There will be two sections. Keep one of the sections rounded like it is when it covers the ball. Use the second section to involve students in brainstorming about how the cover segment can be made to fit flat on a table top. The problem of putting a rounded object on a flat piece of paper is similar to the problem faced by map makers who try to draw the round earth on a flat piece of paper. To further conceptualize students' understanding of surface area, you may choose to bring in an orange for demonstration.
Students can easily compare the orange to a sphere.
Cutting the orange into halves and then into quarters might help students remember that the area of four cross sections is equal to the surface area of a sphere comprised four curved orange rind quarters. Assign the homework . They will determine the surface area in square units of the piece of covering that has been drawn on their homework sheet, and then they will have to multiply that answer times 2 to cover the other half of the ball. They will be asked to determine a relationship between the surface area of the baseball and the circular cross section of the baseball. Discuss the students' homework the next class period.