Social Studies · Grade 2 · People and Environments: Global Communities · Term 2

Mapping Our World: Continents & Oceans

An introduction to maps and globes, identifying continents, oceans, and the location of Canada in relation to other countries.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: People and Environments: Global Communities - Grade 2

About This Topic

In this topic, students develop foundational spatial skills by exploring maps and globes. They learn to identify major geographical features such as the seven continents and five oceans, while locating Canada within the global context. This aligns with the Ontario curriculum's 'People and Environments' strand, where students begin to see themselves as part of a global community. Understanding cardinal directions and map symbols helps students navigate and interpret the world around them.

By comparing a flat map to a spherical globe, students grasp the challenges of representing a 3D world in 2D. This topic is highly visual and tactile, benefiting greatly from hands-on modeling. When students can physically manipulate maps or participate in a whole-class simulation of 'traveling' across oceans, the abstract concepts of scale and location become much clearer and more engaging.

Key Questions

1. Explain how maps and globes help us locate places.
2. Identify the major continents and oceans on a world map.
3. Compare the location of Canada to other global communities.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the seven continents and five oceans on a world map or globe.
• Compare the relative sizes and locations of continents and oceans.
• Explain how maps and globes are tools for locating Canada and other countries.
• Demonstrate the ability to find Canada on a world map, referencing its position relative to other continents and oceans.

Before You Start

Basic Map Skills: Symbols and Directions

Why: Students need to understand fundamental map elements like symbols and cardinal directions before they can interpret world maps of continents and oceans.

Introduction to Canada: Our Country

Why: Familiarity with Canada as a country provides a reference point for understanding its location in a global context.

Key Vocabulary

Continent	One of the Earth's seven large landmasses: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
Ocean	One of the Earth's five large bodies of saltwater: the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans.
Globe	A spherical model of the Earth that shows its landmasses and bodies of water.
Map	A flat drawing of all or part of the Earth's surface, showing countries, cities, and geographical features.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Students often think 'up' on a map is always 'North.'

What to Teach Instead

Use a globe to show that North is toward the North Pole, regardless of how you hold it. Active games where students face different directions while identifying 'North' help decouple 'up' from 'North.'

Common Misconception

Children may think that continents are just big islands.

What to Teach Instead

Explain that continents are massive landmasses that hold many countries. Using a puzzle-style map where students try to fit countries into continents helps them understand the hierarchy of geographic units.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Human Globe

Clear a space in the classroom. Assign students to be 'continents' and 'oceans' based on their positions in the room. One student acts as a 'traveler' using a compass to move from 'North America' to 'Africa,' while the class directs them using cardinal directions.

30 min·Whole Class

Stations Rotation: Map vs. Globe

Set up stations with different types of maps (topographic, political, digital) and globes. Students rotate to find Canada on each one and record one thing that is easier to see on a globe versus a flat map.

40 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: My Global Address

Students practice saying their 'global address' (Street, City, Province, Country, Continent). They share with a partner and then try to find each location on a large wall map together.

15 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Travel agents use world maps and globes daily to plan international trips for clients, helping them understand flight routes and travel times between continents.
• Cartographers, the people who make maps, work to represent the curved surface of the Earth on flat maps, a challenge that helps us understand different map projections used for navigation and planning.
• Shipping companies rely on accurate maps and knowledge of ocean currents to transport goods efficiently across the globe, connecting producers in one country to consumers in another.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Provide students with a blank world map. Ask them to label the seven continents and five oceans. Then, have them draw a star on Canada and write one sentence about its location, for example, 'Canada is north of the United States'.

Discussion Prompt

Hold up a globe and a flat world map. Ask students: 'What is different about these two representations of the Earth?' Guide the discussion to include the shape of the Earth and how maps show it. Then ask, 'How do both tools help us find places like Canada?'

Exit Ticket

Give each student a small card. Ask them to draw one continent and one ocean, labeling both. On the back, they should write one reason why maps are helpful for learning about different places in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we teach both maps and globes?

A globe is a more accurate model of the Earth, but maps are more practical for seeing details. Teaching both helps students understand that different tools serve different purposes in geography.

How can I make map symbols easier to remember?

Have students create their own 'classroom map' with a legend. When they have to decide that a blue line represents a hallway or a green square represents a rug, they understand the logic behind standard map symbols.

How does active learning improve spatial awareness?

Physical movement, like walking a 'map' on the floor, helps students internalize spatial relationships. Instead of just looking at a page, they use their bodies to understand distance and direction, which is essential for developing a strong mental map of the world.

What are some good digital tools for this age group?

Google Earth is excellent for zooming from a student's school all the way out to space. This 'zoom' effect is a powerful visual for understanding how local, national, and global environments are nested within each other.