Teaching the Continents and Oceans

Teaching the continents and oceans in the elementary classroom can be fun! I love teaching about the continents and oceans. It’s one of those units that is simple to teach. Lessons are fun and engaging for students too.

I prefer to teach continents and oceans at the beginning of the school year. The content is pretty easy, so it’s a great way to ease students back into the school. year. After years of gathering different resources, I created one unit with the best of the best!

Learn the Continents and Oceans with Songs

Songs are a great way to help your students remember any content. I use these songs to teach students the names of the continents and oceans. They are super engaging and are guaranteed to work. The only downside is the songs get stuck in your head, and you and your students will be singing them all day long! So let me apologize to you in advance 🙂

Continents and Oceans Facts

I want my students to know more about the continents and oceans than just their names and location, so I wrote a fact book that includes important information about each one. The fact book includes a page about each continent and ocean along with a map identifying its location. Students can color each page.

Continents and Oceans Videos

Informative videos are a great way to engage students with learning. I like to start lessons with videos to build background knowledge or to introduce a topic. Students should watch informative videos with a purpose in mind. A viewing guide to accompany videos is included.

Continents and Oceans Games

What better way to engage your students while learning about the continents and oceans than with games? These continent and ocean game printables are perfect for learning centers, partner work, or group activities.

What to try out one of the games in this unit? I have a FREE “Roll a Map” continents and oceans game to share with you!

Label the Continents and Oceans

The most important skill when teaching about the continents and oceans is for students to actually identify each place on a map. This unit includes both a color and black and white map, two different coloring maps, and a continents and oceans map quiz.

Research the Continents and Oceans

Have students take ownership of their learning by providing opportunities for student choice whenever possible. Students practice their research and writing skills with the ‘I wonder…” pages.

Continents and Oceans Worksheets

Cross-curricular activities are great to merge learning whenever possible. The continents and oceans are taught during social studies, but these writing pages can be added in during the language block. They would also be a perfect addition to a writing center!

Fun Ways to Teach Continents and Oceans

Projects are fun, engaging, and provide the opportunity for students to learn from each other. Choice boards are a great way to differentiate learning projects for all students. Students choose a project idea that appeals to their interests and strengths. A grading rubric is included.

Continents and Oceans Quiz

In addition to testing students using a map, I included these task cards to review what students have learned. They can be used as a whole group SCOOT game, learning center activity, a continents and oceans quiz, or individual learning activity.

Boom Cards about the Continents and Oceans

BOOM™ cards are a fun way to review the continents and oceans. If you don’t know about Boom™ cards, check out this blog post here.

I would love to hear about your engaging continents and oceans lesson activities!