I find the continents and oceans easy because I travel a lot. I know all the continents because I have been to four of them and want to go to the rest of them. I really liked learning about them in fourth grade.
I struggled most with coordinates because I have a hard time lining up the coordinates, and I usually get Longitude and Latitude mixed up and get the coordinates wrong.
Basic map skills are necessary because they help you to be able to read and understand a map. If you are ever lost, and all you have is a map, if you don´t know how to use it you are in trouble.