Equator, Prime Meridian and Hemispheres

4th Grade Social StudiesLatitude and Longitude3 pages

About this worksheet

This 3-page 4th grade social studies sheet teaches the main lines on a globe. Page 1 shows two globes, and students write eight labels from a word bank: the equator, the prime meridian, the North Pole, the South Pole and the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Page 2 gives a simple world map with six continents and a table. For each continent, students write whether it sits in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere and in the Eastern or Western Hemisphere. A hint covers continents that cross a line. The answer key is on page 3.

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Curriculum objectives covered

โ€œName the equator, the prime meridian, the poles and the four hemispheres on a globe.โ€

Part 1 asks for all eight labels from a word bank.

โ€œSay which hemispheres a continent lies in.โ€

Part 2 asks for the north or south and east or west hemisphere of six continents, with a hint for continents that cross a line.

What's inside this worksheet

Part 1 Label the Globes

Two globes side by side with eight numbered pointer lines. The left globe shows a dashed equator, with pointers to the two poles and the two hemispheres. The right globe shows a dashed prime meridian, with pointers to the Western Hemisphere, the line itself and the Eastern Hemisphere.

Part 2 Continents and Hemispheres

A simple world map with a horizontal equator and a vertical prime meridian, then a six-row table listing North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia. Each row has one blank for north or south and one for east or west.

Answers

The eight globe labels and the completed table. Africa is marked as both Northern and Southern, and the key notes where a continent lies mostly in one hemisphere.

How teachers use it

Globe first

Start with a classroom globe. Trace the equator and then the prime meridian, so students see why one line makes north and south and the other makes east and west.

Africa and Europe

Africa crosses the equator and Europe sits across the prime meridian. Let students argue their answers using the hint on page 2, then check against the key.

Place your own state

After the table, have students place their own state or country in two hemispheres. It takes two minutes and ties the lines to somewhere they know.

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