Hemispheres & Continents

Designed by: Nancy Pierce Little    School: Heyward Gibbes Middle

Grade Level: 6        Subject: Social Studies

Core Curriculum Objectives(s): 

Apply Geographic Information to the Study of World History (6WH1-1) 

Name and locate on map(s): bodies of water, continents, major countries, major cities, and world regions (6WH1-2 )

Define and cite examples of political, physical and cultural boundaries (6WH1-3 )

Define, illustrate and cite examples of geographic terms.

(Textbook: World, Adventures in Time and Place, McGraw Hill, "Reviewing Geography Skills, pages G4-G5)

Overview: Students will work in cooperative learning groups to determine how the equator and the Prime Meridian divide the earth into hemispheres. Students will locate and label the hemispheres, continents, and oceans.

Focus/Essential Question: If a "hemisphere" is "half a globe," why, in the world, are there four hemispheres? In which hemisphere(s) do we live?

Time Frame: 2 to 3 - 45 minute class periods.

Resources/Materials: 

Hemispheres & Continents brochure (one for each group for day one and a copy for each student on day two) [Make a two sided copy and tri-fold to form the brochure] 

Click here to download an Acrobat file of the 
Hemispheres & Continents brochure

This file requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download 
this free file is you do not have it installed on your computer.

inflatable globes (one for each group) 

masking tape, markers, post it notes (for each group) 

internet access: teacher enrollment in FunBrain.com for student online assessment options and for scoring rubrics - http://go.hrw.com/ndNSAPI.nd/gohrw_rls1/pKeywordResultsSR9 %20Rubrics 

blank outline maps (one for each student) 

blank paper (for Venn diagrams)

Culminating Assessment: Students will complete a short quiz located on the internet at FunBrain.com. Teachers can modify the tests located at this site to fit their individual needs. Teacher enrollment is required first.

Instructional Activities 

Day One: Divide the class into cooperative learning groups (3 - 5 students per group). Discuss the rules for working in groups. Distribute the "Hemispheres & Continents" brochure. Have the students select their job titles and assignments for today's lesson. Students record this information on the brochure. Distribute the globes, tape, markers, and post it notes. Students should read and follow the directions in the brochure. The brochure is numbered to take the students through the exercise step-by-step. The students will define the term "hemisphere." Students will locate and label the continents, the equator, the Prime Meridian, and the various hemispheres. The teacher monitors student progress.

Day Two and Day Three: 

(a)To review the previous day's lesson, each student receives a blank copy of the brochure. Each cooperative group will present information from a part of the brochure so that each student can fill out their individual brochure which they can keep in their notebook for future reference and study. 

(b) Students will take turns completing the internet quiz. 

(c) Those students not taking the quiz will locate and label on an outline map, the continents, oceans, hemispheres, equator, Prime Meridian, and International Date Line. Students will locate and label their home town. A classwork grade can be earned for successful completion of the maps. Scoring rubrics are located at http://go.hrw.com/ndNSAPI.nd/gohrw_rls1/pKeywordResults?SR9%20Rubrics. 

(d) Students will create Venn diagrams to show how the continents are located in the various hemispheres. 

(Note: sample Venn diagrams are included with this lesson.)

Arrange to have the maps and Venn diagrams displayed at a PTO meeting or Open House.

Venn Diagrams

Venn Diagram: Northern & Southern Hemispheres

Venn Diagram: Eastern & Western Hemispheres

Venn Diagram: Northern & Eastern Hemispheres

Venn Diagram: Southern & Western Hemispheres

Venn Diagram: How else can you compare the hemispheres? Can you add more circles?