Hanna Szigeti
Middle Level Social Studies Unit: Africa Unit Goals
This page includes portions of a unit that I co-authored with two other middle level teachers for Middle Level Social Studies Methods. The unit is for seventh grade students, and it contains a series of lesson plans and activities. The goal of this unit is to teach students about the culture, economics, people, government, and geography of the nations of Africa. The unit incorporates technology and the use of many materials. This unit also includes lesson plans, worksheets, and rubrics for students.
Summary of Unit
Unit Goals/Standards
Social Studies Standards:
7.1.7.A: Explain how common geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places, and environment.
7.1.7.B: Explain and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
7.3.7.A: Describe the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria: Population Culture Settlement Economic activities Political activities.
7.4.7.A: Describe and explain the effects of the physical systems on people within regions.
7.4.7.B: Describe and explain the effects of people on the physical systems within regions.
8.4.7.A: Summarize the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of individuals and groups in world history.
8.4.7.B: Explain the importance of historical documents, artifacts, and sites which are critical to world history.
8.4.7.C: Differentiate how continuity and change have impacted world history. Belief systems and religions Commerce and industry Technology Politics and government Physical and human geography Social organizations.
8.4.7.D: Explain how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the history of the world.
English/Language Arts Standards
E07.B-K.1.1.1: Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences, conclusions, and/or generalizations drawn from the text.
E07.B-K.1.1.2: Determine two or more central ideas in a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
E07.B-K.1.1.3: Analyze the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events, how individuals influence ideas or events).
E07.B-C.2.1.1: Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author distinguishes his or her position from that of others.
E07.B-C.2.1.2: Analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how major sections and text features contribute to the whole and to the development of the ideas.
E07.B-C.2.1.3: Determine how the author uses the meaning of words or phrases, including figurative, connotative, or technical meanings, in a text; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
Unit Understandings
What are the "big ideas" and specific understandings?
Unit Essential Questions
Why is it important to study Africa as a nation?
Why is it important to learn about the culture, history, art, land, and people of the nations of Africa?
What is the effect of HIV/AIDS on the people of South Africa?
How does HIV/AIDS affect the lifestyle of the people?
What medical care is available?
How did/does apartheid effect the people of South Africa?
What are some of the policies and events from the apartheid that make it significant to study?
What are the effects of the rainy season and the dry season on the growth of crops?
What effect does poverty have on famine? How can a government support its people in times of poverty?
How do we read an article in an effective manner? How do we read for comprehension?
How can we defend the importance of the Serengeti in an effective manner?
SW Know Objectives
Unit Themes and Subthemes
SWBAT Objectives for the Unit
Theme 1: Location
Sub-topics: Regions, Countries, Capitals
Theme 2: African Physical Geography
Sub-topic: Landforms, Rivers, Climate, Land Use, Population
Theme 3: History
Sub-topics: European Conquest, American Slavery
Theme 4: North Africa
Sub-topics: Nile & Sahara Life, Arab & Islamic Culture, Morocco, Arab Spring, Libya, Egyptian Revolution
Theme 5: West Africa
Sub-Topics: Tribal Groups, African Music and Dance, Blood Diamonds
Theme 6: Central Africa
Sub-topics: Sudan & DRC, Civil Wars, Congo Rainforest
Theme 7: East Africa (The Horn)
Sub-topics: Safaris, Serengeti, Masai, Famine
Theme 8: South Africa
Sub-topics: Zulu Culture, Apartheid, Mandela and Modern, HIV/AIDS
Theme 1: Location
1. Africa is the 2nd largest continent (landmass / pop).
2. Africa’s major countries are: Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, and South Africa
3. Africa’s major capital cities are: Cairo, Mogadishu, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Cape Town, Tripoli, Kinshasa, Accra, Freetown, & Kigalia
4. Regions: North, South, East (Horn), West, and Central Africa
Theme 2: African Physical Geography
1. Africa is land of geographic extremes based on the regions.SaharaCongo Rain ForestSavannas/grasslands
2. Key Features: Sahara, Libyan Desert, Nubian Desert, Atlas Mts, Congo Basin, Horn of Africa, Ethiopian Highlands, Great Rift Valley, Namib Desert, Kalahari Desert, Victoria Falls, Cape of Good Hope, Sahel, Savannas (Serengeti), Congo Rainforest, Mt. Kilimanjaro
3. Key Water Bodies: Nile R (White/Blue), Niger R, Lake Victoria, Zambezi R., Congo R., Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean
4. Climate: Location determines climate, Equator cuts into 2 hemispheres, along equator - tropical wet, then semi arid (Sahel), and then deserts, mts - cooler / veg. mirrors climate, rainforests, grasslands called savannas, and deserts
5. Population Density: varies by region (North least), heavy along rivers, lakes, and coastlines, indicates freshwater=most important resource, 95% along Nile, fastest growing in the world
Theme 3: History
1. Many European countries controlled parts of Africa up until World War II- Ottoman Empire weakened, forcing European countries to seize
2. The effects of Africa due to European Conquest- new colonial boundaries ignored traditional ethnic boundaries
3. The need for power:- raiding Africa for cheap labor, natural resources and markets
4. Slave Trade - Portugal shipping Africans to Europe. - single largest forced movement of people- Europeans sent slaves to Americas-10 to 12 million slaves were sent to Americas between 1400s and 1800s- emptied towns & villages-destroyed ancient patterns of culture, work, and trade
Theme 4: North Africa
1. Nile River: Egypt relies on river for economy. - annual floods deposit silt, creating fertile land - Ancient Egypt: grasses & reeds were used for huts, sandals, baskets, boats, etc- Present day: Aswan High Dam controls flooding & provides irrigation
2. Sahara:- world’s largest desert
3. Islam: belief in one god, Allah. Followers are called Muslims. Arab Muslims invaded Egypt in 639 AD and influenced Arab language, control of Maghrib, meaning “west”- Berbers
4. Morocco: -traditional clothing: jellaba, turban, skullcap, fez- led by a king-dependent on mining & agriculture- tourism brings in 2 million/yr
5. Arab Spring: revolutionary waves of protests and demonstrations beginning 12/2010 - dissatisfaction of local govtEgypt: Govt overthrown 2/2011Libya: govt overthrown 8/2011
