7th Grade UBD - Unit 2 - Africa

 People and Their Environment- West Africa has three environments- deserts, grasslands, and rainforests. Most people live in the well-watered south.  Government and Economy- Different groups are mixed within West African nations, making unity difficult. People live by subsistence farming and exports.  Society and Culture- The region remains heavily rural, and daily life continues in many traditional ways. But cities are growing rapidly.

 Why you think it would be easier to find a job in a city than in a rural area? Then predict what benefits and problems might come with modernization. (4 minutes)

 Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

 West Africa offers two contrasting environments- desert and arid areas in the North and well-watered areas in the South.  West Africa is the continent’s most heavily populated region. People are unevenly distributed throughout the region.

 People in West Africa still weave Kente cloth.  The art of weaving Kente cloth remains much as it was centuries ago.  This skilled craft is one of the many ways Africa’s ancient past continues to influence life today.

 The Sahara Desert extends from North Africa into West Africa.  The Sahel receives enough rain to support some vegetation.

 People living in West Africa grow hardy crops or herd animals across the land in search of grass.  There is a close connection between population density and water.

 The Sahel is a transitional area between desert and savanna.  It receives anywhere from 6 to 24 inches of yearly rain.  Climate, animals and human populations have worn out the land creating a process called desertification.

 Desertification can result from climate change or from human practices such as deforestation and overgrazing.

Key Term Desertification- The transformation of land once suitable for agriculture into desert.

Video- Acacia Tree

 The Acacia Tree is helping combat desertification.  Two thirds of the African continent is classified as desert or dry lands and desertification affects a quarter of the world's population.  The Acacia Tree has the potential to transform the lives of vulnerable populations.

 Countries along the coast are heavily populated.  Until recently, rainforests spread across much of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the south-western Ivory Coast.

 Wood is a main export for many West African countries, providing an income for many farmers.  Countries South of the Sahel have rich natural mineral resources as well as supplies to coal, natural gas, and oil.

1. How have cattle contributed to the change of the Sahel from grassland to desert? What is this process called?

 Increased cattle population has led to overgrazing. This process is called desertification.

 West Africa’s national borders are inherited from a colonial past.  Achieving unity among these people has been difficult.  Most people are subsistence farmers.  Others export oil and agricultural products.

Reading Activity- Scramble for Africa

Key Term ECOWAS- The Economic Community of West African States, that hopes to increase trade among themselves.

 In most West African countries, the constitution prohibits discrimination on the ground of gender, however, customary and religious laws still continue to restrict women’s rights in the region.

 Some West African Governments have adopted policies that encourage women to participate in the economies of their countries.  Nevertheless, the majority of women in West Africa remain confined to traditional roles, especially in the rural areas.

 Despite notable progress, women’s political participation in West Africa remains very low.  Women have limited educational opportunities, which result in a lack of qualifications and skills.  This blocks women’s participation in politics.

 Use a Venn Diagram to compare women’s roles in Africa with women’s roles in the United States. (10 minutes)

Reading Activity- Eyewitness To History 4

1. In most West African countries, the constitution prohibits discrimination on the grounds of gender, however, what continues to restrict women’s rights in the region? 2. Women in West Africa remain confined to traditional roles, especially in what types of areas?

1. In most West African countries, the constitution prohibits discrimination on the grounds of gender, however, what continues to restrict women’s rights in the region?  Customary and religious laws restrict women’s rights in West Africa. 2. Women in West Africa remain confined to traditional roles, especially in what types of areas?  Many women in West Africa are confined to traditional roles in rural areas.

 West Africans leave rural areas to look for jobs in the city.  West Africans try to hold on to their culture while making economic progress.

Video- Basic Needs

Food Water Shelter Clothing Health Care Education

 Demands for decent housing, clean water, and more roads exceeds government ability to provide them.  A lucky few find work in government offices or foreign-owned businesses.

 New arrivals make shelters out of whatever they can find: cardboard, tree braches, plywood, or plastic.  Most of these makeshift homes lack running water and electricity.  West Africa is overwhelmed by rapid growth.

 Slum settlements are usually on the outskirts of cities. A living situation worsened by the massive migration of rural people to the cities.

Key Term Shanty Towns- Slum settlements usually on the outskirts of cities.

Video- Teen Wows M.I.T.

1. What are basic needs? 2. What are shanty towns and why do they exist?

1. What are Basic Needs?  Basic needs are things such as food, water, shelter, clothing, health care, and education. 2. What are shanty towns and why do they exist?  Shanty towns are slum settlements on the outside of the city. They exist because people moving into the cities often cannot find affordable housing.

 What has been the “muddiest” point so far in this lesson? That is, what topic remains the least clear to you? (4 minutes)

 Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

 Imagine that you live in a shanty town. Work with a partner to answer the following questions.  How would you take care of your family?  Where would you find shelter from the elements?  Where would you eat or sleep?  Do you think it is safe?  Would you wish this on anybody?