The site provides a map that you can manipulate to compare the real size of states/countries/continents to each other. While it may not seem a big deal - it's a great way to (1) talk about proportions, (3) realize that many 2D representations of our Earth are flawed, and (3) look at the "TRUE" size!
Most people (especially students studying the world in school) are exposed to the Mercator projection map of the world. The challenge is that it does not effectively translate the size and shape of items on a sphere onto a 2D flat map.
Here's one surprising example:
The blue shape is the size of the content of Russia layered on top of Africa and the Middle East. Note how much smaller it is relatively than the Mercator projection presents it (in grey in the background)
Check out another example, comparing green Mexico to the size of Greenland:
So what do we do with this? For one, ensure we bring awareness to the typical maps students seen are not reflective of the real size and shape of the land forms on Earth (best way to see that is use a globe, as it sustains the spherical shape and scale.) For another - consider finding multiple ways to show our globe. Finally - what a great exercise in finding the relative size of locations on the globe and creating a proportional relationship between areas.
For fun I tried to make my own rational relationship - based on what I could tile - my first estimation is that the MA to CA ratio is something like 14:1. I could then complete the mathematics to see if that is accurate.
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Heather Leonard
STEM Curriculum Coordinator, Reading Public Schools
Heather Leonard
STEM Curriculum Coordinator, Reading Public Schools
Twitter: @STEMReading
