CU 1.02Continent Globe (Painted Globe)
The child learns the names of the seven continents and the oceans using the colored continent globe.
Presentation
- 1
Invite the child to bring the Sandpaper Globe. Set the Continent Globe next to it.
- 2
Say: 'This globe is also the earth. The land is painted in colors.' Touch a land area on both globes and a water area on both.
- 3
Say: 'The big pieces of land are called continents.' Turn the globe slowly and point to each colored area.
- 4
Start with our continent: 'This is North America. We live here.' Point to Utah if marked.
- 5
Name two more with very different colors, for example Africa (green) and Asia (yellow).
- 6
Give a three-period lesson on those three names only.
- 7
Name the blue areas: 'The water is ocean.' Point out that the oceans connect all the way around.
- 8
On later days add the remaining continents two or three at a time until all seven are known.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Sing a continent song while pointing to each continent
- Match continent-colored picture cards to the globe
- Name the five oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, Southern
- Find where family members or friends were born and name the continent
- Point to the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and the equator
Control of error
Each continent has one consistent color that matches the World Puzzle Map and the continent picture cards; a labeled control card shows each color with its name.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Names all seven continents when the guide points to them
- Finds North America and says 'we live here' without prompting
- Points to an ocean when asked
Guide note
Some families use a six- or five-continent model. Follow the seven-continent Montessori convention in class but acknowledge other ways of counting when a child mentions one.