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How to Draw a World Map

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a world map in 12 easy steps, about 9 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the map sheet.

Step 1: The map sheet
Draw a big wide rectangle across the middle of your paper. Leave room above it.
Tip Turn your paper sideways first, so the map can be nice and wide.
Step 2: Two rods
Draw a long thin bar along the top of the sheet and another along the bottom, both a little wider.
Step 3: String and nail
Draw a small round nail above the middle. From it, rule 2 strings down to the top rod.
Step 4: North America
In the top left draw a big shape: wide and bumpy at the top, with a thin tail curling down.
Tip The bump sticking out at the top left is Alaska.
Step 5: South America
Under the tail draw a shape like a carrot: fat at the top, a point at the bottom.
Tip Leave a tiny gap of sea between the two Americas.
Step 6: Africa
In the middle draw Africa: a big bulge at the top left, then narrower down to a round point.
Step 7: Europe and Asia
Above Africa draw the biggest land, stretching far to the right, with 3 points hanging down.
Tip Keep a thin strip of sea between this land and Africa.
Step 8: Australia and Greenland
Bottom right, draw a bean for Australia. At the top, left of the middle, draw a small lump for Greenland.
Step 9: Antarctica
Start on the sheet's left edge near the bottom. Draw a gentle wavy line across to the right edge.
Tip Antarctica is the icy land at the bottom of the world.
Step 10: Green land
Colour the 6 lands green. Leave the icy strip along the bottom white.
Step 11: Blue sea
Colour all the sea blue, around every land, right out to the edges of the sheet.
Step 12: Wooden rods
Colour the 2 rods brown and the nail grey. Go over your lines and your world map is done!