Mercator+Maps

=Resource=

http://pbl-online.org/CoLab/PBLCL-External.ViewCompleteProject.php?projectId=917

=Summary=

===Students are shown how part of their world view is based on the Mercator Map, and that this projection has many distortions which have given them a distorted world view. These distortions are expressed mathematically through comparing measurements and scales between maps and geographical data. Students will then create a PSA warning people about the distortions. ===

=CCSS Alignment for Grades 6-9=


 * ===**6.G.4. ** //Represent three-dimensional figures using nets made up of rectangles and triangles, and use the nets to find the surface area of these figures. Apply these techniques in the context of solving real-world and mathematical problems.// Students will recreate Mercator map as a representation of three-dimensional earth. ===
 * ===**7.G.1**. //Solve problems involving scale drawings of geometric figures, including computing actual lengths and areas from a scale drawing and reproducing a scale drawing at a different scale//. Students will compare circumference of earth according to Mercator scale and circumference of actual earth. ===
 * ===**8.G.9 **. //Know the formulas for the volumes of cones, cylinders, and spheres and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems//. Students will use formula for volume of sphere to calculate volume of perfectly spherical earth and compare to actual volume of earth to display familiarity with volume formula. ===
 * ===**G-MG.3 **. //Apply geometric methods to solve design problems//. Students will calculate surface area of Mercator map according to scale and compare to calculated surface area of earth to determine degrees of distortion. ===