What Is a Continent?

Owlo

Good morning, Koko! Come in, come in. I was just spreading something big on the table.

Koko

Whoa, Owlo! That map is so huge. It has so many colors and shapes on it.

Owlo

It is a map of the whole world, Koko. Every color you see is a different part of our planet.

Koko

Our whole planet fits on one piece of paper? That is so cool.

Owlo

It does take some clever folding to make it fit. Now, do you see those really big land areas on the map?

Koko

Yes! They look like giant puzzle pieces. Some of them are really, really big.

Owlo

Those giant puzzle pieces have a special name. They are called continents.

Koko

Con-ti-nents. That is a funny word. What exactly is a continent, Owlo?

Owlo

A continent is a very large area of land. Think of it like a giant neighborhood, but for whole countries.

Koko

So a continent is like the biggest neighborhood ever, with lots and lots of countries inside it?

Owlo

Exactly right! And here is something exciting. There are seven continents on Earth altogether.

Koko

Seven! Can we count them? I love counting things.

Owlo

Let us count them together on the map. Point with me, Koko. This big one is called Asia. It is the largest continent of all.

Koko

Asia is enormous! It looks like it takes up almost half the whole map.

Owlo

It really is the biggest. Now, this one next to it, going left, is called Europe. Many countries are packed in there.

Koko

And what is that giant one at the bottom? It looks like it has a big white hat on top.

Owlo

That is Antarctica, at the very bottom of the world. It is covered in ice and snow all year long. Almost nobody lives there.

Koko

Nobody lives there? Not even one family?

Owlo

Only scientists visit to do research. It is far too cold and icy for towns or cities.

Koko

I would need a very, very big coat. What are the other continents called?

Owlo

Over here we have Africa, which is the second largest continent. And this one is North America, where many countries including ours are found.

Koko

Oh! So we live on a continent too? I never thought about that before.

Owlo

We do indeed. And just below North America is South America, full of rainforests and amazing animals.

Koko

Rainforests sound amazing. Is that all seven?

Owlo

Almost! The last one is Australia. It is special because it is both a continent and a country all by itself.

Koko

A whole continent that is also one country? That is the most interesting one, I think.

Owlo

Australia is quite unique that way. So now you know all seven. Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica.

Koko

Seven giant puzzle pieces floating on the water. I like thinking about it that way.

Owlo

That is a wonderful way to picture it. The water between the continents is called oceans, and they connect everything together.

Koko

So the whole world is like a giant puzzle, with land pieces and water pieces all fitting together.

Owlo

You described that beautifully, Koko. Now, before we roll up this map, can you tell me what you learned today?

Koko

Okay! So, a continent is a really, really big area of land. There are seven continents on Earth. They are Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica. Antarctica is the cold one where only scientists go, and Australia is a continent AND a country at the same time. Next I want to find out which animals live on each continent, because I bet they are all very different.

Owlo

That is a perfect summary, Koko. The animals on each continent are a wonderful thing to explore next time.