Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram
Geography of Southwest Asia and North Africa Lesson Plans

UNIT #6:

Geography of Southwest Asia 

and North Africa

Click on the button to jump to page information

Lesson Plans for the Geography of the Middle East

OVERVIEW

CLICK HERE for more detail and lesson plans

The Middle East is the first mini-unit taught in the “Geography of Southwest Asia and North Africa” unit.  This topic covers major land and water features, the Fertile Crescent, pastoralism, climographs, Minaret of Jam, Tehran, Baghdad, Beirut, Mosques of Istanbul, trade and exports, literacy rates, human rights abuses in Afghanistan, the Taliban, Iranian/American tensions, Islam, historical conflicts, historical events, ancient Mesopotamia. 

 

This topic covers the following seven countries:

 

  1. Turkey
  2. Cyprus
  3. Lebanon
  4. Syria
  5. Iraq
  6. Iran
  7. Afghanistan
Relative location map of the Middle East
Political map of the Middle East

LEARNING TARGETS

  1. Students can identify the seven countries of the Middle East.
  2. Students can argue what factors distinguish the Middle East as a region.
  3. Students can compare and contrast Turkey’s climate with its neighbors in the Middle East.
  4. Students can argue about how climate affects land use in Turkey.
  5. Students will be able to analyze how the natural environment and human activity affect the ecosystems of the Middle East.
  6. Students will be able to identify major landmarks in the Middle East such as: The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Azadi Tower, and the Minaret of Jam.
  7. Students will be able to argue the social, economic and political significance of petroleum exports on Middle East countries.
  8. Students will be able to define Taliban, and explain the Taliban’s role in committing human rights abuses in Afghanistan.
  9. Students will be able to outline the tense, historical, relationship between the United States and Iran. 
  10. Students will be able to distinguish the similarities and differences between Shi’ite Muslims and Sunni Muslims. 
  11. Students will be able to discuss historic events in the Middle East, particularly: Ancient Mesopotamia, the Persian Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the Syrian Civil War.
  12.  Students can evaluate the countries of the Middle East’s level of economic stability using key economic indicators to justify their response.
  13. Students can identify and locate major land and water features in the Middle East.

TOPICS and TERMS

  • COUNTRIES of the MIDDLE EAST: Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan
  • PLACES of NOTE: Fertile Crescent, Minaret of Jam (Afghanistan), Tehran (Iran), Baghdad (Iraq), Beirut (Lebanon), Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia
  • CLIMATE and PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: The Mediterranean, Taurus Mountains, Zagros Mountains, Iranian Plateau, Tigris River, Euphrates River, Caspian Sea, Steppe Climate, Semi-Arid Climate
  • KEY TERMS: Pastoralism, Taliban, Shia, Sunni, Iran-Iraq War, The Iraq War, Ancient Mesopotamia, Persian Empire, Ottoman Empire, Syrian Civil War

Click to see Geography of the Middle East Lessons
Lesson Plans for the Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
CLICK HERE for more detail and lesson plans

OVERVIEW

The Arabian Peninsula is the second mini-unit or topic taught in the “Geography of Southwest Asia and North Africa” unit.  This topic covers: regions of the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai, Kuwait City, Mecca and Hajj, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Petra, standard of living comparison, governments in the region, human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, migrant workers, Yemen’s Civil War, OPEC, historic events, the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict, desalination, environmental issues.

 

This topic covers the following ten countries:

  1. Israel
  2. Palestine
  3. Jordan
  4. Saudi Arabia
  5. Kuwait
  6. Bahrain
  7. Qatar
  8. Oman
  9. Yemen
  10. United Arab Emirates
Regional Map of the Arabian Peninsula
Political Map of the Arabian Peninsula

LEARNING TARGETS

  1. Students can identify the ten countries on the Arabian Peninsula.
  2. Students can argue about the factors that distinguish the Arabian Peninsula as a region.
  3. Students can compare and contrast the three regions of the Arabian Peninsula: Plateau Region, Mediterranean Region, and Desert Region, in terms of location and climate.
  4.  Students will be able to describe the following places on the Arabian Peninsula and argue their significance for the region: Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Mecca (Saudi Arabia), Jerusalem (Israel), and Petra (Jordan).
  5. Students will be able to identify places of significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Jerusalem and argue their significance for each religious group.
  6. Students will be able to define Hajj and argue its significance for Muslims worldwide. 
  7. Students will be able to articulate the differences in types of government throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
  8. Students will be able to outline the various human rights abuses Saudi Arabia is accused of, specifically in terms of the Kafala System and migrant workers. 
  9. Students will be able to define proxy war, and argue the extent to which Yemen is experiencing a proxy war, or a civil war.  
  10. Students will be able to define and argue the significance of OPEC on the Arabian Peninsula’s economy.
  11. Students will be able to outline events of historic significance on the Arabian Peninsula, particularly: Israel’s Tribes, Jesus’s crucifixion, Muhammad and the Crusades.
  12. Students will be able to outline the history of the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict and argue its significance on the region and the world.
  13. Students will be able to define desalination and explain how they are an example of human interaction with the environment.
  14. Students will be able to argue how natural hazards and human activity affect ecosystems on the Arabian Peninsula.
  15. Students can evaluate the countries of the Arabian Peninsula’s level of economic stability using key economic indicators to justify their response.
  16. Students can identify and locate major land and water features on the Arabian Peninsula. 

