Earth Models: Globes and Flat Maps: First Grade Social

Globes and flat maps are two different scientific tools geographers use to represent our planet Earth, each offering unique advantages for exploration and study.

Our Round Planet Earth

Earth is a gigantic sphere, which is a round, three-dimensional shape like a basketball or an orange. Because human beings are small compared to the vast planet, the ground beneath our feet looks flat when we stand outside. But when astronauts look back at Earth from outer space, they see a beautiful round blue marble swirling with white clouds and green-brown continents.

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                    MODELS OF OUR PLANET                     |
|                                                             |
|           GLOBE                           FLAT MAP          |
|         .--------.                     +---------------+    |
|        /          \                    |               |    |
|       |   ROUND    |                   |     FLAT      |    |
|        \  SPHERE  /                    |   RECTANGLE   |    |
|         '--------'                     +---------------+    |
|                                                             |
|   True shape of Earth;             Shows whole world at     |
|   Hard to fold or carry.           once; easy to fold up.   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

What Is a Globe?

A globe is a three-dimensional, round model of the entire Earth. It shows the true shape of our planet. When you spin a globe on its stand, you are imitating the way planet Earth actually rotates in space around an imaginary line called an axis.

Because a globe is round, continents and oceans are shown in their accurate proportions and correct shapes without distortion. If you want to see how far Africa is from South America across the Atlantic Ocean, a globe shows the true curved distance.

What Is a Flat Map?

A flat map is a two-dimensional drawing of Earth, or a part of Earth, laid out flat on paper or displayed on a computer screen.

Flat maps can show the whole world at a single glance, or they can zoom in close to show just one country, one state, one town, or even your school building. You can fold a flat map, tuck it into a pocket, or hang it on a classroom wall.

+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| FEATURE             | GLOBE             | FLAT MAP          |
+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Shape               | Round sphere (3D) | Flat surface (2D) |
| Portability         | Bulky; hard to fit| Easy to fold up   |
| View                | Half seen at once | Whole world seen  |
| Detail              | Shows big regions | Can zoom close in |
| Accuracy of Shape   | Exact true shapes | Slight distortion |
+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------+

Comparing the Advantages and Limits

Both globes and flat maps are useful, but each has specific strengths and limitations.

The Orange Peel Problem: Flattening a Sphere

Have you ever tried to peel an orange and then flatten the peel out completely flat on a table without tearing or stretching it? You will find that the peel wrinkles, rips, or stretches at the edges.

Geographers face the exact same problem when they try to put a round Earth onto a flat sheet of paper. To make a flat world map, mapmakers must stretch or adjust certain parts of the oceans and land. This stretching is called distortion. Flat maps are wonderful, but land near the North and South Poles often looks bigger than it truly is.

                   THE ORANGE PEEL EXPERIMENT

    [ Round Orange ] ---> [ Peel the Skin ] ---> [ Try to Flatten ]
       (Sphere)              (Curved peel)          (Tears or Stretches!)

When to Use a Globe

A globe is the best tool when you want to understand how Earth rotates from day to night, how the Equator divides the northern and southern halves of the planet, or where continents sit in true relation to one another across vast oceans.

When to Use a Flat Map

A flat map is the best tool when you need to see every continent at the exact same moment without having to spin a ball. Flat maps are also best for street navigation, hiking trails, city bus routes, and studying individual neighborhoods, because a globe is far too small to show individual streets.

                 CHOOSING THE RIGHT TOOL

  To see true Earth rotation and poles  ---> Choose a GLOBE
  To find streets in your neighborhood  ---> Choose a FLAT MAP
  To fold up and take on a road trip    ---> Choose a FLAT MAP

Exercises and Review

Exercise 1: What is the main difference in shape between a globe and a flat map?

Exercise 1 Solution: A globe is a round, three-dimensional sphere that matches the true shape of planet Earth, while a flat map is a two-dimensional, flat drawing printed on paper or displayed on a flat screen.

Exercise 2: Why do flat world maps have slight distortion, and which tool would you use to navigate roads on a family road trip?

Exercise 2 Solution: Flat world maps have slight distortion because it is impossible to flatten a round sphere onto a flat sheet of paper without stretching or tearing parts of the image, just like an orange peel cannot be flattened without tearing. You would use a flat map on a family road trip because it can show detailed roads and can be folded easily into a car pocket.