Continents

A continent is a large, continuous land mass that is separated from other land masses by water. There are seven continents on Earth: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and South America. Each continent has its own unique physical and cultural characteristics.

Africa

Africa is the second largest continent in the world and is known for its diverse cultures, wildlife, and natural resources. It is home to the Sahara Desert, the largest hot desert in the world, as well as the Nile River, the longest river in the world.

Antarctica

Antarctica is the southernmost continent and is covered almost entirely by ice. It is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth. Despite its harsh conditions, Antarctica is home to a variety of unique wildlife, including penguins, seals, and whales.

Asia

Asia is the largest continent in both land area and population. It is known for its rich history, diverse cultures, and varied geography, including the Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world. Asia is also home to major civilizations such as China, India, and Japan.

Europe

Europe is the second smallest continent in terms of land area, but it has played a significant role in world history and culture. It is known for its diverse languages, art, and architecture, as well as its rich history of exploration and colonization.

North America

North America is the third largest continent and is home to a wide variety of landscapes, including mountains, plains, and coastal regions. It is also known for its diverse mix of cultures and its history of immigration and settlement.

Australia

Australia is the smallest continent and the only continent that is also a country. It is known for its unique wildlife, including kangaroos and koalas, as well as its vast, arid interior known as the Outback.

South America

South America is known for its diverse geography, including the Amazon Rainforest, the Andes Mountains, and the Atacama Desert. It is also home to a rich variety of cultures and civilizations, including the Inca, Maya, and Aztec societies.

Study Guide

What are the seven continents?
What is the largest continent in terms of land area?
Which continent is known for its diverse wildlife and natural resources?
Which continent is the only continent that is also a country?
What are some of the major geographical features of Asia?

◂Social Studies Worksheets and Study Guides Seventh Grade. The Aztecs

The resources above cover the following skills:

National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS)

TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE

SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAMS SHOULD INCLUDE EXPERIENCES THAT PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY OF THE PAST AND ITS LEGACY.

KNOWLEDGE - Learners will understand:

The study of the past provides a representation of the history of communities, nations, and the world.

That learning about the past requires the interpretation of sources, and that using varied sources provides the potential for a more balanced interpretive record of the past.

That historical interpretations of the same event may differ on the basis of such factors as conflicting evidence from varied sources, national or cultural perspectives, and the point of view of the researcher.

Key historical periods and patterns of change within and across cultures (e.g., the rise and fall of ancient civilizations, the development of technology, the rise of modern nation-states, and the establishment and breakdown of colonial systems).

The contributions of key persons, groups, and events from the past and their influence on the present.

The influences of social, geographic, economic, and cultural factors an the history of local areas, states, nations, and the world.

National Center for History in Schools (NCHS)

Historical Thinking Standards

Chronological Thinking

Identify the temporal structure of a historical narrative or story.

Reconstruct patterns of historical succession and duration; explain historical continuity and change.

Historical Comprehension

Reconstruct the literal meaning of a historical passage.

Identify the central question(s) the historical narrative addresses.

Historical Analysis and Interpretation

Draw comparisons across eras and regions in order to define enduring issues.

Challenge arguments of historical inevitability.

Hold interpretations of history as tentative.

Historical Research Capabilities

Formulate historical questions.

Historical Issues-Analysis and Decision-Making

Identify issues and problems in the past.

Identify relevant historical antecedents.

United States History Content Standards

Era 1: Three Worlds Meet (Beginnings to 1620)

Comparative characteristics of societies in the Americas, Western Europe, and Western Africa that increasingly interacted after 1450.

The student understands the differences and similarities among Africans, Europeans, and Native Americans who converged in the western hemisphere after 1492.

How early European exploration and colonization resulted in cultural and ecological interactions among previously unconnected peoples.

The student understands the stages of European oceanic and overland exploration, amid international rivalries, from the 9th to 17th centuries.

The student understands the Spanish and Portuguese conquest of the Americas.

World History Content Standards

Era 5: Intensified Hemispheric Interactions 1000-1500 CE

The expansion of states and civilizations in the Americas, 1000-1500.

The student understands the development of complex societies and states in North America and Mesoamerica.

Era 6: The Emergence of the First Global Age, 1450-1770

Economic, political, and cultural interrelations among peoples of Africa, Europe, and the Americas, 1500-1750.

The student understands how states and peoples of European descent became dominant in the Americas between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Major global trends from 1450-1770.

The student understands major global trends from 1450 to 1770.