Africa7th Grade UBD – Unit 2 – Africa

Preview

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.

Reach Into Your Background

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)

Partner Activity

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

Key Ideas- Africa’s Diverse Population

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.

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.

Rapid Population Growth

Africa is the fastest

growing region in

the world.

Challenges HIV/AIDS

Medical Care

Safe Drinking Water

Good Housing

Tap ProjectVideo- Tap Project

Rural and Urban

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.

Diversity of People

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.

Languages

French and English

are the most

common languages

spoken in Africa

because the United

Kingdom and France

have ruled there.

Questions

1. Where do most Africans live?

2. Why are French and English the

most common languages

spoken in Africa?

Answers

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.

Key Ideas-Location and Landforms

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.

Geography

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.

Eyewitness To HistoryReading Activity- Eyewitness To History 1

Lakes

Africa has few lakes.

Yet Africa’s three

largest lakes are

among the largest in

the world.

▪ All are population

centers.

Rivers

Africa has few rivers

compared to other

countries. Although many rivers

are long they are very

bad for transportation.

▪ Dry up

▪ Waterfalls

▪ Rapids

Carrying WaterVideo- Carrying Water

Key Term

Continental

Drift- The

theory that the

continents slowly

and constantly

move within the

Earth.

Eyewitness To HistoryReading Activity- Eyewitness To History 2

Tropics

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.

Rainforests

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.

Savanna

The Savanna is a

large open area of

grass where few

trees and bushes

appear.

Rain falls only in

summer in the

savanna.

Desert

African deserts are

not flat at all or

colorless.

Rugged mountain

ranges rise out of

the shifting sand

dunes.

Dry Grasslands

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.

Drought

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.

Questions

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?

Answers

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.

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity

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