Maps and Globes (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids)

El globo terraqueo (the globe in Spanish) is a three-dimensional model of the planet Earth. It’s one of the best Spanish language maps for learning about geography in Spanish. 

Globes are cool because they are accurate in the way they represent the planet Earth. The biggest difference between a map and a globe is: 

El mapa es bidimensional.
The map is two-dimensional.

El globo terráqueo es tridimensional. 
The globe is three-dimensional.

If you don’t have a globe on hand, check out this 3D world globe model of the Earth  Globes are perfect for learning about faraway places and where they are in their world. 

Keep reading to learn about the globe in Spanish. Why not learn more about our world while practicing your Spanish?

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Elements of the Globe in Spanish (Elementos de un globo terráqueo)

By studying the globe, we observe the elements that make up our beautiful planet. 

Layout of the Globe in Spanish (El diseño de un globo terráqueo en español)

This are the elements that make up our globe in Spanish:

El eje de la tierra (Earth’s axis) is slightly tilted due to how land and water masses are distributed on the planet. Thanks to this tilt, we have seasons. 

To make the globe more accurate, experts and manufacturers use a grid— the soft lines you find on maps and globes—to have a scale of distance and keep globes and maps consistent. These are the names of those lines: 

• Los paralelos (parallels): the imaginary lines that go from east to west of the Earth.
• El ecuador (equator): the imaginary line that divides the Earth in North and South and is the primary reference to measure all the parallels.  
• Los meridianos (meridians): imaginary lines that go from north to south 
• El meridiano de Greenwich (Prime meridian): an imaginary line used as reference for all other meridians, and divides the Earth in east and west. 

As we just learned, the equator is the imaginary line that divides the Earth in two sections:

• El hemisferio norte (northern hemisphere)
• El hemisferio sur (southern hemisphere)

The northernmost point on planet Earth is called el polo norte (North Pole) in Spanish, and the southernmost is called  el polo sur (South Pole).

The Continents (Los Continentes)

Los continentes (continents) are seven large masses of land on our planet. 

The continents correspond to the different areas where the continental crust—the layers of rocks and other geological materials that make up the land we live on—is divided. 

Here are the continents on the globe in Spanish:

Those continents are divided into paises (countries). A country is a nation that occupies a territory and has a government. 

In 2021, there are 194 countries in the world, and this is their distribution by continent: 

• Africa: 54
• Asia: 48
• Europe: 50
• North America: 3
• South America: 32
• Oceanía: 14

Of these 194 countries, 21 are Spanish-speaking. While most of these countries are in Latin America—which consists of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean—there is a country in Africa that speaks Spanish! 

They’re marked on this Spanish language map of the world: 

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡️
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

See also:

• Learn About the 21 Countries That Speak Spanish 
• Giant List of 119 Nations and Nationalities in Spanish 

Countries around the world divide their territories in different ways, such as: 

• Por estado (by state) like the U.S. 
• Por departamento (by departments) like Guatemala
• Por provincia (by province) like Panamá 

These divisions contain pueblos (towns) and ciudades (cities). According to the UN, Latin America has 215 cities. Here are some of the most popular in the region:

The Oceans (Los océanos)

El océano (the ocean) is the body of saltwater that comprises almost 71% of the surface of our planet and contains 97% of the Earth’s water. 

Because the ocean is so extensive, experts divided it into 5 oceans. This are the oceans on the globe in Spanish: 

These 5 oceans are the principal element of Earth’s hydrosphere—all the water in our planet— and they influence climate and weather patterns, and the water and carbon cycles. 

Hand-picked for you: Kid’s Guide to the Ocean and Its Animals in Spanish

Other Bodies of Water

Bodies of water are categorized by their water type:

• Agua salada (saltwater) like the ocean and the sea 
• Agua dulce (freshwater) like ponds, rivers, and lakes

Break Language Barriers 

With so many countries and cultures in the world, it’s no surprise there are language and cultural barriers even in our own countries! Learning Spanish opens your child’s eyes to a world beyond their front door. It encourages conversations around diversity, culture, and respecting others. 

With Spanish ranking among the top 5 most commonly spoken languages in the world, knowing Spanish will help your child communicate more easily with those around them. With even a basic understanding, they can start and carry conversations that enrich their lives. To try it out for your family, sign your child up for a free trial class with one of our certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers today! 

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“My Son, Heath, is taking the classes. He’s been with Luisa the entire time and we absolutely love her. She is always patient and is a great teacher. Heath’s dad speaks Spanish so they get to have little conversations.”

– William R, Parent of 3

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Carmen Rizzo

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I’m a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala with a B.A. in Psychology. I have a passion for teaching Sunday school in my spare time and for learning and sharing valuable information. I'm a cat lover who gets excited over cartoons, anime, and video games. I dabble in digital illustration and animation. I'm inspired by sharing my culture, traditions, food, and beliefs with others, while learning about theirs in return.

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