Lesson Plan: The Seven Continents and Five Oceans

Grade: 2
Stage 1- Desired Results
Established Goals:
• Demonstrate geographic skills on a map and a globe by locating and labeling the seven
continents and five oceans.
(Standard 3 (Geography): Students will use geographic tools and skills to locate and
describe places on earth. Objective 2: Demonstrate geographic skills on a map and a
globe. (d): Locate and label the following on a map or a globe: the seven continents,
the five oceans, the poles, and the equator.
Understandings:
Students will understand that…
• There are seven different continents on our planet.
• There are five oceans on our planet.
• The seven continents are made up of land/rock mass.
• The seven continents are home to various cultures, physical features, animals, etc.
• The five oceans are all connected, and is home to a diverse amount of sea life
Essential Questions:
• Why are world maps important to people today?
• How may the seven continents connect us as people?
• How are the world’s oceans beneficial to human life?
• Why should we protect our oceans?
Students will know….
• Key vocabulary terms.
• Physical characteristics that make up a continent.
• Physical characteristics that make up an ocean.
• The importance of labeling and locating places on a world map/globe.
Students will be able to…
• Locate and label the seven continents and five ocean on a world map/globe.
• Use maps, tables, charts, graphs, pictures to deepen their understanding.
Stage 2- Assessment Evidence
Performance Tasks:
Now that you and your classmates have the world at your fingertips you will create your own
world map of the seven continents. First you will fill out a sheet indicating where each of the
seven continents are located in the world, think of this as a reference when creating your larger
world map. Once this is done, you can begin by coloring each continent and cutting them out,
you will then glue them to your blue poster paper in their correct locations. Present your
creations to your table partners.
Stage 3- Learning Plan
Engagement: “We are going to explore the seven continents, as well as dive into Earth’s five
oceans.”
• Create two T-charts on the board, one labeled “Oceans” and the other “Continents.”
One side will be labeled “already know”, and the other “want to know.”
• Prompt students by asking the following: “What do you already know about
 continents/oceans?” “Can you name any of our worlds’ continents/oceans?” “What do
you want to know about our worlds’ continents/oceans?”
• Ask students “Where can we find all of this information?” (Emphasize importance of
using maps, globes, books, etc. if not said by students)
Exploration:
• Show video (Exploring the 7 continents)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCYERpZ4Ujc
• Read “Explore Earth’s five oceans.”
• During the reading ask promoting questions about the characteristics of both continents
and oceans, where they are locating using words such as “below, above, next to”
Elaboration:
Whole Group discussion: As a whole group we will discuss what we learned from the reading
and video, and use that information for the following group activity, we will name the seven
continents and five oceans, as well as determine where they are located on a large map-giving
students the opportunity to come up and label the map. (Students can use this map, to help
label the globes they make in their small groups.
Extention:
Splitting the class into predetermined groups of four, students will locate and label their
pumpkin globes. Students need to use information they learned through the video, reading, and
group mapping, as well as communicating with peers to correctly identify and label their
pumpkin globes (Students will need to cut out the 7 continents, and ocean names, then tape
them onto the pumpkin globe).
Once the groups have completed their masterpieces we will do a gallery walk and observe
each groups globes.
Once back in seats, students will be given a small questionnaire to be done independently.

Evaluation:
• Students will complete their pumpkin globe.
• Students will participate in classroom discussion-interactive map activity.
• Students will complete questionnaire to determine their understanding on labeling and
locating the seven continents and five oceans.
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