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Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa Lesson Plans

UNIT #7:

Geography of Southwest Asia and North Africa

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East Africa Geography Lesson Plans
Southern Africa Geography Lesson Plans
Central Africa Geography Lesson Plans
West Africa Geography Lesson Plans
East Africa Geography Lesson Plans

OVERVIEW

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East Africa  is the first mini-unit taught in the “Sub-Saharan Africa” unit.  This topic covers the Horn of Africa, the Great Rift Valley, the Serengeti, major land and water features, hydroelectricity, deforestation, industrial pollution, subsistence farming, cash crops, standard of living comparison, Swahili, the Seychelles, pirogues, Madagascar, historic events.

This topic covers the following twelve countries:

  1. Eritrea
  2. Djibouti
  3. Ethiopia
  4. Somalia
  5. Uganda
  6. Rwanda
  7. Burundi
  8. Kenya
  9. Tanzania
  10. Seychelles
  11. Comoros
  12. Madagascar
East Africa Region Map
East Africa Political Map

LEARNING TARGETS

  1. Students can identify the twelve countries of East Africa.
  2. Students can argue about the factors that distinguish East Africa as a region.
  3. Students can compare and contrast the two major regions of East Africa: the Horn Region and the Great Rift Valley.
  4. Students can articulate the reasons why most of East Africa’s population relies on subsistence farming.
  5. Students can argue the factors contributing to Uganda’s fertility and analyze how that data point is significant for Uganda’s society. 
  6. Students can define key parts of East Africa’s culture, specifically the terms Swahili and lingua franca.
  7. Students will be able to analyze how the natural environment and human activity affect the ecosystems of East Africa.
  8. Students can compare and contrast the East African nations of The Seychelles and Madagascar in terms of ecosystems and economies. 
  9. Students will be able to explain how rivers in East Africa affect the themes of geography: Movement and Human Interaction with the Environment. 
  10. Students will be able to discuss historical events in East Africa, particularly the spread of Islam, European Imperialism, and the Ethiopian Civil War. 
  11.  Students can evaluate the countries of East Africa’s level of economic stability using key economic indicators to justify their response.
  12. Students can identify and locate major land and water features in East Africa. 

TOPICS and TERMS

  • COUNTRIES of EAST AFRICA: Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar.
  • PLACES of NOTE: Olduvai Gorge, Zanzibar, Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles), Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Congo Mara (Tanzania), Nairobi (Kenya).
  • CLIMATE and PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: The Great Rift Valley, Serengeti, Ethiopian Highlands, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika. 
  • KEY TERMS: Deforestation, industrial pollution, subsistence farming, cash crops, Swahili, dhow, endemic. 

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OVERVIEW

Southern Africa is the second mini-unit or topic taught in the “Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa” unit.  This topic covers: climographs, the Okavango Delta, Kruger National Park, Cape of Good Hope, ecotourism, land use, mining in South Africa, acid rain, HIV/AIDS, standard of living comparison, Apartheid, the Himba Tribe.

This topic covers the following ten countries:

Southern Africa Geography Lesson Plans
  1. Angola
  2. Zambia
  3. Malawi
  4. Mozambique
  5. Namibia
  6. Botswana
  7. Zimbabwe
  8. South Africa
  9. Lesotho
  10. Eswatini
Regional Map of Southern Africa
Southern Africa Political Map

LEARNING TARGETS

  1. Students can identify the ten countries of Southern Africa.
  2. Students can argue about the factors that distinguish Southern Africa as a region.
  3. Students can compare and contrast the two regions of Southern Africa: The Savanah region and the Desert Region in terms of location and climate.
  4. Students will be able to describe the following places in Southern Africa: the Okavango Delta, Drakensberg Mountains, Kruger National Park, the Cape of Good Hope, the Namib Desert, and the Kalahari Desert. 
  5. Students will be able to define safari and describe what an individual would experience on safari in Southern Africa. 
  6. Students can define ecotourism and explain the benefits of ecotourism on the tourist, and physical environment. 
  7. Students can explain the economic and ecological significance of mining in Southern Africa.
  8. Students can compare and contrast land use in various Southern African countries.
  9. Students can explain the differences between AIDS and HIV, and analyze who the diseases affect standard of living in Southern Africa. 
  10. Students will be able to outline events of historic significance in Southern Africa, particularly: Bantu migration, the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, European colonization and Apartheid. 
  11. Students will be able to define and describe the system of Apartheid in South Africa.
  12. Students will be able to describe the culture of the Himba Tribe and outline the ways in which they interact with their desert environment. 
  13. Students will be able to argue how natural hazards and human activity affect ecosystems in Southern Africa.
  14. Students can evaluate the countries of Southern Africa’s level of economic stability using key economic indicators to justify their response.
  15. Students can identify and locate major land and water features in Southern Africa. 

TOPICS and TERMS

  • COUNTRIES in SOUTHERN AFRICA: Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini.
  • CLIMATE and PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: Okavango Delta, Drakensberg Mountains, Cape of Good Hope, Kruger National Park, Fish River Canyon, Skeleton Coast, Liwonde National Park, Lake Malawi, Namibia Desert, Mozambique Channel,  Kalahari Desert, Orange River, Zambezi River.
  • KEY TERMS: Safari, headland, ecotourism, acid rain, Apartheid, Himba Tribe.  

