1. A one day lesson plan for a 7th grade Social Studies Class.
Where In Africa?
A one day lesson plan for a 7th grade Social Studies Class.
GPS Standard SS7G3

2. Objectives
The seventh grade learner will be able to explain how the characteristics in the Sahara, Sahel, savanna and tropical rain forest affect where people live, the typed of work they do and how they will travel when presented with a topographical map. The seventh grade learner will execute this understanding with 85% accuracy.

3. Essential Questions
What impact does location have on population distribution?
What impact does climate have on population distribution?
What impact do physical characteristics have on population distribution?
How does climate effect daily life?

4. Africa

5. Sahara

6. Sahara World’s largest non-arctic desert
Covers most of Northern Africa
As large as the U.S. or Europe
Landforms shaped by winds

7. Sahara

8. Sahel

9. Sahel Located South of the Sahara
Expansive, semi-arid region of Africa
Sparsely vegetated
Receives an average of 4-8 inches of rainfall per year
Severe drying trend led to famine and more than 1 million deaths in the 1970’s and 80’s

10. Sahel

11. Savanna

12. Savanna Home to the greatest density and diversity of animals on Earth
Intermediate between tropical rain forest and desert
Rainy season floods lower-level areas
Animals migrate during dry season because there’s not enough food

13. Savanna

14. Tropical Rainforest

15. Tropical Rainforest Tropical, moist forests
Population increase due to Rainforest depletion
Deforestation occurs for cash crops producing products like gum, rubber, cola nuts and palm oil

16. Tropical Rainforest

18. Journal Question
If you had to live in Africa, which region would you choose to live in? Why?

19. Population Density in Africa

20. Group Journal Response and Presentation
Imagine you live in Africa. You are living in the ___________ region.
What type of work will you do?
How will you travel?
Be prepared to present answers to class
Make sure you can locate your region on the map

21. Curriculum Integration
Students will integrate with Language Arts by responding to thought provoking journal questions.
Students will integrate with Science by analyzing the effects of climate
Students will integrate with Math by problem solving

22. Technology Integration
Power Point
Smart Board
DVD

23. Assessments
Formative assessments include observing students as they locate various climate regions on the map, answer journal questions and do group work.
Summative assessment next class in the form of a quiz.