2. A Talking Book For Third Grade Tracy Traveler

3. Hi, I’m Tracy Traveler. I love to explore new and exciting places all over the world. Won’t you join me? Come along as I take you to all of my favorite places. I love traveling the globe!

4. A globe is one way to show what our planet looks like. Another way is a map. We use imaginary lines, such as the equator and the Prime Meridian, to show location. These lines divide the globe into the southern, northern, eastern, and western hemispheres. This will help us on our tour.

5. Planet Earth is covered mostly with water. But people have to live on land! Each of the seven large land masses on earth is called a continent. We are going to visit each one of the seven continents. Each one is home to the many countries and cultures of our world.

6. Their names are: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

7. So let’s get started. Are you packed? Good! Let’s begin right where scientists say that human beings began: in Africa!

8. Africa is the second largest continent. It is home to more than fifty countries. Did you know that more than 1,000 languages are spoken in Africa? The Nile River, the world’s longest river, runs through Africa. The land is mostly desert and grasslands, although there are also rainforests. African history and culture are as diverse as its many groups of people. Nile River

9. Let’s travel south, down to a much chillier place on the globe. Dress warmly! We’re in Antarctica now. Brrrr! I’m freezing! That’s because Antarctica, the fifth largest continent, is down near the South Pole. Almost all of this continent is covered with ice. It’s so cold that no human beings can live here, only animals like penguins and seals.

10. Asia There are no countries in Antarctica. Maybe because its population is zero! I’m ready to go someplace warmer! Let’s head to the eastern hemisphere, to the huge continent of Asia.

11. Here we are on the largest continent of them all: Asia, home to more people in the world than anywhere else! More than one third of all people live in Asia. Countries like China, Japan, Russia, and Korea produce many of the goods and services used all over the world.

12. Have you heard of the Great Wall Of China? It’s more than 2,000 years old and 4,000 miles long, and it took more than one million people to build.

13. Now we’ll head way south again, to the land “down under” called Australia. It is located in the southern hemisphere. It is the smallest continent of the seven. It is surrounded by water but the land mass is so large that it is still considered a continent.

14. Its winter months are in July and August and the warm months are in January and February! Lots of “kool” creatures live here. These include the kangaroo, kookaburra and koala.

15. Are you ready for a change of scenery? Europe is our next stop. Europe is the second smallest continent. Europe was once almost completely covered with forests but in some places those trees are now almost completely gone. The climate is similar to that of the United States. France, Spain, England, Ireland, Germany and Italy are all countries in Europe.

16. Now we’re going to “cross the pond.” That’s an expression that means to cross the Atlantic Ocean, which is pretty huge for a pond! We’re going to visit my home continent, North America.

17. Many people from all over the globe have migrated here. The United States is a “melting pot” of thousands of different cultures and races that have blended in unique ways. This continent has everything, from beautiful beaches, deserts and mountains, to climates that range from chilly Canada to warm, sunny Mexico.

18. Now you can leave your boots and jackets behind. We’re ready to visit our final destination: the continent of South America. It’s warmer here than it is in North America. Vibrant and colorful Brazil is the largest country here. Brazil

19. Brazil is the home to Carnival, the best party in the world. The biggest rainforest in the world is in Brazil, too. Did you know that the rest of the world gets most of its oxygen from the rainforest, and that more different types of plants and animals live here than any other place on earth? Other Latin American countries include Argentina, Colombia and Bolivia. Spanish is the main language spoken in South America.

20. Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m tired! Good thing I don’t have any water to cross. I think I’ll hop on a train and head north, back home to New York. Did you enjoy your travels?

21. The world sure is an enormous place, with so much to see and learn about. I hope you have discovered some places you’d like to visit and explore again. I know that I have! Maybe we can be traveling companions again sometime. Until then,” bon voyage.” (That’s French for “have a great trip!”) And as they say in South America, “hasta la vista,” which means “see you again soon!”

22. Credits Talking book written and narrated by Betsy Kates, 3 rd grade teacher, Lakeland Central School District Designed and produced by Linda Brandon Graphics Courtesy of: Orlandofloridaguide.com news.greenvilleonline.com www.worldpress.org wikimedia.org www.naturalhistoryonthenet.com www.nationsonline.org www.globe-images.net www.uoregon.edu/~mhay/ www.truecolorearth.com i109.photobucket.com www.map-of-asia.us www.destination360.com www.travelblog.org www.freefoto.com www.freewebs.com/rpratt08 www.geographicguide.net www.maps-world.net regentsprep.org/ virtualtourist.com