7th Grade UBD – Unit 2 – Africa

 Africa’s Diverse Population- Most Africans live in places where trade, industry, climate, soil, or natural resources allow large numbers of people to support their families.  Location and Landforms- Africa is the second-largest continent. It is more than three times the size of the United States.

 Think about the state in which you live. What different landforms are in your state? Are there any mountains or valleys? How do these landforms affect your daily life? (5 minutes)

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

 Africa is the fastest growing region in the world.  Farmers are moving to cities because they hope for better opportunities and young people want to find jobs.  French and English are the most common languages spoken in Africa.

 Most Africans live in places where trade, industry, climate, soil, or natural resources allow large numbers of people to support their families.  Vast areas of Africa, like deserts and rain forests, are less populated.  This is because they lack the rich soil, rainfall, and minerals to support large populations.

 Africa is the fastest growing region in the world.  Challenges  HIV/AIDS  Medical Care  Safe Drinking Water  Good Housing

Video- Tap Project

 Two thirds of Africa’s population lives in rural areas.  Farmers are moving to cities because they hope for better opportunities and young people want to find jobs.  Urban growth is increasing.

 Africa is a place of diversity because many different groups live there.  Africans belong to more than 2,000 ethnic groups and speak more than 1,000 languages!

Key Term Ethnic Group- A large collection of people with the same cultural background, united by language, religion, or ancestry.

 French and English are the most common languages spoken in Africa because the United Kingdom and France have ruled there.

1. Where do most Africans live? 2. Why are French and English the most common languages spoken in Africa?

1. Where do most Africans live?  Two thirds of African’s population lives in rural areas. 2. Why are French and English the most common languages spoken in Africa?  French and English are the most common languages because the United Kingdom and France have ruled there.

 Africa is the second-largest continent.  Africa is more than three times the size of the United States.  Africa has few rivers compared to other countries.  The Sahel is a semi-arid land of dry grass, 200 to 700 miles wide, that stretches across the continent.

 Nicknamed the "plateau continent”.  Few natural harbors.  Boats can not travel easily upstream or downstream due to rapids and waterfalls near the mouths of rivers.

Key Term Plateau- A flat or gently rolling land that is higher than nearby areas.

Reading Activity- Eyewitness To History 1

 Africa has few lakes. Yet Africa’s three largest lakes are among the largest in the world. ▪ All are population centers.

 Africa has few rivers compared to other countries.  Although many rivers are long they are very bad for transportation. ▪ Dry up ▪ Waterfalls ▪ Rapids

Video- Carrying Water

Key Term Continental Drift- The theory that the continents slowly and constantly move within the Earth.

Reading Activity- Eyewitness To History 2

 The Tropics are a region of the Earth surrounding the equator. They are generally hot year- round.  Tropical climates are dry and hot or wet and hot, except where the elevations of mountains or highlands affect climate.

Key Term Tropics- A region of the Earth surrounding the Equator that are generally hot year-round.

 Along the Equator, both heat and rainfall are plentiful. Thick, lush, tropical rain forests thrive here.  A single tree can have as many as 50 kinds of plants growing on it.  Constant heavy rains cause leaching.

Key Term Leaching- Is when heavy rains wash away and dissolve soil.

 The Savanna is a large open area of grass where few trees and bushes appear.  Rain falls only in summer in the savanna.

 African deserts are not flat at all or colorless.  Rugged mountain ranges rise out of the shifting sand dunes.

 The Sahel is a semi-arid land of dry grass, 200 to 700 miles wide, that stretches across the continent.  The Sahel only receives 4 to 24 inches of rain per year.

 A drought is a period of time when there is very little rain or no rain at all. It is a constant threat in many countries.  Periods of little rainfall can last for years.

Key Term Drought- A period of time when there is very little rain or no rain at all.

1. What is Africa's nickname? 2. Although Africa's rivers are long, why are they bad for transportation? 3. How many inches of rainfall does the Sahel receive per year?

1. What is Africa's nickname?  Africa is nicknamed the "plateau continent”. 2. Although Africa's rivers are long, why are they bad for transportation?  Although many rivers are long, they are very bad for transportation because they dry up, have waterfalls, and many rapids. 3. How many inches of rainfall does the Sahel receive per year?  The Sahel only receives 4 to 24 inches of rain per year.

 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)