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Topic: Continents of the World

Lesson Objectives:

1. To identify the names of the seven continents

2. To know some interesting facts about each continent

3. To learn brief information and to see some sceneries for each continent

What are 7 continents of the world?

1. Asia

2. Africa

3. Antarctica

4. Europe

5. North America

6. Oceania

7. South America

ASIA

Asia is the largest continent in both size and population.

Other Facts:

It covers almost a third of the world’s land area (16.9 million square miles) and has about

three-fifths of its people (3.7 billion).

It has 49 independent countries.

Asia extends from Africa and Europe in the west to the Pacific Ocean

in the east.

The northernmost part of the continent lies within

the frozen Arctic. In the south, Asia reaches into

the steaming tropics near the equator.

Asia has some of the world’s longest rivers, largest

deserts, and thickest forests and jungles.

The highest and lowest places on the earth are in

Asia. Mount Everest, the highest, rises 29,028 feet above

sea level and is along the Nepal-Tibet border.

In contrast the Dead Sea shore, located

between Israel and Jordan, is the world’s

lowest land, lying about 1,310 feet below sea level.

Source: http://www.funsocialstudies.learninghaven.com/images/continent.gif

Source: http://image.bayimg.com/cajakaadj.jpg

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AFRICA

Africa is the second largest continent in area and

population.

Other Facts:

Africa covers about one fifth of the world’s

land area (11.6 million square miles) and is

home to one eighth of its people (824

million).

The continent is an immense plateau, broken

by a few mountain ranges and bordered in

some areas by a narrow coastal plain.

It is a land of striking contrasts and great

natural wonders.

Tropical rain forests inhabit western and

central Africa The world’s largest desert, the

Sahara, stretches across northern Africa.

It occupies an area almost as large as the

entire United States. Africa also has the

world’s longest river — the Nile. It flows

more than 4,000 miles through

northeastern Africa.

Much of the rest of the continent is

grassland located in eastern and southern

Africa.

ANTARCTICA

Antarctica is an ice-covered continent located in the South Pole — the earth’s most southerly

region.

Other Facts:

Its nearly barren land forms the coldest and iciest region in the world. It is slightly

colder than the region around the North Pole because the North Pole is located in

the Arctic Ocean.

The South Pole lies near the center of the Antarctic continent, on a high windy

plateau of ice and snow.

Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lwi9b5Z5pw/T1Pv9lhyEPI/AAAAAAAABbc/tRwRgsdRJ98/s1600/33-

africa+collage.JPG

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Antarctica covers about 5.4 million square

miles, making it larger in area than either

Europe or Australia. But, it would be the

smallest continent if it did not have its

icecap.

The world’s lowest temperatures have

Been recorded in Antarctica.

Ice and snow cover 98 percent of the

continent.

Underneath the ice, Antarctica has

mountains, lowlands, and valleys —

much like the landforms of other countries.

EUROPE

Europe is one of the smallest of the world’s seven continents in area but one of the largest in

population.

Other Facts:

It covers an area of about 4 million

square miles and has a population of

707.8 million. About 707.8 million.

About eighth of the world’s people

ived lived in Europe.

Europe extends from the Arctic

Ocean in the north to the

Mediterranean Sea in the south and

from the Atlantic Ocean in the west

to the Ural Mountains in the east.

Because Europe and Asia occupy the

same landmass, they are sometimes

collectively called Eurasia.

Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y70E69j9mhs/S8-

t6lDOzII/AAAAAAAAAH0/aieYJNHoFTk/s1600/collage1.jpg

Source: http://www.crownandandrews.com/HTMLFiles/14122_big.jpg

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NORTH AMERICA

North America is the third largest continent in area (9.3 million square miles) compromising

about one-sixth of the world’s land area.

Other Facts:

It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north

to South America in the south.

It ranks fourth among the continents in

population.

The continent is roughly triangular in shape

with the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans

bordering its three sides.

At its northern end, North America stretches

more than 5400 miles from Alaska’s

Aleutian Islands to the Canadian province of

Newfoundland.

At the southern end of the continent,

the narrowest parts of Panama are only

about 30 miles wide.

OCEANIA

Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. There are three major

countries located in the said continent namely Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Other Facts:

It is a stable landmass that lies between

Indian and Pacific Oceans. The northern

third of Australia lies in the tropics and is

warm the year round. The rest of the

continent has warm summers and cool

winters.

Source: http://www.uscis.gov/uscis/images/nativeimages/children-art-gallery-

007.jpg

Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWbww-

zoeVA/TyE_oO1d02I/AAAAAAAACKw/XBMPAFha_s0/s1600/australia+colla

ge.jpg

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SOUTH AMERICA

South America is almost totally surrounded by water.

Other Facts:

It lies to the north and the Atlantic

Ocean borders South America on

the northeast and east.

To the south, the Drake Passage

separates South America from

Antarctica.

The Pacific Ocean is located on

the west coast.

South America borders land only at

the Isthmus of Panama. This narrow

strip of land links Central America

with Colombia, in the northwestern

part of South America.

Did you know?

Photo Credits: http://www.schooloftoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/globe4.1.jpg

Additional Interesting Facts about each Continent

Africa

- contains the world's longest river (The Nile).

- contains the world's largest desert (The Sahahra).

- contains more countries than any other continent.

- most of the world's gold and diamonds come from Africa.

Antarctica

- is the only continent completely covered in ice.

- is the only continent that is uninhabited by humans (although some scientists live there for short periods of

time).

Asia

- is the only continent joined to two others.

- contains the world's biggest nation (China).

- contains the highest point on Earth (Mount Everest).

- is the only continent where tigers are found in the wild.

Source: http://www.beachcomberpete.com/south_america/brazil/Brazil-collage.jpg

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Europe

- through colonization, at one time ruled almost all of the rest of the world.

- has been the starting point of both World Wars.

North America

- is joined to Asia by ice in winter (Bering Sea).

- is the only continent that lies entirely in the Northern and Western Hemispheres.

- contains the world's tallest mountain (Mount Kea).

- contains the world's largest fresh water lake (Lake Superior).

Oceania

- contains the fewest countries (Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea)

- has more sheep than people.

- is the only continent that lies entirely in the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres.

South America

- contains the world's Southern most city (Puentas Arenas).

- contains the world's largest river system (The Amazon).

Source: http://www.funsocialstudies.learninghaven.com/articles/continents.htm

Fill-ins: 1. In number, there are _______ continents. 2. Asia covers nearly 1/_______ of the world’s land area. 3. Both the world’s highest and lowest areas are in__________________________. 4. __________________________ covers about 1/5 of the world’s land area. 5. __________________________ has the world’s largest tropical rain forest.

6. The ________________________separates

South America from Antarctica.

7. __________________________ is the smallest continent. 8. Antarctica is larger in area than both __________________________ and __________________________. 9. __________________________ has the world’s longest river. 10. __________________________ is the highest continent in terms of average elevation.

Source: http://shannonphair.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/shannon-phair-

north-america-86-phototransfer-on-found-map.jpg

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SUPPLEMENTARY ACTIVITY:

GAME (Continents Map Puzzle)

If there is a computer lab in the class, a teacher can utilize this website to test the student.

Source: http://www.yourchildlearns.com/mappuzzle/continents-puzzle.html

Data/Information Sources:

The World Continents. (n.d.) Retrieved from

http://www2.aes.ac.in/mswebsite_07/teachersites/mtabor/1_Geography/Geo_skills/Land_Water/Continen

ts.pdf , Date: 26 January 2013

The Maps of the World. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-continent-map.htm,

Date: 26 January 2013