Grades 1–3
Map or Globe?
12 sentences that compare maps and globes: Which one can fold into a pocket? Which one shows the true shapes of the continents? Answer key included.
Social studies worksheet · Maps and cardinal directions
Hemispheres: Halves of the Earth
A world map with the equator and prime meridian drawn in: name the hemisphere each continent is in and answer questions about the two halves of the Earth.
- Grade level
- Grades 3–5
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Map skills, Cardinal and intermediate directions, Grids and coordinates, Map keys and scale
What kids do
“The equator splits the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The prime meridian splits it into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Use the map.”
Printed on the sheet:
- 1. Australia is in the
- Hemisphere (north or south).
- 2. North America is in the
- 3. Africa is mostly in the
- Hemisphere (east or west).
- 4. South America is in the
- 5. Which line is the equator: the one going across, or the one going up and down?
- 6. Which continent does the equator cross near its middle?
Words on this sheet
EuropeAsiaAfricaEquatorPrime meridian
Teacher tip
Cut an orange in half to show hemispheres.
How to use it
- Look at a real map of your town or school together first.
- Show a map on the document camera and model one question.
- Read the sheet aloud for early readers and let them answer with drawings.
Watch for
Kids who think north means “up” on any page. Turn the map and talk about it.
Talk about it
- How would you give a friend directions to your house?
- How does this connect to where we live?
Take it further
Make a class map of the playground with a key.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More maps and cardinal directions worksheets
Grades 4–5
Latitude and Longitude
Learn how lines of latitude and longitude work (the equator is 0°, the poles are 90°, the prime meridian runs through Greenwich), then answer 8 questions.
Grades 1–3
A Bird’s-Eye View Map
Kids learn what a bird’s-eye view is, then draw a map of their bedroom or classroom from above with a map key of 4 symbols.
Grades 2–4
Zoo Map Grid
A 6 by 6 lettered zoo map: find what is in each square, write the square for each animal and follow directions from one exhibit to another.
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