Design Specifications:

 

African Geography

 

 

 

 

Chip Flemmer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program Objectives

  1. Students will be able to use a political map of Africa and correctly locate different countries and their capitals, comprised by the facilitator.
  2. Students will be able to describe from a teacher-selected region of African at least three examples of how the selected group has interacted with and adapted to their environment.
  3. Students will be able to use a physical map of Africa to correctly name at least five major rivers and two major lakes (of their choice), and the Sahara Desert.
  4. Students will be able to locate the Nile River on a map of Africa.
  5. Students will be able to accurately describe the importance of the Nile River to Egypt through a short answer format.
  6. Students will be able to accurately identify, from memory, key European countries that came to colonize Africa.
  7. Students will be able to compare and contrast similarities and differences that the African geography has with the United States.
  8. Students will be able to identify at least two characteristics of Africa's main regions, as identified by the instructor in class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activity Sequence

 

 

Part 1   a. Introduce topic: African Geography

            b. Review basic geography materials we have previously used and will be used again.

            c. KWL (Know-Want to Know-Learned) chart over Africa.    

            d. How much do you know about Africa? Worksheet

            e. African Map and Fun Facts Handout.

 

Physical Map of Africa

 

Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts about Africa

 

  • Nile is the longest river in the world.
  • Sahara Dessert is the largest in the world. Only three countries in the world are bigger than the Sahara Desert – Russia, Canada and China. The Kalahari Desert in southern Africa covers an area larger than France.  
  • Africa has more countries than any other continent
  • Most of the world's gold and diamonds come from Africa.
  • Africa is the second-largest continent in the world. Many children in Africa don’t get the chance to go to school.
  • Four of the five fastest land animals live in Africa – the cheetah, which can run at an amazing 70 miles per hour, wildebeest, lion and gazelle.
  • Africa is almost an island. Its only connection to other land is the tiny Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.

*Compiled by Chris Oldham, 2008

 

 

 

 

Part 2   a. Political Map Activity:

1.      Students will identify and label each country (Objective 1).

2.      Students will identify each capital for each located country (Objective 1).

3.      Color the completed map.

 

This is an example of the map students will use to help them identify various African locations.

 

Part 3  a. Physical Map Activity:

  1. Students will identify and label rivers (including the Nile), mountains, deserts, valleys and other physical features listed on the mapping handout. (Objective 3, 4).
  2. Color the completed map.
  3. Students will compare and contrast the similarities and differences that the African geography has with the United States in their journals. (Objective 7).

 

http://www.mapsofworld.com/physical-map/maps/africa-continent-physical-map.jpg

 

This is an example of the map students will use to help them identify various African physical features.

 

 

 

 

Part 4   a. Take notes and discuss a PowerPoint describing four regions of Africa. (Objectives: 2, 8)

1.      Journal entry on asking students to write how their life would be different if they lived in each of the four regions presented. Students will also describe at least three examples from each region of how the people have interacted with and adapted to their environment.

2.      Discuss findings as a whole-group.

 

 

 

 

*Frisco ISD Sixth Grade Social Studies PowerPoint, 2008

 

 

 

Part 5   African History Information

1. Learn about the Nile River and Egypt (Objective 5).

2. In student journals, describe the importance of the Nile River to Egypt and Northern Africa.

 

 

 

Part 6   a. Students will take notes over the PowerPoint (Objective 6)

 

 

*Frisco ISD and Chip Flemmer Sixth Grade Social Studies PowerPoint, 2008

 

Sample Student Text

Part 2 Common Functions (Objective 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teacher Guide Content

Part 2

 

Materials:

 

Procedures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample Test Items

 

Objective 1: Students will be able to use a political map of Africa and correctly locate different countries and their capitals, comprised by the facilitator.

 

Objective 2: Students will be able to describe from a teacher-selected region of African at least three examples of how the selected group has interacted with and adapted to their environment.

 

Objective 3: Students will be able to use a physical map of Africa to correctly name at least five major rivers and two major lakes (of their choice), and the Sahara Desert.

 

Objective 4: Students will be able to locate the Nile River on a map of Africa.

 

Objective 5: Students will be able to accurately describe the importance of the Nile River to Egypt through a short answer format.

 

Objective 6: Students will be able to accurately identify, from memory, key European countries that came to colonize Africa.

 

Objective 7: Students will be able to compare and contrast similarities and differences that the African geography has with the United States.

 

Objective 8: Students will be able to identify at least two characteristics of Africa's main regions, as identified by the instructor in class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                      

 

  African Resource Page

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Map_Satellite/menu_Map.html