Earth is made of land and water. About 71% of Earth's surface is covered by water, and only 29% is land. That means more than two-thirds of our planet is water! The large bodies of water are called oceans. The large areas of land are called continents. If you looked at Earth from space, it would look mostly blue because of all the water. What covers most of Earth's surface – land or water?

An ocean is a very large body of salt water. Earth has five oceans. The largest is the Pacific Ocean. The second largest is the Atlantic Ocean. The third largest is the Indian Ocean. The smallest and coldest is the Arctic Ocean (near the North Pole). The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica. Oceans are home to amazing animals like whales, dolphins, sharks, fish, and coral reefs. Which ocean is the largest on Earth?

A continent is a very large area of land. Earth has seven continents. From largest to smallest: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia. Each continent has many different countries (except Antarctica, which has no countries – only scientists live there). Which continent is the largest?

A lake is a body of water surrounded by land. Most lakes are filled with fresh water (not salty like the ocean). Lakes can be big or small. Some famous lakes include Lake Superior (the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area), Lake Victoria (the largest lake in Africa), and the Great Lakes in North America. People use lakes for swimming, fishing, boating, and drinking water. What is a lake?

A river is a large, flowing body of water that moves toward an ocean, lake, or another river. Rivers start from a source (like a mountain or a spring) and flow downhill to an end called the mouth. The longest river in the world is the Nile River in Africa. The Amazon River in South America carries more water than any other river. Rivers are very important – they provide water for drinking, farming, and transportation. Which river is the longest in the world?

A mountain is a very tall landform that rises high above the land around it. Mountains are usually steeper and taller than hills. The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest in Asia. Mountains are formed when Earth's crust pushes together or when volcanoes erupt. Many mountains are part of mountain ranges – long chains of mountains. The longest mountain range is the Andes in South America. What is the tallest mountain in the world?

An island is a piece of land completely surrounded by water. Some islands are very small (just a little rock in a river), and some are huge. Greenland is the largest island in the world (but it is still called an island because it is smaller than Australia, which is a continent). Some islands are formed by volcanoes. Some islands are made of coral reefs. People live on many islands around the world. What is an island?

A desert is a very dry place that gets very little rain. Deserts can be hot or cold. The Sahara Desert in Africa is the largest hot desert in the world. It gets less than 3 inches of rain per year! Antarctica is the largest cold desert – it is very dry even though it is covered in ice. Deserts are not empty – many plants and animals have special adaptations to survive there, like cacti that store water and camels that can go a long time without drinking. Which is the largest hot desert in the world?

A forest is an area of land covered with many trees. Forests are home to many animals, birds, insects, and plants. There are different types of forests: tropical rainforests (hot and wet, like the Amazon), temperate forests (four seasons, like most forests in North America), and boreal forests (cold, with evergreen trees). The Amazon Rainforest in South America is the largest rainforest in the world. It is sometimes called "the lungs of the Earth" because it produces so much oxygen. What is the largest rainforest in the world?

Let us review what you learned about land and water! Match each word to its meaning. Ocean = large body of salt water. Mountain = tall landform. Lake = water surrounded by land. Island = land surrounded by water. River = flowing water. Desert = dry land with little rain. Forest = land with many trees. What do you call a large body of salt water that covers most of Earth?

A map is a drawing that shows where places are. Maps help us find our way. A map can show a small area, like your classroom or your neighborhood. Or a map can show a huge area, like your country or the whole world. Maps use symbols, colors, and labels to show real things – like roads, rivers, mountains, and cities. What is a map?

Directions help us describe where things are on a map. The four main directions are called cardinal directions. They are: North (N), East (E), South (S), and West (W). A good way to remember them is "Never Eat Soggy Waffles" (North, East, South, West). On most maps, North is at the top, South is at the bottom, East is on the right, and West is on the left. If you are facing North, which direction is behind you?

A compass rose is a symbol on a map that shows the directions. It usually shows North, South, East, and West. Sometimes it also shows Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest (the intermediate directions). The compass rose helps you figure out which way is which on the map. If the compass rose shows North at the top of the map, then what direction is at the bottom?

Maps use symbols to show real things. A symbol is a simple picture or shape that stands for something. For example, a small blue line might mean a river. A small black line might mean a road. A small triangle might mean a mountain. The map key (or legend) tells you what each symbol means. Without a map key, you would not know what the symbols represent! What does a map key (legend) do?

