1. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF NORTH AFRICA, SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL ASIA: CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

2. Essential Questions: How has physical geography affected where people have settled in North Africa, Southwest and Central Asia? Learning Target: IWBAT identify the climates found in North Africa, Southwest and Central Asia. Formative Assessment(s): What are the two largest climatic regions found in North Africa, Southwest and Central Asia?

3. BELLWORK What kind of climate would you expect to find in North Africa, Southwest and Central Asia? (AKA: Arctic, Tundra, Subarctic)

4. SAHARA DESERT FUN FACTS Although most people think of the Sahara desert as a giant oven, at least from December to February, the nighttime temperatures plunge, often to freezing and below. The Marathon des Sables (MDS) is run in the Sahara in southern Morocco each year in April. It has to be entered several years in advance, and it costs over $4,500 to participate. The race is run over seven days, and runners have to carry all of their supplies on their backs. The total distance covered over sand dunes and rocky plateaus is 150 miles. Most of the streams and rivers in the Sahara are only seasonal.

5. CLASSWORK TOGETHER, read about Water and Climate on page 430 Write and answer the following questions in your notes: 1.How much of the region has a desert climate? 2.What is the largest desert in the world and where is it? 3.What are the two names the desert with the largest area of sand in the area has? 4.What plants grow in the desert? 5.Where is farming possible in the desert? 6.What kind of farming is practiced in the desert and steppe?

6. MARRAKECH FUN FACTS Often called the “Red City”, Marrakech requires sun protection and headgear all year long—even during winter. Although the majority of residents are either Arabic or Berber, Marrakesh is very multi lingual. Djemma El Fna, is the ancient square that lies at the heart of Marrakech, and acts as a gathering point for locals and street performers. Sweet mint tea is the national drink of Marrakech

7. CLASSWORK TOGETHER, read about Midlatitude Regions on pages 431-432 Write and answer the following questions in your notes: 1.How do countries on the Mediterranean make money? 2.What cities do tourists visit in Morocco? 3.How much rain falls in the Atlas mountains? 4.How much rain is needed annually to grow crops without irrigation? What crops are grown?

8. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT What are the six climates found in North Africa, Southwest and Central Asia? (page 416) What are the two largest climatic regions?