KS2 Geography: Continents and Oceans Guide

The seven continents

The continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia (Oceania), Europe, North America and South America. Asia is the largest continent by both area and population.

The five oceans

The oceans are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic. The Pacific is the largest and deepest ocean in the world.

Locating places

Lines of latitude run horizontally around the globe (the equator is at 0°), and lines of longitude run vertically (the Prime Meridian is at 0°). Together they help pinpoint exact locations on Earth.

Time zones

Because the Earth is round and rotates, different parts of the world experience daytime and night-time at different times, which is why time zones exist.

Common mistakes

• Mixing up latitude (horizontal lines) and longitude (vertical lines).
• Forgetting Antarctica is a continent, not just an icy ocean region.
• Confusing Australia the country with Oceania the continent/region.