A map is much smaller than the real place it shows. The map scale tells you how much smaller the map is. For example, a map scale might say "1 inch = 1 mile." That means every inch on the map represents 1 mile in the real world. If two towns are 2 inches apart on the map, they are really 2 miles apart. A scale can also look like a line with marks showing miles or kilometers. What does a map scale tell you?

There are different types of maps for different purposes. A physical map shows natural features like mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts, and forests. Physical maps often use colors to show elevation (how high the land is) – green for low land, brown for mountains, and blue for water. A political map shows human-made features like countries, states, cities, and borders. Political maps use different colors to show different countries or states. What type of map would you use to find the mountains and rivers in a place?

Let us practice reading a simple map! Imagine a map of a park. The playground is in the center of the map. The pond is East of the playground. The picnic area is West of the playground. The parking lot is South of the playground. The entrance is North of the playground. If you are at the playground and you want to go to the picnic area, which direction should you go?

A globe is a model of the Earth that is round – just like the real Earth. A globe shows the true shape of continents and oceans without any stretching. A map is flat. Because the Earth is round, flattening it into a map causes some distortion – some places look bigger or smaller than they really are, or shapes get stretched. The most famous flat map is called the Mercator projection. Which one is a more accurate model of the Earth's shape?

Maps and globes have special grid lines to help find exact locations. Lines of latitude run east-west (left to right) around the Earth. They measure how far north or south a place is. The Equator is the most famous line of latitude – it goes around the middle of the Earth. Lines of longitude run north-south (up and down) from the North Pole to the South Pole. They measure how far east or west a place is. Together, latitude and longitude give every place on Earth a unique address! Which line of latitude goes around the middle of the Earth?

Time for a map challenge! You are looking at a map of your town. The library is at the corner of Main Street and Oak Avenue. Your school is 3 blocks North and 2 blocks East of the library. If you are at the library, how would you get to the school? First go North 3 blocks, then go East 2 blocks. If each block is 1/10 of a mile, how far is the school from the library? (Hint: 3 blocks + 2 blocks = 5 blocks total. 5 × 1/10 mile = 5/10 mile = 1/2 mile.)

A continent is a very large area of land on Earth. Earth has seven continents. They are: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia (sometimes called Oceania). Continents are huge! Asia is the biggest continent. Australia is the smallest continent. Which continent do you live on? (If you live in the United States, you live on North America!)

Asia is the biggest continent on Earth. It covers about 30% of all the land on Earth! Asia is home to China, India, Japan, Russia (part of Russia is in Asia, part is in Europe), and many other countries. The highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, is in Asia. The most populated countries in the world (China and India) are also in Asia. About 60% of all people in the world live in Asia! Which of these countries is in Asia?

Africa is the second-largest continent. It is known for amazing wildlife like lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and gorillas. Africa has the world's largest hot desert – the Sahara Desert. It also has the world's longest river – the Nile River. Africa has over 50 countries. Some African countries include Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Morocco. Which famous desert is in Africa?

North America is the continent where we live. It includes three large countries: Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It also includes the countries of Central America (like Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama) and the islands of the Caribbean (like Cuba, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic). North America has many different landscapes: mountains (Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains), forests, deserts, lakes (the Great Lakes are huge!), and rivers (the Mississippi River). Which country is NOT in North America?

South America is the continent connected to North America. It is known for the Amazon Rainforest (the largest rainforest in the world) and the Amazon River (the largest river by volume). South America has many countries including Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and Chile. The Andes Mountains run along the western side of South America – they are the longest mountain range in the world. Which famous rainforest is found mostly in South America?

Europe is the continent that shares a land border with Asia. Together, Europe and Asia are sometimes called "Eurasia." Europe has about 50 countries, but they are relatively small. Some European countries include France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Greece. Europe is known for its history, art, castles, and famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Colosseum in Rome. Which famous tower is in Paris, France?

Australia is the smallest continent. It is also a country! The continent of Australia includes the country of Australia, the island of New Zealand, and many islands in the Pacific Ocean – so sometimes it is called Oceania. Australia is known for unique animals that live nowhere else, like kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and platypuses. Many parts of Australia are hot and dry, with a huge desert called the Outback. Which animal is native to Australia?

Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth. It is covered by a thick layer of ice almost everywhere. No people live there permanently – only scientists who stay for a few months at a time. Antarctica is so cold that it has no trees or bushes. The only plants that grow there are tiny mosses and algae. However, many animals live in the ocean around Antarctica – especially penguins, seals, and whales. Which animal lives in Antarctica?

Different continents have different numbers of people. Some continents are very crowded; others have very few people. Asia has the most people – over 4.7 billion people live there (that is more than half of all people on Earth!). Africa is second with about 1.4 billion people. Europe has about 750 million. North America has about 600 million. South America has about 430 million. Australia/Oceania has about 45 million. Antarctica has no permanent residents – only scientists. Which continent has the most people?

Let us review what you learned about the seven continents! Match each continent to its famous feature. Which continent has the Amazon Rainforest? Which continent has the Sahara Desert? Which continent is covered in ice? Which continent has kangaroos? Time to show what you know! Which continent is home to the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes Mountains?

Which country has the most time zones including its overseas territories, spanning 12 different time zones? This country's mainland (European part) uses one time zone (UTC+1), but its overseas territories spread across the globe give it a total of 12 time zones (13 if counting Antarctica claims). These territories include French Polynesia (UTC-10 to UTC-9), the Caribbean (Martinique, Guadeloupe – UTC-4), South America (French Guiana – UTC-3), the Indian Ocean (Réunion – UTC+4, Mayotte – UTC+3), and the Pacific (New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna – UTC+11). The country also claims Adélie Land in Antarctica (UTC+5 to UTC+10 depending on the season). This gives the country the most time zones of any country – more than Russia (11) or the United States (11). The country also has the most overseas territories of any country. The time zones mean that when it is noon in Paris, it is 10 PM the previous day in Tahiti and 8 AM the next day in New Caledonia.

What is the world's largest exclave (a territory legally attached to another country but not contiguous with it)? This exclave is a US state separated from the rest of the country by Canada. It covers 1.7 million square kilometers (660,000 square miles) – larger than the country of France. It was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (about $0.02 per acre). The exclave has a population of 736,000 people. It is separated from the contiguous US by British Columbia and the Yukon Territory (Canada). The exclave is known for its extreme geography: the highest peak in North America (Denali, 6,190 m), the longest coastline of any US state (6,640 miles), and vast wilderness. The exclave's capital (Juneau) is the only US capital not accessible by road from the rest of the country – you can only reach it by boat or plane. The exclave has 224 named islands. The exclave was the site of a major gold rush in 1896-1899 (Klondike Gold Rush).

Which country has the longest official name in English (56 characters including spaces)? This country's full name is "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." It is a constitutional monarchy comprising four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales (which together form Great Britain) and Northern Ireland. The name reflects the 1707 union of England and Scotland (Kingdom of Great Britain), the 1801 union with Ireland (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland), and the 1922 separation of most of Ireland (becoming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). The country has 16 overseas territories. The country's flag is called the Union Jack, combining the crosses of St. George (England), St. Andrew (Scotland), and St. Patrick (Ireland). The country has the world's fifth-largest economy and was the first industrialized country. The capital is London, one of the world's most visited cities.

Which European microstate is an enclave – completely surrounded by Italy? This country is one of only three enclave countries in the world (countries completely surrounded by a single other country). The others are Vatican City (also surrounded by Italy) and Lesotho (surrounded by South Africa). This country is the oldest surviving sovereign state in the world, founded in 301 AD. It has a population of about 34,000 people and an area of 61 square kilometers (24 square miles). The country is entirely mountainous, with the highest point at 749 meters (2,457 feet). The country's economy is based on tourism (over 3 million visitors annually), banking, and the sale of postage stamps (collectors value them highly). The country is named after a Christian stonemason who fled Roman persecution. The country has its own army (the world's smallest, with about 80 soldiers) and its own flag (white and blue with three towers). The country is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Which country has the highest percentage of its land area within the Arctic Circle? This island nation is almost entirely within the Arctic Circle – about 80% of its land is north of the Arctic Circle (66.5°N). The country is an autonomous territory of Denmark. It has the world's second-largest ice sheet (after Antarctica), covering 80% of its surface. The ice sheet contains 10% of the world's fresh water. The country's population is only about 56,000 people – one of the lowest population densities on Earth (0.14 people per sq km). The country's name in its native language (Kalaallit Nunaat) means "Land of the Kalaallit" (the indigenous Inuit people). The country has the world's largest national park (Northeast Greenland National Park, 972,000 sq km). The country's midnight sun lasts from May to July, and the polar night lasts from November to January. The country's ice sheet is melting rapidly due to climate change, contributing to global sea level rise.

