Physical Geography of Africa South of the Sahara: Climate and Vegetation

o Essential Questions: How has physical geography affected where people have settled in Africa South of the Sahara? o Learning Target: IWBAT explain how the climate has influenced where people live in Africa South of the Sahara o Formative Assessment(s): What climate regions are found south of the Sahara?

Africa South of the Sahara: Climate and Vegetation Bellwork What kind of climate would you expect to find South of the Sahara? (AKA: Arctic, Tundra, Subarctic)

Congo Rainforest Fun Facts – It's the world's second largest rainforest, second only to the Amazon. – The most famous Congo rainforest people are the Pygmies. The average height of Pygmy men is just 4’ 10”. The average height of Pygmy women is just 4’ 1”. – The okapi is an animal that looks like a cross between a giraffe and a horse. In fact it is often called forest giraffe. It is brown and has white striped legs. It is found only in the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). – In the most dense parts of the rainforest only 1% of the sunlight reaches the ground.

Classwork – TOGETHER, read about Tropical Climates on pages – Write and answer the following questions in your notes: 1.Which climate is found near the equator? 2.How tall is the canopy? What plants grow in the canopy? 3.Why is soil in the rain forest not fertile? 4.For how much of the year does it rain in Tropical Dry climates near the equator? 5.What is a harmattan? Where does it come from? 6.What are the two main features of savanna landscapes?

Serengeti Fun Facts – Every year, more than 1 million wildebeest migrate, crossing the Mara River in Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya to the Park in search of the green pastures. – Thousands of the migrating animals will never make it back to Maasai Mara national park as African crocodiles and other carnivores have a feast as the wildebeest cross the Mara River. – The Serengeti National Park has the oldest ecosystem on the globe, and has been around for many thousands of years

Classwork – TOGETHER, read about Dry Climates on pages – Write and answer the following questions in your notes: 1.What does Sahel mean and where is it found? 2.What three things do scientists believe contribute to desertification? 3.What two deserts can be found south of the Sahara? 4.What three climates are found on the southern coast of Africa? 5.What are vertical climate zones and what other continent can they be found on?

Formative Assessment – What eight climate regions are found south of the Sahara? – What two climate regions cover the most area in Africa?