Blank maps
Printable worksheets on which pupils label and colour the seven continents and five oceans themselves. Suitable for ages 9 through to lower secondary school.
How to use these blank maps
A blank map shows the outlines of the continents without any labels. Pupils write in the names of the seven continents and the five oceans in the numbered areas or empty boxes. This practises spatial awareness and orientation on the globe.
Choose the activity format that suits the lesson:
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| Independent labelling | Pupil names each continent and ocean without assistance. |
| Colour & label | Each continent gets its own colour; names are written alongside. |
| Atlas comparison | Pupil compares the blank map with an atlas or with the map on our continent page. |
| Short test | Use as a quick assessment at the end of a lesson on the equator and hemispheres. |
Click the button below to print the map directly. The navigation and buttons are hidden automatically by the print stylesheet.
Map 1 — The seven continents
Fill in numbers 1–7 with the correct continent name. Use the answer key below to check your answers.
Answer key — Map 1
| No. | Continent | Memory aid |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North America | Northern part of the western hemisphere |
| 2 | South America | Southern part of the western hemisphere |
| 3 | Europe | Small but densely populated, north-west of Africa |
| 4 | Africa | Crossed by the equator |
| 5 | Asia | Largest continent (44.6 M km²) |
| 6 | Oceania | Australia + islands in the Pacific |
| 7 | Antarctica | The polar continent, permanently covered in ice |
Map 2 — The five oceans
Write the name of each ocean next to the letter (A–E). The equator (dashed line) and prime meridian help you with orientation. The oceans are described in more detail on the oceans of the world page.
Answer key — Map 2
| Letter | Ocean | Area |
|---|---|---|
| A | Pacific Ocean | 168.7 M km² — largest ocean |
| B | Atlantic Ocean | 85.1 M km² |
| C | Indian Ocean | 70.6 M km² |
| D | Southern Ocean | 21.9 M km² |
| E | Arctic Ocean | 15.6 M km² |
Source for areas: NOAA / IHO.
Tips for teachers
Combine these blank maps with the continent worksheets for a complete geography lesson. After completing the maps, ask pupils to compare continents on the compare page: which continent is largest? Which lies entirely in the southern hemisphere?
For differentiation: give weaker pupils a word bank with the seven continent names; more advanced pupils also label the capitals or seas.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook — continent areas
- NOAA / IHO — ocean areas
- UN World Population Prospects 2024 — population figures