Identify Continents and Oceans
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What you will learn
- 1Name the seven continents
- 2Name the five oceans
- 3Locate each continent and ocean on a world map
Mini Lesson
Earth's surface is divided into large areas of land and large areas of water. The major landmasses are called continents, and the major bodies of water are called oceans. There are seven continents and five oceans.
The seven continents
- Asia — the largest continent; home to more than half of the world's people.
- Africa — the second largest; has the longest river (the Nile) and the world's largest hot desert (the Sahara).
- North America — includes the USA, Canada, and Mexico; home to the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains.
- South America — home to the Amazon River and Amazon Rainforest, near the equator.
- Antarctica — the southernmost continent, in the Southern Hemisphere; covered almost entirely by ice.
- Europe — the smallest continent after Australia; home to many historic countries and cultures.
- Australia — the smallest continent; also a single country; has unique wildlife such as kangaroos.
The five oceans
- Pacific Ocean — the largest and deepest ocean; covers more area than all land combined.
- Atlantic Ocean — separates the Americas from Europe and Africa.
- Indian Ocean — the warmest ocean; lies south of Asia.
- Arctic Ocean — the smallest and shallowest; surrounds the North Pole.
- Southern Ocean — surrounds Antarctica; many geographers and mapmakers have recognized it since 2000.
Words to know
Continent
A very large area of land on Earth
e.g. Africa is the continent where the Sahara Desert is found.
Ocean
A huge body of salt water that covers much of the Earth
e.g. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on Earth.
Equator
The imaginary line around the middle of Earth
e.g. Countries near the equator are usually warm all year.
Hemisphere
One half of the Earth, split by the equator or a line between the poles
e.g. The United States is in the Northern Hemisphere.
Landmass
A very large area of land surrounded or mostly surrounded by water
e.g. Each continent is a separate landmass.
Pole
The most northern or most southern point on Earth
e.g. Antarctica sits at the South Pole.
Ask yourself: "Which continent do I live on? Which ocean is closest to where I live? Which continent is the largest? Which ocean is the smallest?"
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