What is the best way to understand the world map?

Build knowledge in stages:

1. Learn 7 continents first: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia (Oceania), Antarctica
2. Learn 5 oceans: Pacific (largest), Atlantic, Indian, Southern, Arctic
3. Learn grid lines: Equator, Prime Meridian, Tropics of Cancer/Capricorn, Arctic/Antarctic Circles
4. Learn major countries by region: Start with the biggest Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil, Australia, India then expand outward
5. Use interactive tools: Google Maps, Google Earth, Seterra quiz game
6. Understand map projections: All flat maps distort reality. The common Mercator projection makes Greenland look as large as Africa it is 14 times smaller. The Peters projection shows true land area.