Countries and Regions
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| continent | one of the seven major land masses — Africa is the second-largest continent. |
| country | a nation with its own government — Germany is a country in Europe. |
| capital city | the main city of a country, where the government is — London is the capital city of England. |
| region | an area within a country or continent — The Sahara Desert is in the northern region of Africa. |
| population | the number of people living in an area — The population of China is over 1.4 billion. |
| border | the line between two countries — The river forms a natural border. |
| coast | land next to the sea — We spent the weekend on the coast. |
The Seven Continents
| English | Notes |
|---|---|
| Africa | largest population growth |
| Antarctica | coldest and least populated |
| Asia | largest and most populated |
| Australia (Oceania) | smallest continent |
| Europe | 44 countries |
| North America | includes Canada, USA, Mexico |
| South America | Amazon rainforest is here |
Tip To remember the seven continents, some students use the phrase "An Ape Asked After Eating North America South America" — the first letters spell out Antarctica, Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, North America, South America. Find a method that works for you!
Landforms and Natural Features
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| peninsula | land surrounded by water on three sides — Italy is a peninsula. |
| bay | a curved inlet of the sea — The ship anchored in the bay. |
| valley | a low area between hills or mountains — The river runs through a deep valley. |
| plain | a large flat area of land — The Great Plains stretch across North America. |
| plateau | a high flat area of land — The Tibetan Plateau is the highest in the world. |
| volcano | a mountain that can erupt lava — Mount Etna is an active volcano. |
| glacier | a large slow-moving mass of ice — Glaciers are melting due to climate change. |
| jungle / rainforest | a dense tropical forest with heavy rain — The Amazon rainforest produces 20% of the world's oxygen. |
| savanna | a tropical grassland — Lions live on the African savanna. |
| tundra | a very cold, flat, treeless area — The Arctic tundra is frozen for most of the year. |
Maps and Coordinates
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| north | the direction towards the North Pole — Follow the compass north. |
| south | the direction towards the South Pole |
| east | the direction of sunrise |
| west | the direction of sunset |
| equator | the imaginary line around the middle of the Earth — Countries near the equator are hot. |
| hemisphere | half of the Earth — The UK is in the Northern Hemisphere. |
| longitude | imaginary vertical lines measuring distance east or west |
| latitude | imaginary horizontal lines measuring distance north or south |
Real world: Reading a map
"The capital city of Australia is Canberra, not Sydney." "Brazil is in the Southern Hemisphere, south of the equator." "To find any location on Earth, you need its latitude and longitude coordinates."
Practice Problems
How many continents are there? Name them.
Show answer
7 continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia (Oceania), Europe, North America, South America
What is a 'peninsula'?
Show answer
A piece of land surrounded by water on three sides.
What is the difference between 'latitude' and 'longitude'?
Show answer
Latitude measures distance north or south of the equator; longitude measures distance east or west.
Which continent is the largest and most populated?
Show answer
Asia