Earth is round, like a ball. The best way to show the whole Earth is with a round model of it, called a globe.
Key idea
A globe is a small, round model of Earth. It shows land and water in their true shapes and sizes.
Why it works
Earth is round, so a round model can copy it without stretching anything. Every country, ocean and island keeps its true shape on a globe, just much smaller.
Worked example: Turning the globe
Can you see all of Earth at once on a globe?
- A globe is round, like a ball.
- You can only see the side that faces you.
- Turn it to see the other side.
Answer: No. You see half at a time, and turn it to see the rest.
- Blue shows the oceans.
- The North Pole is at the top; the South Pole is at the bottom.
- Many globes spin on a tilted stand, because Earth's spin is tilted too.
Common mistake
Children who mostly see flat maps may think Earth is flat. A flat map is a drawing of a round Earth on flat paper. The globe is the truer model.
For the grown-up. If you have a globe or a beach-ball globe, find your country together, then spin it to find the other side of the world.