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Watch: Mapping the world

Explore globes and a map of the world with Sue Venir.

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What is a globe?

Satellite image of the Earth
Image caption,
Satellite image of the Earth with the Atlantic Ocean in the centre.
  • From space, the Earth looks like a sphere, or ball.

  • A globe is a model of the Earth. It shows what the Earth looks like from space.

  • Some globes show how the land is divided into different countries. There are around 200 countries.

  • All the countries on our planet are found in seven different continents:

    • Europe
    • Africa
    • North America
    • South America
    • Asia
    • Oceania
    • Antarctica
Satellite image of the Earth
Image caption,
Satellite image of the Earth with the Atlantic Ocean in the centre.
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Maps and atlases

  • People use maps to find places. They are much easier to carry than a globe and can have more detail to them.

  • Maps can show the whole world, a single country or even a single town or village.

A cartoon of an open book with a map of Europe on one page and a map of the UK on the other page.
  • A map can be on its own on a single sheet of paper.

  • In the past, maps were hand-drawn by using careful measurements of the ground.

  • Several maps can be put together in a book called an atlas.

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How do satellites make maps?

A cartoon of a satellite with a camera on it. It is floating in space pointed towards the Earth.
  • Today, computers and tablets show aerial photographs.
  • These are photographs taken from space by satellites and joined together to make very detailed images.
  • Some aerial photographs are so detailed that you can zoom in and see a bird's-eye view of where you live!
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Activity: Quiz 鈥 Mapping the world

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