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Central Africa Geography Lesson Plans
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OVERVIEW

Central or Equatorial Africa is the third mini-unit or topic taught in the “Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa” unit.  This topic covers: Gulf Region, Central Africa Rainforest/Congo Basin, Macumba National Park, tributaries, cataracts, Boyoma Falls, fishing in the Congo River, Lagos (Nigeria), oil piracy, China’s “Belt-Road Initiative,” historical events, standard of living comparison, African colonization, religion in Central Africa and Bioko Island.

 

This topic covers the following eight countries:

  1. Cameroon
  2. Central African Republic
  3. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  4. Equatorial Guinea
  5. Gabon
  6. Nigeria
  7. Republic of Congo
  8. São Tomé and Principe 
Central Africa Regional Map
Central Africa Political Map

LEARNING TARGETS

  1. Students can identify the eight countries in Central Africa.
  2. Students can argue about the factors that distinguish Central Africa as a region.
  3. Students can compare and contrast the two regions of Central Africa: The Gulf Region and the Rainforest Region. 
  4.  Students will be able to describe the following places in Central Africa: Mayumba National Park, Boyoma Falls, Lagos (Nigeria), Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea).
  5. Students will be able to distinguish the differences between an estuary, a cataract and a tributary.
  6. Students will be able to argue the significance of fishing and farming on Central Africa’s economy and society. 
  7. Students will be able to argue how the Congo River Basin affects Central Africa’s movement. 
  8. Students will be able to argue the pros and cons of China’s “Belt-Road Initiative on Central African countries economy, society and politics. 
  9. Students will be able to define and argue the significance of petroleum, OPEC and oil piracy on Central Africa’s economy and environment. 
  10. Students will be able to outline events of historic significance Central Africa, particularly: the Kingdom of Kongo, Nigeria’s Civil War, Zaire and Obiang Nguema’s rule in Equatorial Guinea. 
  11. Students will be able to outline population patterns in the Central Africa Republic and evaluate the country’s standard of living based on those patterns.
  12. Students will be able to argue how the legacy of European imperialism affects present-day Central African culture.
  13. Students will be able to argue how natural hazards and human activity affect ecosystems in Central Africa.
  14. Students can evaluate the countries of Central Africa’s level of economic stability using key economic indicators to justify their response.
  15. Students can identify and locate major land and water features in Central Africa.

TOPICS and TERMS

  • COUNTRIES of Equatorial Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Principe
  • PLACES of NOTE: Mayumba National Park, Boyoma Falls, Lagos (Nigeria), Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea).
  • CLIMATE and PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: Central African Rainforest, Congo Basin, Congo River
  • KEY TERMS: Biome, tributaries, estuary, cataracts, petroleum, OPEC, poaching, “Belt-Road Initiative,” Zaire, Obiang Nguema, imperialism, 

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West Africa Geography Lesson Plans
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OVERVIEW

West Africa is the fourth mini-unit or topic taught in the “Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa” unit.  This topic covers major land and water features, the Sahel, desertification, slash-and-burn farming, zemidjans and pirogues, historical events, standard of living comparison, Liberia, Economic Community of West African States, population analysis, religion in West Africa and drumming in Ghana.

 

 

This topic covers the following twelve countries:

  1. Benin
  2. Burkina Faso
  3. Cape Verde
  4. Cote d’Ivoire
  5. The Gambia
  6. Ghana
  7. Guinea
  8. Guinea-Bissau
  9. Liberia
  10. Senegal
  11. Sierra Leone
  12. Togo
Region Map of West Africa
Political Map of West Africa

LEARNING TARGETS

  1. Students can identify the twelve countries in West Africa.
  2. Students can argue about the factors that distinguish West Africa as a region.
  3. Students can compare and contrast the four regions of West Africa: Sahel, Sudan, Guinea, Congolian.
  4. Students can define desertification and explain its impact on West Africa’s population and environment.
  5. Students can define slash-and-burn farming and explain the positives and negatives of this method on the environment.
  6. Students can define conflict diamonds and argue how conflict diamonds impact West Africa’s political, social and economic stability. 
  7. Students can explain how underdeveloped roads and infrastructure in West Africa impact the theme of geography: Movement. 
  8. Students will be able to describe the following places in West Africa and argue their significance for the region: African Savanna, Parc National De Tai Forest, Karfiguela Waterfalls, Santo Antao (Cape Verde),  Bunce Island (Sierra Leone), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire).
  9. Students will be able to argue how illegal fishing affects West Africa’s economy. 
  10. Students will be able to outline events of historic significance in West Africa, particularly: the Kingdom of Ghana, European Colonization, the establishment of Liberia, Independence, Sierra Leone’s Civil War. 
  11. Students will be able to review the purpose of the Economic Community of West African States and its argue its impact on West African countries. 
  12. Students will be able to compare and contrast religon in Togo and Senegal
  13. Students will be able to argue how natural hazards and human activity affect ecosystems in West Africa.
  14. Students can evaluate the level of economic stability of West Africa countries using key economic indicators to justify their response.
  15. Students can identify and locate major land and water features in West Africa. 

TOPICS and TERMS

  • COUNTRIES of WEST AFRICA: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
  • PLACES of NOTE: African Savanna, Parc National De Tai Forest, Karfiguela Waterfalls, Santo Antao (Cape Verde),  Bunce Island (Sierra Leone), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire).
  • CLIMATE and PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: Guinea Highlands, Gulf of Guinea, Lake Volta, Niger River.
  • KEY TERMS: Desertification, slash-and-burn farming, conflict diamonds, zemidjan, pirogue, Economic Community of West African States, sufism.

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