Social Studies Window to the World: Lesson 3: Hemispheres

The BIG Question: What are the continents and oceans on the Earth?

The BIG Question: What is unique about the Earth’s oceans?

The BIG Question: How can I identify my location on the Earth?

Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere Equator

In 1884, U.S. President Chester A. Arthur convinced 25 countries to meet in Washington, D.C. to choose the location of the Prime Meridian.

It was decided that the Prime Meridian would run through Greenwich, which is located in the southeastern part of London, England.

Greenwich is the location of the Royal Observatory, which was created in 1675 by King Charles II.

Prime Meridian Western Hemisphere Eastern Hemisphere

At the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, there is a line in stainless steel marking the location of the Prime Meridian.

You can be in both the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere at the same time!

Sum it up! What have you learned so far?

Our planet is divided into ____ hemispheres. The word “hemi” means _______. A hemisphere is __________ of a ______________. 4 halfhalfsphere

The ____________ divides the Earth into the _________________ Hemisphere and the _________________ Hemisphere. Equator Northern Southern

The __________ ____________ divides the Earth into the __________ Hemisphere and the ______________ Hemisphere. Prime Meridian Eastern Western

North America is located in the ___________ Hemisphere and the ______________ Hemisphere. Western Northern

Life in the Western Hemisphere

The BIG Question: How and when did the first people come to the Western Hemisphere?

Many scientists believe that people first came to the Western Hemisphere about 40,000 years ago during a long period of extreme cold. This time in history was known as the ______ _______. During this time, low temperatures caused large areas of Earth’s water to freeze into thick sheets of ice called ________________. Ice Age glaciers

Glaciers in our World TodayGlaciers during the Ice Age

Before the Ice Age, a body of water 56 miles across separated the continents of Asia and North America. Today we call this body of water the ___________ _____________. Asia North America Bering Strait

As much of Earth’s water froze into glaciers, the level of the oceans dropped. Land that had been underwater was uncovered, forming a long land bridge that joined Asia and North America.

No one knows exactly when or how people came to North America. Many scientists believe that people walked across the land bridge that joined Asia and North America during the Ice Age. Perhaps large animals like mammoth and caribou began to cross the land bridge from Asia and hunters followed them.

As the animals moved deeper into North America, so did the hunters. These first Americans traveled throughout North America and South America.

About 10,000 years ago, the Ice Age gradually came to an end, and the continents of Asia and North America were once again separated by a large body of water.

Thousands of years later, people in the Eastern Hemisphere once again began to travel to other continents, first on land and then by sea. Explorers from the continents of Europe and Asia hoped to claim new lands in the Western Hemisphere. As new lands were discovered, maps were created to help explorers and others find their way.

The BIG Question: How and when did the first people come to the Western Hemisphere?

Ice Age ocean level frozen glaciers land bridge Asia North America walked scientists mammoths How and when did the first people come to the Western Hemisphere?