How to Make a World Map

World maps are fun and educational to look at. Making one can be a great way to teach children (or yourself!) about the world. It is surprisingly easy to make a world map. All you need are a few supplies.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Printout of a world map
• overhead projector
• transparency
• pencil
• map pencils or paint
• paper

1. Download an outline of a world map from your computer. It should be 8" by 11 1/2". You can find outlines of world maps from various educational sites.

2. Make a copy of the world map on a transparency. Make sure that you have the kind of transparency that will run through a copy machine.

3. Hang the paper that you are going to use to make your world map on the wall. Tape down the edges so that the paper doesn't shift. Also, make sure that the wall is a smooth surface.

4. Put your transparency of the world map outline on an overhead projector. Point the projector at the paper you have hung on the wall. Adjust the settings so that the outline of the world map is clear and so it is the size that you want. With an overhead projector, you can create just about any size of world map--even a wall world map!

5. Secure the transparency to the projector so that it does not shift. Using a pencil, draw an the outline of the world map on the paper that you hung on the wall.

6. When you are finished drawing the outline of the world map, color and label the countries. If you have made a very large map, you may wish to paint the countries.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many different kinds of world maps. You may want to make a world population map, for example.
• You can make a wall world map by aiming the projector at the wall without the paper covering and drawing directly on the wall.
• You can draw your world map on just about anything. Canvas would be a nice choice.
• Make sure that the room is dark when you are tracing the world map so that you can see the lines well.
• Making a world map is a great group project if the map is large enough.
• Consider adding drawings to the continents to make your world map unique.

[writeitout]

on 12/29/2008 Thanks! Your article is easy to follow. 5*