Welcome to Asia

There are so many ways for kids to learn about Asia in their Asia unit study. Here are a few fun facts about Asia and a breakdown of Asia’s regions to get you started.

A bit about Asia

Asia is the largest of the continents. It covers approximately 30% of the world’s land area. It is also the most populated. 

Asia is bordered by the Arctic Ocean on the north; the Pacific Ocean on the east; the Indian Ocean on the south; and the Ural Mountains, the Caucasus Mountains, and the Caspian and Black Seas on the west. 

There are 48 countries in Asia. 

Asia is home to both the highest point and the lowest point on Earth. (These are Mount Everest and the Dead Sea, respectively.) 

Asia is the birthplace of all the world’s major religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. 

Regions in Asia

Asia is often divided into 6 large regions. When kids learn about Asia for a classroom or homeschool geography unit study, it may be helpful to break the Asia unit into sections like these.

North Asia (Siberia)

North Asia, consisting of much of Russia and northern Kazakhstan, is very cold year-round. Because of the harsh conditions, not many people live in this region. 

Central Asia

Central Asia includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This region is between the Caspian Sea and China.

This is the region that played an important role in the era of the Silk Road trading line between China and Europe. Because of this, you find many spices and influences from the traders.

East Asia

East Asia, including China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, and South Korea, is home to a fifth of the world’s population. 

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The region is made up of thousands of islands and a coastal strip of the mainland.

Here you find a lot of rice farms, since the region gets a lot of rain, making it ideal for growing rice. 

South Asia

South Asia includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. There are many mountain chains in Southern Asia, including the Himalayan Mountains.

Almost one-quarter of the world’s population lives in India, in this region. 

West Asia (Middle East)

West Asia (known as the Middle East) includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Much of this region is desert. 

Highlight your homeschool Asia unit with Asian cuisine

From northern Siberia to the central spice routes, and the Middle East to the eastern islands. Asia has so much cuisine to explore.

Bring your students’ classroom or homeschool Asia unit study to life! Incorporate easy Asian foods that kids can help make, with fun flavors that will expand their palate.

Here are three easy dishes to get you started.

Fresh Spring Rolls

Stuffed Dates

Tea Eggs