Compass Rose

Hemispheres, Continents, and Oceans Section 1.6 7th Grade Geography

Hemispheres Geographers divide Earth into halves. These halves are called hemispheres. “Hemi” means half in Greek. Earth can be divided into Northern and Southern hemispheres or into Eastern and Western hemispheres.

The Equator The Equator (0° Latitude) divides the Earth into Northern and Southern hemispheres.

Actual Photos from the Equator São Tomé and Príncipe

The Prime Meridian The Prime Meridian (0° Longitude) divides the Earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres.

Actual Photos from the Prime Meridian Greenwich, England

Continents Continents are the largest areas of land on our planet. Geographers identify seven continents.

Oceans Ocean water covers more than 70% of Earth. The ocean is really just one big body of water. But, geographers usually divide it into four oceans. The Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic oceans.

The 7 Continents and 4 Oceans

World Map Activity Take a blank world map. Place it in the class notes section of your binder. Take one or two colored pencils/markers. Wait for instructions on which specific labels to add to your map.

World Map Activity 1st: Label the largest continent. Which one is the largest? Asia! Label Asia on your maps.

World Map Activity 2nd: Label the smallest continent. Which one is it? Australia! Label Australia on your maps.

World Map Activity 3rd: Locate the United States. Within its borders label the two hemispheres in which it is located. Which hemispheres are they? The Northern and Western hemispheres. Label these inside the U.S on your maps.

World Map Activity 4th: Locate Africa. Within its borders, label the hemispheres in which it is located. Which ones are they? ALL OF THEM! Parts of Africa are in the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western hemispheres. Label these inside of Africa on your maps.

World Map Activity 5th: Label the continent directly north of Africa. Which one is it? Europe! Label Europe on your maps.

World Map Activity 6th: Label the ocean that touches the shores of Europe and South America. Which one is it? The Atlantic Ocean! Label the Atlantic Ocean on your maps.

World Map Activity 7th: Label the 3 continents that the equator runs through. Which ones are they? South America Africa Asia Label them on your maps.

World Map Activity 8th: Label the ocean that lies north of Europe. Which one is it? The Arctic Ocean! Label the Arctic Ocean on your maps.

World Map Activity 9th: Label the ocean that touches the shores of both Asia and South America. Which one is it? The Pacific Ocean! Label the Pacific Ocean on your maps.

World Map Activity 10th: Label the ocean that lies to the south of Asia. Which one is it? The Indian Ocean! Label the Indian Ocean on your maps.

World Map Activity 11th: Lastly, label North America and Antarctica on your maps.

World Maps You should now have 7 continents and 4 oceans labeled on your maps in addition to the hemispheres written inside the U.S and Africa. Keep this map in the class notes section of your binder! PowerPoint Created by Christine Curcuru