Which independent country has the highest population density in the world, with over 26,000 people per square kilometer? This microstate on the French Riviera is only 2.02 square kilometers (0.78 square miles) in area – the second-smallest country in the world (after Vatican City). It has a population of about 39,000 people. The country is famous for its casinos (Monte Carlo Casino), the Monaco Grand Prix (Formula One race through city streets), luxury yachts, and as a tax haven (no personal income tax). The country has been ruled by the Grimaldi family since 1297. The current ruler is Prince Albert II. The country has its own police force (550 officers for 39,000 people – one of the highest police per capita ratios in the world). The country's economy is based on tourism, banking, and real estate – it has the highest GDP per capita in the world (over $185,000 USD). The country has no airports; the closest is in Nice, France. The country has the highest life expectancy in the world (89.4 years).

Which country is the only one that spans both the European and Asian continents (a transcontinental country) with territory in both Europe and Asia? This country has about 77% of its land in Asia and 23% in Europe. The traditional boundary between Europe and Asia runs through the country along the Ural Mountains and the Ural River (which the country itself proposed). The country's capital is located on the European side. The country is the largest in the world by land area (17.1 million sq km). The European part of the country contains about 78% of the population (110 million people), while the Asian part (Siberia and the Far East) contains only 22% (30 million people). The country's European part is more industrialized and urbanized, while the Asian part is rich in natural resources (oil, gas, minerals, timber). The country's famous Trans-Siberian Railway (9,289 km) connects Moscow in Europe to Vladivostok in Asia. The country has the world's longest border (over 60,000 km).

Which country has the longest north-south distance, stretching over 4,300 kilometers (2,670 miles) from north to south? This country stretches from the Atacama Desert in the north (17°S) to Cape Horn in the south (56°S). The country is long and narrow – 4,300 km long but only 150-350 km wide. The country includes the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert (the driest non-polar desert), the Central Valley (agricultural heartland), the Lake District (volcanoes and lakes), the fjords and channels of Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego (shared with Argentina). The country also claims territory in Antarctica (which would extend the north-south distance even further). The country's north-south length means it has every climate zone except tropical: desert, Mediterranean, temperate rainforest, and polar (in the Antarctic claim). The country's capital (Santiago) is located in the central region. The country is one of the most seismically active in the world (the 2010 8.8 magnitude earthquake shifted the city of Concepción 3 meters west).

Which two countries share the record for the most neighboring countries (14 each)? One country is the largest by land area (Russia); the other is the most populous (China). Russia borders: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (via Kaliningrad exclave), Poland (via Kaliningrad), Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and North Korea. China borders: North Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. Both countries are located primarily in Asia. The third-highest is Brazil (10 countries). Both countries have had complex relationships with their neighbors – Russia has 14 neighbors partly because the Soviet Union broke into many independent countries. China has 14 neighbors partly because of its size and central location in Asia. Both countries have active border disputes with some of their neighbors.

Which "country" (actually a continent governed by an international treaty) has no permanent population and is the coldest, driest, windiest place on Earth? This continent is not a sovereign country – it is governed by the Antarctic Treaty (1959, 56 signatories). The treaty designates the continent as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science." No country can claim sovereignty, and no military activity is allowed. The continent has no permanent human population, but it has about 5,000 seasonal researchers in summer and 1,000 in winter. The continent holds 90% of the world's ice and 70% of its fresh water. The coldest temperature ever recorded was here (-89.2°C / -128.6°F). The continent has no trees, no shrubs, and no land mammals. The only insects are wingless midges (Belgica antarctica). The continent has active volcanoes (Mount Erebus, 3,794 m) and the world's longest river (the Onyx River, only 32 km long). The continent's ice sheet is up to 4.8 km thick. If all the ice melted, global sea levels would rise by 58 meters (190 feet).