First, point out the place where you live on the map of the world. Next, point out North America. Do you live in North America or another continent?

North America is a very large portion of land. You could sail along its shores for thousands of miles. At its widest part, you could not cross it in a fast-express train in less than five days and nights. There are thousands of cities in this great grand division, for there are millions of people here.

Much of the land is dense forest, and much is fertile farm land. A small part has so few rivers and such a scarcity of rainfall that the land is dry and arid. Little grows upon it but coarse grass and cactus. This region is called a desert.

North America stretches far up north into the North Frigid Zone and far south into the Torrid Zone, but most of it lies in the North Temperate Zone.

Find the place where North America is closest to Asia on the map. North America is separated from Asia by a narrow strip of water called Bering Strait.

Find the Panama Canal, where North America meets South America on the map. North America used to be connected to South America via an isthmus. An isthmus is defined as a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land (Google Define). Why is the separation between North and South America now called a canal and not an isthmus?

Notebook Work: Label the top of your notebook page with "LESSON 37." Draw the following plants and animals that live in North America: Pine Tree, Cactus, Bison, and Racoon. Label each drawing with the name of the plant or animal. Label the drawing, "NORTH AMERICAN PLANTS AND ANIMALS."