How to Make a World Map to Fit on a Ball

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape

  • Blue Marker

  • Green Marker

  • World Map

  • Scissors

  • Compass

  • Glue

  • Tape

Get control of the world by fitting it onto a ball.

Making a world map to fit on a ball is a straightforward task if you happen to have a ball of the perfect size for taping on a map. But if your school project requires a world map on a small ball or if you want to give your piece an artistic touch, you can trace the world on paper and make specific cuts to fit any size ball. Whether it is a soccer ball, baseball or basketball, this project shouldn't take long if you have good drawing techniques and have a sense of scale.

Advertisement

Drawing the Globe

Step 1

Measure the circumference of the ball.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Figure out the diameter of the ball by dividing the circumference by pi (3.14) with your calculator.

Advertisement

Step 3

Measure and cut out a piece of paper with a length of the ball's diameter and the width of the circumference.

Step 4

Sketch the world onto the piece of paper.

Making Gores

Step 1

Fold the map you've just drawn three times horizontally.

Advertisement

Step 2

Unfold the map to see eight vertical sections.

Step 3

Draw lines between each section.

Step 4

Draw two opposing semi-circles with your compass that intersect at the mid-point of the top-and-bottom sides of each folded section, to make gores.

Advertisement

Step 5

Cut the spaces between the gores. You will have 16 sections and eight full gores on the map.

Taping a Map

Step 1

Place your map around the ball, with the Equator sitting along the ball's circumference.

Advertisement

Step 2

Tape each end of the Equator of your map around the ball's circumference.

Step 3

Glue each end of the gores at both the North and South Poles to make the globe.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references & resources

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...