Hemispheres & the EquatorGrade 4 Social Studies for Kids

The equator, the prime meridian and Earth's four hemispheres.

Hemispheres & the Equator teaches fourth graders how imaginary lines help us find places on Earth. The equator splits Earth into northern and southern hemispheres, and the prime meridian splits it into east and west.

  • Grade 4 · Ages 9–10
  • 1 lesson
  • 1 game
  • 4 practice questions
  • About 10 min
Start Learning Free Open the Course
  • Learn it
  • The Why? question
  • Hemisphere Sort
  • Hemispheres Quiz

Social Studies course · Grade 4

Hemispheres & the Equator · Learning goals

What Your Child Will Learn

Imaginary lines help us find places on Earth. The equator splits Earth into northern and southern hemispheres; the prime meridian splits it into east and west.

  • Hemisphere Sort

Why it matters

Why This Matters for Kids

  • Finding places

    Hemispheres give kids a simple way to describe where any place is on Earth.

  • Seasons and climate

    Knowing hemispheres explains why it's summer in Australia when it's winter in the US.

  • Ready for coordinates

    The equator and prime meridian prepare kids for latitude and longitude.

Inside Hemispheres & the Equator

How the Course Works

A short read-aloud lesson first, then hands-on games and a quiz to lock it in.

  1. Step 1 · Lesson

    Learn it

    A short read-aloud lesson in 5 steps.

  2. Step 2 · Think

    The Why? question

    Why are seasons opposite in the two hemispheres?

  3. Step 3 · Sorting game

    Hemisphere Sort

    Sort the continents by hemisphere.

  4. Step 4 · Quiz

    Hemispheres Quiz

    4 questions to check what stuck.

Lesson preview

A Peek Inside the Lesson

This is the real lesson text your child hears, read aloud by a friendly voice.

Mapmakers draw imaginary lines on Earth to help us find places.

The equator circles the middle of Earth. Places near it are usually hot.

North of the equator is the Northern Hemisphere. South of it is the Southern Hemisphere.

The prime meridian runs from the North Pole to the South Pole through Greenwich, in London.

When it's summer in the north, it's winter in the south! In Australia, Christmas is in summer.

For parents

Try It at Home

Learning sticks best when kids use it in real life. Here are simple ideas from this course.

Parent Tip

On a globe, find which hemispheres your home is in. Then find a friend or relative's country and compare.

Talk About It

Why are seasons opposite in the two hemispheres?

  • Earth is tilted
  • The sun shines more on one half
  • Each half takes turns facing the sun

Practice

Grade 4 Social Studies Practice Questions

Real questions from Hemispheres & the Equator. Try them with your child, then tap to see the answer.

  1. Question 1

    The line around the middle of Earth is the…

    • A.Prime meridian
    • B.Border
    • C.Equator
    Show answer

    Equator

  2. Question 2

    The prime meridian passes through…

    • A.Tokyo
    • B.Greenwich, London
    • C.Cairo
    Show answer

    Greenwich, London

  3. Question 3

    Australia is in the … Hemisphere.

    • A.Southern
    • B.Northern
    • C.Arctic
    Show answer

    Southern

The full course has 4 questions with instant feedback, stars and rewards. Create a free account to play them all.

Hemispheres & the Equator · Questions from parents

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this course for?

Hemispheres & the Equator is a grade 4 social studies course for kids ages 9–10. That is Year 5 social studies in the UK and Year 4 in Australia. It also works well for review in the next grade, or as a challenge for a confident younger learner.

What will my child learn?

Imaginary lines help us find places on Earth. The equator splits Earth into northern and southern hemispheres; the prime meridian splits it into east and west. Along the way they practice: Hemisphere Sort.

How long does the course take?

About 10 minutes in total, split into 3 short levels. Most kids finish it over two or three sessions. Progress is saved, so they can stop any time and pick up where they left off.

Is this course free?

Yes. Hemispheres & the Equator is one of the first 2 courses in Grade 4 Social Studies. Create a free parent account and your child can start right away.

Does my child need to read well to use it?

No. Every lesson has a friendly read-aloud voice, questions are read aloud too, and the pictures help kids follow along. Confident readers can turn the voice off.

Can we use it for homeschool?

Yes. SkillBloom is built for homeschooling families. Kids work through lessons, games and quizzes on their own, and the parent dashboard shows what they finished and which skills need more practice. It works on phones, tablets and laptops.

Keep learning

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