Lesson 16 — Activity 1: Where Canada Lies on the Globe
Completion requirements
Lesson 16 — Activity 1:
Where Canada Lies on the Globe
Where Canada Lies on the Globe
Warm Up
The earth is a big place! Do you know where Canada is located on the globe? In this activity, you will learn that Canada's global location affects our national identity. You will also learn that the country of Canada is a part of the continent of North America. Finally, you will realize that Canada's citizens are linked to the other continents through immigration and technology.
Let's begin by looking at where Canada lies on the globe. The globe is the rounded representation of the earth. The globe can be divided into hemispheres. A hemisphere is half ("hemi" means half) a sphere or round figure, such as a globe.
Our globe can be divided into four hemispheres. The hemispheres are formed by two imaginary lines around the earth — the equator and the prime meridian.
The Equator is an imaginary line that runs horizontally around the middle of the earth. It divides the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres.
The Prime Meridian is an imaginary line that runs vertically around the middle of the earth. It divides the earth into eastern and western hemispheres.
The horizontal
and the vertical hemispheres overlap, so the globe is divided into four
quadrants (each of the four parts of the sphere).
Canada is part
of North America. It is the second largest country in the world. Look at the upper left-hand side of the diagram below.
The diagram shows that North America is part of the Northwestern Hemisphere because it is located in both the Northern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere.
The horizontal
and the vertical hemispheres overlap, so the globe is divided into four
quadrants (each of the four parts of the sphere).
Canada is part
of North America. It is the second largest country in the world. Look at the upper left-hand side of the diagram below.
The diagram shows that North America is part of the Northwestern Hemisphere because it is located in both the Northern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere.
Canada is part of North
America, the planet's third largest continent. It includes 23 nations
and dozens of small islands and territories. Most of the continent is
covered by Canada, the United States of America, and Mexico. The other
20 countries include all the Caribbean islands and the small nations of
Central America. Greenland, the world's largest island, is also part of
North America.
Canada is part of North America, the planet's third largest continent. It includes 23 nations and dozens of small islands and territories. Most of the continent is covered by Canada, the United States of America, and Mexico. The other 20 countries include all the Caribbean islands and the small nations of Central America. Greenland, the world's largest island, is also part of North America.
At the northern end of the continent (where Canada is located), North America is more than 90,000 km wide. The continent is much smaller at the southern end, where it is only 50 km wide at the isthmus of Panama. An isthmus is a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land. This is where the Panama Canal is located, which allows ships to sail between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans without having to sail all the way around South America. The Arctic Ocean to the north is frozen for several months of the year.
North America stretches over several climate zones from Arctic and sub-Arctic in the north to the subtropic and tropic in the south. The Arctic Circle (60 degrees north) crosses the northern part of Canada, and the Tropic of Cancer (23 degrees north) is just south of Florida. This results in very interesting weather patterns.
The remainder
of the land on earth is also divided into continents. Take a look at the map below to see the
seven continents, including North America, South America, Europe, Asia,
Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.
The remainder of the land on earth is also divided into continents. Take a look at the map below to see the seven continents, including North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.
