Geography: 1. Finding Places

Finding places

World map – continents and oceans

There are seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia.

There are five major oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (or Antarctic), and Arctic Oceans.

Continents are large land masses, while oceans are vast bodies of saltwater that separate them.

The Equator divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres; the Prime Meridian divides East and West.

Knowing continents and oceans helps students understand global geography and the relative position of countries, climates, and environments.

UK map – highland areas, seas

The UK’s highland areas include the Scottish Highlands, Pennines, Lake District, Cambrian Mountains, and Grampians.

Lowland areas include much of the South East, including the North and South Downs.

Surrounding seas include the North Sea (east), Irish Sea (west), English Channel (south), and Atlantic Ocean (northwest).

Understanding highland and lowland areas helps explain differences in population density, farming, and climate.

Seas influence the UK’s weather, trade, and coastal geography.

Latitude and longitude

Latitude measures distance north or south of the Equator (0°), ranging from 0° to 90°.

Longitude measures distance east or west of the Prime Meridian (0°), up to 180°.

Lines of latitude and longitude form a grid system used to locate any place on Earth precisely.

Key lines include the Equator, Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the Prime Meridian (which passes through Greenwich, London).

This system is essential for navigation, mapping, and understanding time zones.