North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Antarctica and...

[Spy Car]

What is the "other" continent at your house?

 

We were supposed to learn this for school (First Grade) but they asked us to teach the 7 continents without naming them and I'm afraid we taught it the "home-school" way :D

 

Poll to follow.

Edited October 13, 2010 by Spy Car

[Mommyfaithe]

I think it is Australia...but then again, I am still arguing about Pluto being a planet, because if it isn't then My Very Educated Mother Just Taught Us Nothing. (not nine planets) AAAHHHHH!!! It just screws me all up...KWIM?

 

I would probably tell them we called it Australia, but it is now named Oceania. Sort of like Istanbul was Constantinople...:D

 

~~Faithe

[Cinder]

We call it Australia here. And my ds is also upset that Pluto is no longer classified as a planet. :D

 

Cinder

[Jamee]

I always thought it was Australia until I moved to Europe. The students I had there called it Oceania and I think that makes so much more sense, so that's what we've taken to calling it too.

[Spy Car]

I always thought it was Australia until I moved to Europe. The students I had there called it Oceania and I think that makes so much more sense, so that's what we've taken to calling it too.

 

See I thought Oceania which is the way all the cool home-educators were doing it this, but when quizzed in class the response:Oceania!

 

Caused a *blink*blink* what's that? response.

 

Fortunately he had the presence of mind to say: Australia.

 

Bill

Edited October 13, 2010 by Spy Car

[Melissa in Australia]

It really depends on your definition of a continent. If you are using the definition of a land mass, then Australia.

We were taught in Australia that Australia is the only continent that is both a country and a continent at the same time.

Personally I am not happy about all the pacific Islands being pushed into the continent of Australia , But I could be bias

[mcconnellboys]

Some texts now say Australia and some lump all the islands of the Pacific in with Australia and New Zealand, for an "Oceania"....

[MyLittleWonders]

We say Australia, and yes, my oldest is also still bugged that Pluto is not a planet. ;)

[Carrie12345]

We recite them with Australia, but we do discuss "Oceania". I like to practice CYA Homeschooling, lol.

[Spy Car]

I think that we should defer to those who live in the region.

 

Let's ask the Kiwis ;) :D

 

Bill

[MyLittleWonders]

We recite them with Australia, but we do discuss "Oceania". I like to practice CYA Homeschooling, lol.

:lol:

[Gretchen in NJ]

Australia, but then i am with the Pluto is still a planet club.:tongue_smilie:

[rwjx2khsmj]

That's where my husband is currently and all his airline paper work calls it Australia. I'm hoping the airlines know where he's going to and where he's returning from on his travels.

[Giraffe]

I'm so out of it that this is the first I've heard of "Oceania". Arrgh....

 

DD's been listening to the "Continent Song" and it says Australia so that's what we're going with for now.

 

I refuse to acknowledge Pluto's "demotion".

[lionfamily1999]

It really depends on your definition of a continent. If you are using the definition of a land mass, then Australia.

We were taught in Australia that Australia is the only continent that is both a country and a continent at the same time.

Personally I am not happy about all the pacific Islands being pushed into the continent of Australia , But I could be bias

I agree and I'm not from Australia... so I also say you're not blinded by bias ;)

Australia, but then i am with the Pluto is still a planet club.:tongue_smilie:

:iagree:

[Jean in Newcastle]

Actually, I teach both so I skew the poll. I will say "Australia but some people call it Oceania."

[Mrs Mungo]

I teach Oceania as the continent, but our geography song says Australia.

 

That's where my husband is currently and all his airline paper work calls it Australia. I'm hoping the airlines know where he's going to and where he's returning from on his travels.

 

As a country, it is Australia. When DH flies to Korea it says "Korea," not "Asia."

 

I refuse to acknowledge Pluto's "demotion".

 

I have a friend who is an astrophysicist. She helps make the "Ask an Astronomer" videos.

. I see their point. We still learn the song that includes planet, but we have talked about Pluto being demoted.

[stripe]

Oceania is too 1984 for me.

[Giraffe]

I have a friend who is an astrophysicist. She helps make the "Ask an Astronomer" videos.

. I see their point. We still learn the song that includes planet, but we have talked about Pluto being demoted.

 

OK, I understand better, but I'm still pouting. Harrumph. :glare:

[VA6336]

When did the term "Oceania" come into use? And what, exactly, is it supposed to signify? I'm a newbie homeschooler still, can you tell?

[Tabrett]

I'm so out of it that this is the first I've heard of "Oceania". Arrgh....

 

DD's been listening to the "Continent Song" and it says Australia so that's what we're going with for now.