Theme 5: West Africa
1. Tribal Groups: Over 250 ethnic groups within this region of Africa. -Languages vary.
2. African Music and Dance: Traditional african religions dominate this region and lead to traditional roles of music and dance in daily life. -Wood Carvings -Traditional head pieces and wraps -dances and music are prominent
3. Blood Diamonds: -Diamonds that are mined in a war zone. -Many civil wars have been started due to these diamonds being found, sold, and exported.
Theme 6: Central Africa
1. Sudan: Africa’s largest nation in area -Extends into central Africa, with savannahs and rainforests -North Sudan contains all desert -Culture: *Northern ⅔: speak Arab & follow Islam *Southern ⅓: practice traditional animist religions DRC: -practice christianity and islamic religions -village lifestyle -malnutrition due to inability to afford meat
2. Civil Wars: -Conflict between Sudan’s Arab Muslim North & Non-Muslim, Non-Arab South-Darfur
3. Congo Rainforest: -contains one of the largest rivers in the world -also contains over 10,000 animal species and over 600 tree species.
Theme 7: East Africa (The Horn)
1. East Africa is home to diverse wildlife-The Serengeti is home to a variety animals-Safaris are a popular tourist attraction-Wildlife and safaris aid the economy
2. The Masai are an important ethnic group-Tall and lean -Wear red and have a lot of jewelry-Lion hunting as a coming of age ceremony for boys-Jumping--competition
3. Famine-Rainy season vs. dry season-Poverty-Lack of government support to feed people
Theme 8: South Africa
1. There are many ethnic groups in South Africa, including the Zulu-Zulu language, dances, art
2. After WWII, apartheid became law-New laws classified people by race-Segregation-Opposition of apartheid-Sanctions and economic pressure
3. Nelson Mandela-Head of African National Congress-30 years of imprisonment for resisting apartheid-Nobel Peace Prize in 1993-President from 1994-1998-Government in South Africa
4. HIV/AIDS-Prevalence of disease-How the disease is spread-Poverty and its effect on treatment options (including medication)
Theme 1: Location
1. Identify and locate the major countries in Africa
2. Identify and locate the major capital cities of Africa’s countries.
3. Explain how the geographic regions of Africa are divided.
4. Compare Africa’s geography (landmass, population, and landforms) to the United State’s geography.
Theme 2: African Physical Geography
1. Locate and describe the key physical features and rivers of Africa
2. Describe how Africa’s location affects it climate & vegetation
3. Explain the impact the features/rivers/climate have on people living in Africa.
4. Analyze how the features, rivers, and climate influence the population density.
Theme 3: History
1. Identify and describe the European countries that took control over areas of Africa
2. Diagram and model the routes of the slave trade
3. Compare/Contrast the European Conquest of Africa to the British control of America
4. Illustrate and explain the effects that the European Conquest has on modern Africa
Theme 4: North Africa
1. Describe how the Nile River and Sahara Desert affect vegetation and the economy
2. Compare/Contrast Islam to another religion learned from another unit
3. Design an article of Moroccan clothing
4. Summarize the revolutions in Egypt and Libya 5. Compare the events during the Arab Spring to an American event
Theme 5: West Africa
1. Give examples of and describe the key ethnic groups in the region.
2. Compare/Contrast traditional African religions to other religions in Africa.
3. Describe several African traditions including music and dance.
4. Explain the role of Blood Diamonds in Africa.
Theme 6: Central Africa
1. Illustrate the difference between the environment of North and South Sudan.
2. Explain the religious and cultural differences within Sudan.
3. Describe the two civil wars that took place within Sudan.
4. Analyze the importance of the Congo Rainforest.
Theme 7: East Africa (The Horn)
1. Examine the different species of animals living on the Serengeti and explain why the animals need protection.
2. Compare the lifestyles of the Masai to other ethnic groups in Africa
3. Evaluate the effect that famine has on families
Theme 8: South Africa
1. Describe the Zulu culture and compare/contrast to other ethnic groups
2. Summarize the role of the apartheid in South Africa
3. Evaluate the work and life of Mandela4. Evaluate the effect HIV/AIDS on South Africa.
Key Terms for the Unit
Islam
European Conquest
Arab Spring
Libya
Egyptian Revolution
Blood Diamonds
Serengeti
Masai
Famine
Apartheid
Mandela
HIV/AIDS