TOPICS and TERMS

  • COUNTRIES of the ARABIAN PENINSULA: Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, United Arab Emirates
  • PLACES of NOTE: Kuwait City (Kuwait), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Mecca (Saudi Arabia), Jerusalem (Israel), Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Dome of the Rock, Petra (Jordan)
  • CLIMATE and PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: Persian Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Dead Sea 
  • KEY TERMS: Emirate, Sheikh, Taliban, Migrant Worker, Kafala System, Proxy War, OPEC, Jesus, Muhammad, Crusades, Desalination, Simoom

Click to see Geography of the Arabian Peninsula Lessons
Lesson Plans for the Geography of North Africa
CLICK HERE for more detail and lesson plans

OVERVIEW

North Africa is the third mini-unit or topic taught in the “Geography of Southwest Asia and North Africa” unit.  This topic covers the Sahara Desert, the Sahel, major land and water features, Cairo, wadis, aquifers, oases, Arab, climograph comparison, the standard of living comparison, Morocco and Western Sahara, nomads in the Sahara, Sudan and South Sudan, souks, historical events and the Great Man-Made River. 

 

This topic covers the following twelve countries:

  1. Western Sahara
  2. Morocco
  3. Mauritania
  4. Alergia
  5. Mali
  6. Tunisia
  7. Libya
  8. Niger
  9. Chad
  10. Egypt
  11. Sudan
  12. South Sudan
Regional Map of North Africa
Political Map of North Africa

LEARNING TARGETS

  1. Students can identify the twelve countries in North Africa.
  2. Students can argue about the factors that distinguish North Africa as a region.
  3. Students can compare and contrast the three regions of North Africa: The Mountain Region, the Sahel, and the Sahara.
  4. Students can define the following terms: wadi, aquifer, and oasis, as well as explain how each water source is significant for North Africa.
  5. Students will be able to describe the following places in North Africa and argue their significance for the region: Dogon Village (Mali) and Cairo (Egypt).
  6. Students can argue how economic, environmental, and political instability in Sub-Saharan African nations have contributed to immigration in North Africa.
  7. Students can explain questions of sovereignty between Morocco and Western Sahara.
  8. Students can outline the history of Sudan post-colonization and explain what led to the formation of South Sudan.
  9. Students will be able to identify the similarities and differences between Berbers and Bedouins and explain how nomads in North Africa relate to the theme of geography: movement.
  10. Students will be able to identify the various ways humans interact with the environment in North Africa, especially by citing examples of mining in North Africa and the Great Man-Made River. 
  11. Students will be able to argue how natural hazards and human activity affect ecosystems in North Africa.
  12. Students can evaluate the level of economic stability of North African countries using key economic indicators to justify their response.
  13. Students can identify and locate major land and water features in North Africa. 

TOPICS and TERMS

  • COUNTRIES of NORTH AFRICA: Western Sahara, Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Mali, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Chad, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan.
  • PLACES of NOTE: Cairo (Egypt), Dogon Village (Mali), Suez Canal.
  • CLIMATE and PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Lake Chad, Sinai Peninsula, desertification.
  • KEY TERMS: Wadi, aquifer, oasis, alluvial soil, Arab, Sharia Law, Kasbah, citadel,  annex, Berber, Bedouin, medina, souk, Arab Spring, Great Man-Made River. 

Click to see Geography of North Africa Lessons
TPT Logo

Take me to the Geography of Southwest Asia and North Africa products on Teachers Pay Teachers

CLICK HERE

quick links

hey there

Thank you for stopping by Teacher Bistro.  I created this place as a resource for educators who wanted an easy way to find resources.  In my first ten years of teaching, I can’t tell you how many hours I spent gathering lesson plans, video guides, and lectures.  Hopefully, you have added this site to your bookmarks, and this place can make teaching a little bit easier.