Continent Globe (Painted Globe)
The continent globe, or painted globe, shows the seven continents in seven colors on blue oceans, for children of about 3 to 5 after the sandpaper globe. It costs $42.30 to $84.90 at the US sellers we checked on October 5, 2026. A plain globe painted with acrylics makes a homemade one.
The first lesson with it is Continent Globe (Painted Globe). Not sure your child is ready for it? Two minutes of questions place your child on the sequence.
| Area | Cultural |
|---|---|
| Used in | |
| From age | 3 to 5 years |
| Make it | Possible to make with some effort |
| Buy it | About $42 to $85 (noted ) |
What the continent globe (painted globe) is for
Each continent is one flat color, so its shape stands out against the blue and against its neighbors. The child learns the names two or three at a time, then meets the same colors on the world puzzle map.
The painted globe isn't in Montessori's books from 1912 to 1917. It's standard in AMI and AMS albums, after the sandpaper globe.
| Part | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Globe | About 15 to 16.5 cm across: Alison's is 6 inches, The Montessori Room's about 16.5 cm |
| Colors | Usually Africa green, Europe red, Asia yellow, North America orange, South America pink, Australia brown, Antarctica white |
| Stand | Wooden; Montessori Outlet and Nienhuis tilt the globe about 23 degrees, like the earth |
The lessons that use the continent globe (painted globe)
Continent Globe (Painted Globe)
3 to 5 yearsLearning the names of the seven continents on a globe where each one is painted its own color, the second globe after the sandpaper globe.
Buying one: 4 listings checked October 5, 2026
| Seller and set | Made of | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Alison's MontessoriGlobe of the World (G10)Sale price; regular $47.00. 6 inches across, continents in distinct colors on a blue base. | Painted globe; material not stated | $42.30 |
| Montessori OutletGlobe of Continents, Colored (510700620)Colored continents, blue ocean; base tilted 23.5 degrees. Market price shown $83.25. In stock. | ABS globe, beech base | $49.95 |
| NienhuisGlobe Of The Continents: Colored (023100)Wooden base tilted 23 degrees. US store price. | Beech, polymer | $84.90 |
| The Montessori RoomThe Coloured Globe of the Continents (G005)Canadian store. About 16.5 cm across, blue ocean, each continent its own color. | Beech stand, non-toxic paint | $49.99 CAD |
- Alison's $42.30 globe and Montessori Outlet's $49.95 globe do the job as well as Nienhuis's $84.90 one.
- Buy from the same maker as your world puzzle map if you can, so the continent colors match.
- The sandpaper globe is often sold as a pair with this one. You need this one more.
- Montessori Services had only a general world globe, which shows too much for a 3-year-old.
Making the continent globe (painted globe) at home
What to gather
- A plain globe about 15 to 20 cm across, or a printed one with clear coastlines
- Acrylic paint in blue, green, red, yellow, orange, pink, brown and white
- Small brushes and a clear water-based sealer
| Piece | Size and marking | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Continents | One color each, following the printed coastlines | 7 |
- 1Paint the oceans blue first, keeping clear of the coastlines.
- 2Paint each continent in its color, a thin coat at a time.
- 3Leave islands the color of the continent they belong to, or skip the smallest.
- 4Seal once dry, and check the paint is non-toxic before the child handles it.
Keeping a full set on the shelf
- Carry the globe by its base and stand, not the globe itself.
- Keep it on a low, steady table. A tipped globe chips and the stand cracks.
Questions parents ask about the continent globe (painted globe)
What's the difference between the sandpaper globe and the painted globe?
The sandpaper globe shows only land and water, by touch: rough land, smooth water. The painted globe shows the seven continents, each in its own color, for learning their names.
What colors are the continents on a Montessori globe?
Usually Africa green, Europe red, Asia yellow, North America orange, South America pink, Australia brown and Antarctica white. Check your puzzle map matches.
Can I make a painted globe?
Yes. Paint a plain or simple printed globe with acrylics, one color per continent, and seal it. Choose a globe with clear coastlines.
Before the continent globe (painted globe), make sure the work before it is solid. The sandpaper globe lesson lists the signs that a child is ready to move on.