 

I refuse to acknowledge Pluto's "demotion".

 

:iagree:

 

I have not heard of Oceania.:001_huh: Our Geo Song also says Australia and yes, Pluto is a planet!

[Heidi @ Mt Hope]

We sing the continents song with Geography Songs, so we learned Australia. As a land mass, that is probably appropriate, anyway. We've discussed Oceania, though.

[Mrs Mungo]

:iagree:

 

I have not heard of Oceania.:001_huh: Our Geo Song also says Australia and yes, Pluto is a planet!

 

We sing the continents song with Geography Songs, so we learned Australia. As a land mass, that is probably appropriate, anyway. We've discussed Oceania, though.

 

But to me, calling it Australia is like calling the continent of North America the United States. North America includes Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Greenland, Hawaii, etc. The continent of Oceania/Australia is not one landmass, it includes Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, etc.

[Melissa in Australia]

But to me, calling it Australia is like calling the continent of North America the United States. North America includes Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Greenland, Hawaii, etc. The continent of Oceania/Australia is not one landmass, it includes Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, etc.

 

Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga are not included in any continents, they are the Pacific Islands. They are not connected to Australia by any land mass.

 

You could use the terms Australasia or Oceania for a regional area, but not for a continent.

[Spy Car]

Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga are not included in any continents, they are the Pacific Islands. They are not connected to Australia by any land mass.

 

You could use the terms Australasia or Oceania for a regional area, but not for a continent.

 

So is Japan not a part of Asia, or the UK and Ireland not part of Europe? In "continental" terms anyway (since they obviously are in a geo-p*litical sense).

 

Bill

[Melissa in Australia]

So is Japan not a part of Asia, or the UK and Ireland not part of Europe? In "continental" terms anyway (since they obviously are in a geo-p*litical sense).

 

Bill

No Idea , but I hate Oceania ... I actually strongly dislike Australasia as well.

[mcconnellboys]

But it is! A DWARF planet, LOL!

[mcconnellboys]

I don't really like all the islands being compacted in, either, because if you're going to do that, then you need to compress every other island in the world into a grouping with one of the other continents, too....

[JeneralMom]

I use Australia for the continent, and Oceania for the geographic area. So, I say Oceania includes the continent of Australia, and also, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, etc.

[Spy Car]

No Idea , but I hate Oceania ... I actually strongly dislike Australasia as well.

 

I bet you like it better than "New Zealaustralia" :D

 

Bill

[mcconnellboys]

Ahhhh, but Australasia wasn't in the poll, so that's cheating, LOL! We can't discuss a third name for this one continent - some folks haven't even heard of Oceania yet. We'll put everyone on overload and make their heads explode....

[Melissa in Australia]

I bet you like it better than "New Zealaustralia" :D

 

Bill

:tongue_smilie:

[Mommyfaithe]

Ahhhh, but Australasia wasn't in the poll, so that's cheating, LOL! We can't discuss a third name for this one continent - some folks haven't even heard of Oceania yet. We'll put everyone on overload and make their heads explode....

 

:willy_nilly::svengo::svengo::svengo::scared: :leaving:

[min]

Well, in school in the 70s in Australia, we were taught that Australia was the only continent that was also an island. I hadn't heard the term Oceania until I was in my 20s.

 

Min

[Spy Car]

I use Australia for the continent, and Oceania for the geographic area. So, I say Oceania includes the continent of Australia, and also, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, etc.

 

What about Japan and the Britain and Ireland? Same deal?

 

Bill

[Mrs Mungo]

Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga are not included in any continents, they are the Pacific Islands. They are not connected to Australia by any land mass.

 

You could use the terms Australasia or Oceania for a regional area, but not for a continent.

 

I don't really like all the islands being compacted in, either, because if you're going to do that, then you need to compress every other island in the world into a grouping with one of the other continents, too....

 

I use Australia for the continent, and Oceania for the geographic area. So, I say Oceania includes the continent of Australia, and also, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, etc.

 

I'm not making stuff up, people. Continents do NOT have to be one connected land mass. Hawaii and Greenland ARE part of the North American continent as far as geography is concerned. New Zealand IS part of the Australia/Oceania continent. New Zealand is NOT its own continent! Japan is NOT its own continent, it is part of Asia! ALSO, Europe and Asia are *different* continents even though they are part of the same landmass.

 

These are not debatable points! Sure, Oceania v. Australia, that is debatable. Whether or not New Zealand is its own continent? Not debatable. It just isn't.

[JeneralMom]

What about Japan and the Britain and Ireland? Same deal?

