Show students a poster of a world map. Tell them that a world map shows all seven continents and all five oceans. Tell them the large, different-colored shapes represent land and are called continents, and the large areas of blue are the different oceans. Owl & Mouse also offers interactive maps that can be used with an interactive board, instead of using a poster.
Point to each continent and name it. Tell students the continent they live on. This will probably be the first continent they remember.
Point to each ocean and name it. Tell students where the oceans can be found. For example, the Pacific Ocean is located next to the western part of North America, and the Atlantic Ocean is located next to the eastern part of North America.
Show students a globe. Tell them that a globe is just like a map, except it's round because it's shaped like the earth. Explain to them that it has all of the continents and oceans just like a map. State that the large shapes of land are the continents and that all the areas of blue represent the oceans.
Turn the globe so that students can see North America and South America on the globe. Point to them on the map so students can see how the images are alike in both formats.
Turn the globe so that students can see Europe, Asia and Africa. Show them the continents on a map at the same time, so students can make the connection between the two. Do the same for Antarctica and Australia.
Show students the different oceans on a globe. Turn the globe so students can see the Pacific Ocean and show them the ocean on a map. Turn the globe to show students the Atlantic Ocean on the globe and then on a map so students can see the connection. Repeat the process for the Indian, Arctic and Southern Antarctic Oceans.
Review with students to make sure they understand that world maps and globes both show the seven continents and five oceans of the world. To continue the lesson, Sheppard Software has geography games about all of the continents. Students can also play the games to identify continents and oceans. Teachers can use the games as a whole-class activity to check understanding by displaying it on an interactive board and sending students to the board to click on the correct continent or ocean. The games can be played at the beginner, intermediate or expert level.