- Define and explain Compass Points in your own words
- Use key terms such as continent accurately
- Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
- Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic
This lesson focuses on Compass Points: use north, south, east and west to describe where continents and oceans lie.
Use north, south, east and west to describe where continents and oceans lie.
Key ideas
Compass points describe position
North is towards the top of most maps, south towards the bottom, east to the right and west to the left. You can say 'Africa is south of Europe' or 'the Atlantic Ocean is west of Africa'. The points go clockwise: north, east, south, west.
Oceans cover most of the planet
About seven-tenths of the Earth's surface is ocean. The Pacific is the largest ocean — bigger than all the land put together. The Arctic Ocean around the North Pole is the smallest and coldest.
Key term — continent: A very large area of land — there are seven: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
Which continent is being described? It is the largest continent, it is mostly in the northern hemisphere, and the Pacific Ocean lies to its east.
The largest continent is Asia. Check the hemisphere: most of Asia is north of the equator — correct. Check the ocean: the Pacific lies along Asia's eastern edge — correct. All three clues match, so the answer is Asia.
Answer: Asia.
- Thinking north is always 'up' in real life North is at the top of most maps, but in the real world it is simply a direction you can face — a compass needle points towards it.
- Mixing up the Arctic and Antarctica The Arctic is the ocean and ice around the North Pole; Antarctica is the icy continent around the South Pole. Their names sound alike but they are at opposite ends of the Earth.
Practice
Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
East.
The Southern Ocean.
The Pacific Ocean.
Quick check
Which of these best defines "continent"?
Is Australia a country, a continent, or both?
The equator passes through which continent: Africa or Europe?
- Compass Points: use north, south, east and west to describe where continents and oceans lie.
- Compass points describe position: North is towards the top of most maps, south towards the bottom, east to the right and west to the left.
- ocean: A huge body of salty water — there are five: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans.
- Watch out for: thinking north is always 'up' in real life