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The Five Oceans

Name the five oceans and learn which is the largest.

  • Define and explain The Five Oceans in your own words
  • Use key terms such as ocean accurately
  • Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
  • Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic

This lesson focuses on The Five Oceans: name the five oceans and learn which is the largest.

Definition: The Five Oceans

Name the five oceans and learn which is the largest.

Key ideas

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.

Seven continents of very different sizes

Asia is the largest continent and Australia the smallest. Europe and Asia are joined as one giant landmass, but we treat them as separate continents because of their different histories and cultures. Antarctica is covered in ice and is the coldest continent.

Key term — ocean: A huge body of salty water — there are five: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans.

Finding a continent from clues

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.

Common mistakes
  • 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.
  • Calling a country a continent France is a country in the continent of Europe. A continent is far bigger and contains many countries.

Practice

Which is the largest ocean?
It touches Asia, Australia and the Americas.

The Pacific Ocean.

Name the seven continents.
Start with the largest and the smallest.

Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

Which ocean surrounds Antarctica?
It is the most recently named of the five oceans.

The Southern Ocean.

The equator passes through which continent: Africa or Europe?
Think about which one the middle line of the Earth crosses.

Africa — the equator crosses central Africa, but it does not touch Europe.

Quick check

The Five Oceans — quick check

Which of these best defines "ocean"?

A huge body of salty water — there are five: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans.

Is Australia a country, a continent, or both?

Both — it is a country and a continent.
Key takeaways
  • The Five Oceans: name the five oceans and learn which is the largest.
  • Oceans cover most of the planet: About seven-tenths of the Earth's surface is ocean.
  • continent: A very large area of land — there are seven: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
  • Watch out for: mixing up the Arctic and Antarctica
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