Year 2 · Geography · Geographical knowledge and understanding
Continents and oceans
Children name and locate the seven continents and five oceans on a globe and world map, and find Australia.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Name the seven continents and five oceans.
- Locate Australia and the major oceans on a globe or world map.
Success looks like
- I can name the seven continents.
- I can name the five oceans.
- I can point to Australia on a globe and name the oceans around it.
The big idea
Earth is mostly covered by water. The very large areas of land are called continents and the very large areas of salt water are called oceans.
There are seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia. Asia is the largest continent. Australia is the smallest; the continent of Australia and nearby Pacific islands is sometimes called Oceania.
There are five oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans. The Pacific is the largest and deepest.
Australia is surrounded by water. The Indian Ocean is to the west, the Pacific Ocean is to the east (including the Coral Sea and Tasman Sea), and the Southern Ocean is to the south.
A globe is a round model of Earth. A world map is flat, so shapes and sizes are stretched a little.
The equator is an imaginary line around the middle of Earth. Australia is south of the equator, in the Southern Hemisphere.
Worked examples
Finding Australia's oceans
Which oceans are on each side of Australia?
- Find Australia on the globe.
- Look west (left on most maps): the Indian Ocean.
- Look east (right): the Pacific Ocean.
- Look south (down): the Southern Ocean.
Answer: Indian Ocean to the west, Pacific Ocean to the east, Southern Ocean to the south.
Counting continents
Place a sticky note on each continent. How many notes did you use?
- Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia.
- Count: 7.
Answer: 7 sticky notes.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
Which is the largest continent?
Asia — Asia is the largest continent.
Which is the largest ocean?
Pacific Ocean — The Pacific is the largest ocean.
Which ocean is to the west of Australia?
Indian Ocean — The Indian Ocean is west of Australia.
Which continent is covered in ice and has the South Pole?
Antarctica — Antarctica surrounds the South Pole.
Is Australia north or south of the equator?
South — Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere.
How many continents are there?
7 — There are seven continents.
How many oceans are there?
5 — Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic.
Which ocean is to the south of Australia?
Southern — The Southern Ocean lies south of Australia.
Watch out for
- Children may think Australia is a country only. It is both a country and a continent.
- Flat maps can make places like Greenland look much bigger than they are. Compare with a globe.
Tips for parents
- A globe is one of the most useful geography tools you can own; an inflatable one works well.
- Sing or chant the continents and oceans to help memory.
- Link to family: find countries where relatives live or where your family's heritage comes from.
Go further
- Make a continents puzzle by cutting out a printed world map.
- Find one animal that lives on each continent.
- Make a salt-dough model of Australia and paint the oceans around it.