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Learn about the largest continent, Asia, and the smallest continent, Australia.
Did you know there is a continent so big it has the world's tallest mountain, and another continent so special it is completely surrounded by water like a giant boat?
Asia is the largest of all seven continents. It is so big that it covers about of all the land on Earth! Because it is so huge, it has many different types of weather and land. You can find the highest place on Earth here, called Mount Everest. On a map, Asia is located in the Northern and Eastern parts of the world. It is connected to Europe, forming a giant piece of land. To the east of Asia is the Pacific Ocean, and to the south is the Indian Ocean.
Follow these steps to find Asia on your map: 1. Look for the biggest piece of land on the whole map. 2. Check if it is on the right-hand side (East). 3. If it looks like the largest 'puzzle piece' on Earth, you have found Asia!
Quick Check
Which continent is the largest in the world?
Answer
Asia
Australia is very different from Asia. While Asia is the largest, Australia is the smallest continent. It is also very special because it is an island. An island is a piece of land that has water on all sides. Because Australia is not touched by any other continent and is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, we call it the 'Island Continent.' It sits all by itself in the southern part of the world, below Asia.
Let's look at why Australia is an island: 1. Find Australia at the bottom of the map. 2. Trace your finger all the way around its edges. 3. Notice that your finger only touches blue water and never crosses into another continent. This makes it an island!
Quick Check
What makes Australia an 'island continent'?
Answer
It is a continent that is completely surrounded by water on all sides.
Even though Asia is a giant and Australia is small, they are neighbors! If you start in Asia and travel South across the ocean, you will reach Australia. Asia has more than billion people living there, while Australia has much fewer people but many unique animals like kangaroos and koalas. Remembering their sizes helps you find them: Asia is the largest, and Australia is the (the smallest).
Imagine you are a pilot flying a plane: 1. Start at the top of the map in the largest landmass (Asia). 2. Fly your plane south (down) across the equator. 3. Land on the smallest continent surrounded by water. You have just traveled from the largest continent to the smallest one!
Which continent is the largest?
Which continent is also an island?
Australia is the largest continent in the world.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember: Which continent is the 'giant' and which one is the 'island'?
Practice Activity
Draw two circles on a piece of paper. Make one very large and label it 'Asia.' Make the other one small, draw water all around it, and label it 'Australia!'