ‘contour interval’ or ‘grid reference’ only after students have encountered the concepts naturally. Research shows that students grasp distortion best through direct comparison of projections side by side, not through abstract explanations.

What to Expect

Successful learning is visible when students can confidently use grid references to locate features, explain how contour lines show slope and elevation, and justify why different projections distort reality in specific ways. They should also discuss the purpose of each projection rather than memorize its name.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During The Great Map Scavenger Hunt, watch for students who treat contour lines as physical paths on the ground.

What to Teach Instead

Pause the hunt and have students trace the contour lines with their fingers while looking at a nearby hill or a classroom 3D model. Ask them to describe what the lines represent in real terms.

Common Misconception

During Route Planning, watch for students who assume the top of the map always points uphill.

What to Teach Instead

Ask pairs to check spot heights along their route and mark the direction of the slope. Have them explain to another pair why a river might flow toward the top of the map.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After The Great Map Scavenger Hunt, provide images of three projections and ask students to write one sentence on the advantage and one on the disadvantage of each for navigation.

Quick Check

During Contour Clay Models, display a contour map and ask students to identify the steepest slope by pointing to the closest-together lines and explaining why.

Discussion Prompt

After Route Planning, pose the question: ‘If you were planning a hike for a group with mixed abilities, which projection would help you most and why?’ Listen for justifications that reference slope, distance, or landmarks.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask students to design a new map projection for a specific purpose (e.g., hiking trails) and present their design to the class.
• Scaffolding: Provide a partially completed contour map for students to finish by connecting points with the correct intervals.
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to compare a local OS map with a satellite image of the same area to identify features that are distorted or omitted in each representation.

Key Vocabulary

Map Projection	A method of representing the three-dimensional surface of the Earth onto a two-dimensional map, which always involves some distortion.
Distortion	The alteration of the shape, size, distance, or direction of features when representing the curved surface of the Earth on a flat map.
Mercator Projection	A cylindrical map projection that preserves shape and direction but distorts area, making landmasses near the poles appear much larger than they are.
Equal-Area Projection	A map projection that maintains the correct relative area of landmasses, though shape and distance may be distorted.
Conformal Projection	A map projection that preserves angles and shapes locally, but distorts area and distance away from standard lines.