 

Bill

 

 

No, not the same deal. I was always taught that Japan was part of the Asian continent, and Britain and Ireland were part of the European continent, but Australia was the continent and country. I did not realize that the Pacific Islands and New Zealand belonged to a continent. I always thought they were just continent-less...at least that is what were taught (in Canada, back in the day), I'm probably totally wrong because I still refuse to give Pluto up as a planet.

[Karen in CO]

In Moby Dick, Melville referred to the 4 continents. :) If 4 is good enough for Melville, 4 is good enough for me.

 

"And meet it is, that over these sea-pastures, wide-rolling watery prairies and Potters’ Fields of all four continents, the waves should rise and fall, and ebb and flow unceasingly; for here, millions of mixed shades and shadows, drowned dreams, somnambulisms, reveries; all that we call lives and souls, lie dreaming, dreaming, still; tossing like slumberers in their beds; the ever-rolling waves but made so by their restlessness."

[Mrs Mungo]

In Moby Dick, Melville referred to the 4 continents. :) If 4 is good enough for Melville, 4 is good enough for me.

 

"And meet it is, that over these sea-pastures, wide-rolling watery prairies and Potters’ Fields of all four continents, the waves should rise and fall, and ebb and flow unceasingly; for here, millions of mixed shades and shadows, drowned dreams, somnambulisms, reveries; all that we call lives and souls, lie dreaming, dreaming, still; tossing like slumberers in their beds; the ever-rolling waves but made so by their restlessness."

 

And The Bible says that the sun revolves around the Earth. Galileo got in trouble with the church for daring to suggest otherwise. Modern understandings of science lead to different definitions. ;)

[Slartibartfast]

We call it Oceania but Australia is in our song.

 

Pluto is not a planet in our house.

[susankenny]

Australia. But I grew up with only 4 oceans, so what do I know!

[Karen in CO]

And The Bible says that the sun revolves around the Earth. Galileo got in trouble with the church for daring to suggest otherwise. Modern understandings of science lead to different definitions. ;)

 

Oh say it isn't so. ;)

 

And I'm planning to teach my kids four continents - just as soon as I figure out what they are/were. I have however heard that some people are taught that North and South America are just a single continent. :)

[Spy Car]

In Moby Dick, Melville referred to the 4 continents. :) If 4 is good enough for Melville, 4 is good enough for me.

 

"And meet it is, that over these sea-pastures, wide-rolling watery prairies and Potters’ Fields of all four continents, the waves should rise and fall, and ebb and flow unceasingly; for here, millions of mixed shades and shadows, drowned dreams, somnambulisms, reveries; all that we call lives and souls, lie dreaming, dreaming, still; tossing like slumberers in their beds; the ever-rolling waves but made so by their restlessness."

 

For me Melville trumps science. Sorry Mrs Mungo :D

 

Bill

[mom31257]

We call it Australia here. And my ds is also upset that Pluto is no longer classified as a planet. :D

 

Cinder

 

:iagree:, but I'm the one most upset about Pluto. Pluto will always be a planet to me. My dd learned the planets from the Blue's Clues song. You can't sing it if you don't name Pluto because it won't rhyme!

[Sandy in Indy]

My bil works for Lowell Observatory where Pluto was discovered. We're solidly in the "Pluto is a planet, not a dwarf, camp." :-)

 

I guess I live in the dark ages. When I taught social studies some...mrhmrph years ago...I spent 6 weeks trying to get the kids to remember the 7 continents. Australia was one of those 7. I'm too old to learn a new list. :-)

[Zann]

I think it is Australia...but then again, I am still arguing about Pluto being a planet, because if it isn't then My Very Educated Mother Just Taught Us Nothing. (not nine planets) AAAHHHHH!!! It just screws me all up...KWIM?

 

I would probably tell them we called it Australia, but it is now named Oceania. Sort of like Istanbul was Constantinople...:D

 

~~Faithe

 

I think it was just domoted to Dwarf Planet. Planet however is in its name.

[Farrar]

I use Australia for the continent, and Oceania for the geographic area. So, I say Oceania includes the continent of Australia, and also, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, etc.

:iagree:

 

But my understanding is that there is no clear definition of "continent" in geographic terms. There's consensus, but disagreements. I teach that there's only 6 - Eurasia.

[Cindyg]

Australia.

Edited October 14, 2010 by Cindyg

[Lakeside]

Oceania is too 1984 for me.

:iagree:

[iona]

i hadn't heard of oceania either until this thread. also how is it pronounced?

 

oh shee yah nee yuh

oh shen ee yuh

oh shen yuh

oh shee yah nyuh

 

and why are they called continental breakfasts?