Teach Engineering
What's Wrong with the Coordinates at the North Pole?
Here is an activity that merges technology with life skills as individuals use Google Earth to explore the differences between coordinate systems and map projections. The self-guided instructional activity is the fourth segment in a...
Teach Engineering
Projections and Coordinates: Turning a 3D Earth into Flatlands
Introduce your class to map projections and coordinates, the basics for the work done in a GIS, with an activity that uses Google Earth to challenge learners to think about the earth's shape.
Curated OER
Geography Tutor: Maps and Map Projections Questions
In this geography skills lesson, students watch a video titled "The Geography Tutor," and then respond to 14 short answer questions about maps and map projections.
Curated OER
World Projections
Learners identify map projections and examine polar maps. In this map skills lesson, students use a flat world map to identify various projections and calculate the distances between locations by using a map scale.
Curated OER
Map Projections
Students view examples of various map projections using a website. Students record differences between the map projections. Students discuss uses for the various map projections and the differences between the maps they viewed. ...
Curated OER
The Global Grapefruit - Maps vs Globes
Students tell how maps differ from globes, state some characteristics of 3 different types of map projections, and realize that distortions are inherent in various systems of map projections.
Curated OER
Water and Land 207
Students examine maps of different projections, mathematically calculate distortions, and note the advantages and disadvantages of each map. They study the different maps and transfer the map to graph paper.
Curated OER
New Perspectives
Students examine maps that are designed to give different perspectives. They create mental maps that illustrate their own perspectives and those of people from other parts of the world.
Other
The Smithsonian: Lewis & Clark: Mapping the West
The Smithsonian's EdGate project provides this illustrated narrative site that explores the mapping of the American West accomplished by the 1804-06 Lewis and Clark expedition.
Other
Metrocosm: Your World Map Is Hiding Something
The Mercator projection is the map everyone is most familiar with, however, this map gives a distorted view of our world. Find out why and compare other map projections. Have fun clicking on the maps and changing the projections to see...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Bridging World History: Maps, Time, and World History
Learn how map projections and chronological constructs are used in the study of world history and help us to understand and interpret the past. Part of a larger site on world history, this unit on maps offers complete reading,...
The Newberry Library
Newberry: Political and Military History: Map 15: The World at War, 1944
Lesson for K-12 using historical map teaches students about the relationship between perspectives of the world and map projections.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Map Projections
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How to use topographic, bathymetric, and geologic maps.
Rice University
Rice Univ.: Cynthia Lanius: Mathematics of Cartography: History of Mapmaking
Surveys the history of mapmaking from prehistoric to current times with an illustrated chronology.
Rice University
Rice University: Cynthia Lanius: Mathematics of Cartography: Projections
Understanding map projections is an important map-reading skill. Features graphics and links to examples of many different projections and an activity on making a Mercator projection.
City University of New York
Map Projection Basics: Bits of Map Projection History
Surveys the ideas of Claudius Ptolemy (90-170 AD) in regard to the shape of the world and his influence on the history of mapmaking.
Other
University of Connecticut: The Geographer's Craft: Map Projection Overview
An advanced overview of map projections with illustrative graphics. Created by Peter H. Dana, Department of Geography, University of Texas at Austin in 1995.
City University of New York
Choosing a Map Projection: In Search of a Good Map Projection
College-level geography tipsheet for developing an appropriate map projection.