1. Presentation, Graphic Organizers, & Activities
Southwest Asia:
Where People
LIVE & WORK
Where People
LIVE & WORK
Presentation, Graphic Organizers, & Activities

2. STANDARDS:
SS7G7 The student will explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, Distribution of natural resources and population distribution on Southwest Asia (Middle East).
b. Describe how the deserts and rivers of Southwest Asia (Middle East) have affected the population in terms of where people live, the type of work they do, and how they travel.
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3. Where People Live & Work
TRAVEL
WORK
LIVE
Deserts
Some even use All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to maneuver ___________________ .
People travel across the desert in ___________________ .
Most people have left the desert behind and have moved to cities to ___________________ .
They trade animals and ___________________ with people who live in towns along the desert’s edge.
Many Bedouins are ___________________ herders.
In Saudi Arabia, only about ___________________ remains as nomadic herders.
Over the last 50 years, residents have been exchanging the harsh nomadic life for ___________________ .
Since the ___________________ , most people have moved away from the desert areas.
They live in ___________________ and in huts.
___________________(desert nomads) have called the desert home for thousands of years.
Food and ___________________ to find; however, oases provide a temporary water source.
The desert areas are not a favorable place to live due to the extremely ___________________ .
The ___________________ is located between Syria and Iraq.
The Rub al-Khali ___________________ is in southern Saudi Arabia.
The most ___________________ in the region is desert.
There are ___________________ of land in the Middle East, and a large number of it is covered by large desert areas.
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Where People Live & Work
CLOZE Notes 1

4. Where People Live & Work
TRAVEL
WORK
LIVE
Rivers
People use ___________________ and trade along rivers.
Rivers have always provided important routes for ___________________ .
___________________ are also important areas of income for people who live near rivers.
Rivers are also ___________________ for people in cities to use to ship goods to other merchants.
Most people in these cities make a living working in ___________________ .
Cities and towns on rivers have become major ___________________ .
Saudi Arabia has port cities along the Red Sea and ___________________ .
Turkey has major port cities along the Aegean, Black, and ___________________ .
Here, there are ___________________ in transportation, shipbuilding, and repair.
In countries that have a ___________________ , the population increases around port cities.
Rivers also provide a good ___________________ (fish).
Farmers grow crops by rivers and in river valleys because they provide a ___________________ .
Access to water for ___________________ make the area much easier to live in.
Cities are built near rivers to take advantage of the ___________________ in Southwest Asia.
The ___________________ forms part of the border for Syria, Jordan, and Israel.
The ___________________ runs through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.
The Tigris River runs through ___________________ and joins with the Euphrates to become the Shatt al Arab, which empties into the Persian Gulf.
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Where People Live & Work
CLOZE Notes 2

5. Where People Live & Work
Southwest Asia:
Where People
Live & Work
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6. DESERTS
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7. Deserts
There are 2.8 million miles of land in the Middle East, and a large number of it is covered by large desert areas.
The most common landform in the region is desert.
The Rub al-Khali (or “empty quarter”) is in southern Saudi Arabia.
The Great Syrian Desert is located between Syria and Iraq.
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9. LIVE
The desert areas are not a favorable place to live due to the extremely hot and arid climate.
Food and water is difficult to find; however, oases provide a temporary water source.
Bedouins (desert nomads) have called the desert home for thousands of years.
They live in tent camps and in huts.
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11. LIVE
Since the discovery of oil, most people have moved away from the desert areas.
Over the last 50 years, residents have been exchanging the harsh nomadic life for work in the cities.
In Saudi Arabia, only about 1% of the population remains as nomadic herders.
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13. WORK Many Bedouins are sheep, camel, and goat herders.
They trade animals and hand-made goods with people who live in towns along the desert’s edge.
Most people have left the desert behind and have moved to cities to find work.
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15. TRAVEL People travel across the desert in camel caravans.
Some even use All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to maneuver across the sand.
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17. RIVERS
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18. Rivers
The Tigris River runs through Turkey and Iraq and joins with the Euphrates to become the Shatt al Arab, which empties into the Persian Gulf.
The Euphrates River runs through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.
The Jordan River forms part of the border for Syria, Jordan, and Israel.
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20. LIVE
Cities are built near rivers to take advantage of the scarce water sources in Southwest Asia.
Access to water for bathing and drinking make the area much easier to live in.
Farmers grow crops by rivers and in river valleys because they provide a source of irrigation.
Rivers also provide a good source of food (fish).
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21. Baghdad, Iraq & the Tigris River
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22. LIVE
In countries that have a deep-sea harbor, the population increases around port cities.
Here, there are employment opportunities in transportation, shipbuilding, and repair.
Turkey has major port cities along the Aegean, Black, and Mediterranean Seas.
Saudi Arabia has port cities along the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
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23. Marmaris, Turkey
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24. WORK Cities and towns on rivers have become major hubs of industry.
Most people in these cities make a living working in industrial factories.
Rivers are also important trade routes for people in cities to use to ship goods to other merchants.
Farming and fishing are also important areas of income for people who live near rivers.
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25. Al Aqaba, Jordan & the Jordan River
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26. TRAVEL
Rivers have always provided important routes for transportation.
People use boats for travel and trade along rivers.
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28. TEACHER INFO: Postcard
Print off the Postcard handout for each student.
Have the students imagine they are visiting either an area near a river or the desert in SW Asia.
They will write a short note to their family describing how people live, work, and travel here.
On the front of the postcard, they will draw an illustration of the place and include a short greeting.
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29. Southwest Asia Postcard
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Directions: Imagine that you are visiting either an area near a river or the desert in SW Asia. Write a short note to your family describing how people live, work, and travel here. On the front, draw an illustration of the place and include a short greeting.
Southwest Asia Postcard
Back
Front

30. Where People Live & Work
1. What is the most common landform in Southwest Asia?
2. What is the climate like in much of Southwest Asia?
3. Who are the Bedouins?
4. How have people living in the deserts of Southwest Asia usually made their living?
5. Why have many nomadic peoples left the deserts and moved to urban areas over the last 50 years?
6. What are many of the largest cities in Southwest Asia located on or near?
7. What are some reasons why the areas around rivers are so heavily populated:
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Where People Live & Work
Comprehension Check