7th Grade UBD - Unit 2 - Africa. People and Their Environment- West Africa has three environments-...
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Transcript of 7th Grade UBD - Unit 2 - Africa. People and Their Environment- West Africa has three environments-...
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People and Their Environment- West Africa has
three environments- deserts, grasslands, and
rainforests. Most people live in the well-watered south.
Government and Economy- Different groups are
mixed within West African nations, making unity
difficult. People live by subsistence farming and
exports.
Society and Culture- The region remains heavily
rural, and daily life continues in many traditional ways.
But cities are growing rapidly.
Reach Into Your Background
Why you think it would
be easier to find a job
in a city than in a rural
area? Then predict
what benefits and
problems might come
with modernization.
(4 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- People and Their Environment
West Africa offers two contrasting
environments- desert and arid areas
in the North and well-watered areas
in the South.
West Africa is the continent’s most
heavily populated region. People are
unevenly distributed throughout the
region.
Kente Cloth
People in West Africa still
weave Kente cloth.
The art of weaving Kente
cloth remains much as it
was centuries ago.
This skilled craft is one of
the many ways Africa’s
ancient past continues to
influence life today.
Landforms and Vegetation
The Sahara Desert
extends from
North Africa into
West Africa.
The Sahel receives
enough rain to
support some
vegetation.
Landforms and Vegetation
People living in West
Africa grow hardy crops
or herd animals across
the land in search of
grass.
There is a close
connection between
population density and
water.
The Sahel
The Sahel is a transitional
area between desert and
savanna.
It receives anywhere from 6
to 24 inches of yearly rain.
Climate, animals and human
populations have worn out
the land creating a process
called desertification.
Desertification
Desertification can
result from climate
change or from
human practices
such as
deforestation and
overgrazing.
Turning the Tide on Desertification in Africa
The Acacia Tree is helping
combat desertification.
Two thirds of the African
continent is classified as
desert or dry lands and
desertification affects a
quarter of the world's
population.
The Acacia Tree has the
potential to transform the
lives of vulnerable
populations.
South of the Sahel
Countries along the
coast are heavily
populated.
Until recently, rainforests
spread across much of
Liberia, Sierra Leone, and
the south-western Ivory
Coast.
South of the Sahel
Wood is a main export for
many West African
countries, providing an
income for many farmers.
Countries South of the
Sahel have rich natural
mineral resources as well
as supplies to coal,
natural gas, and oil.
Question
1. How have cattle
contributed to the change
of the Sahel from
grassland to desert? What
is this process called?
Answer
1. How have cattle contributed to the
change of the Sahel from grassland
to desert? What is this process
called?
Increased cattle population has led
to overgrazing. This process is
called desertification.
Key Ideas- Government and Economy
West Africa’s national borders are inherited
from a colonial past.
Achieving unity among these people has
been difficult.
Most people are subsistence farmers.
Others export oil and agricultural products.
Key Term
ECOWAS- The
Economic
Community of
West African
States, that
hopes to increase
trade among
themselves.
West Africa Government
In most West African
countries, the constitution
prohibits discrimination on
the ground of gender,
however, customary and
religious laws still continue
to restrict women’s rights
in the region.
West Africa Government
Some West African
Governments have adopted
policies that encourage
women to participate in the
economies of their countries.
Nevertheless, the majority of
women in West Africa remain
confined to traditional roles,
especially in the rural areas.
West Africa Government
Despite notable progress,
women’s political
participation in West Africa
remains very low.
Women have limited
educational opportunities,
which result in a lack of
qualifications and skills.
This blocks women’s
participation in politics.
Independent Activity
Use a Venn
Diagram to
compare
women’s roles in
Africa with
women’s roles in
the United
States. (10
minutes)
Questions
1. In most West African countries, the
constitution prohibits discrimination on the
grounds of gender, however, what continues
to restrict women’s rights in the region?
2. Women in West Africa remain confined to
traditional roles, especially in what types of
areas?
Answers
1. In most West African countries, the constitution prohibits
discrimination on the grounds of gender, however, what
continues to restrict women’s rights in the region?
Customary and religious laws restrict women’s rights in
West Africa.
2. Women in West Africa remain confined to traditional roles,
especially in what types of areas?
Many women in West Africa are confined to traditional
roles in rural areas.
Key Ideas- Society and Culture
West Africans leave rural areas
to look for jobs in the city.
West Africans try to hold on to
their culture while making
economic progress.
City Life
Demands for decent
housing, clean water, and
more roads exceeds
government ability to
provide them.
A lucky few find work in
government offices or
foreign-owned businesses.
City Life
New arrivals make shelters
out of whatever they can
find: cardboard, tree
braches, plywood, or
plastic.
Most of these makeshift
homes lack running water
and electricity.
West Africa is overwhelmed
by rapid growth.
Slum Settlements
Slum settlements
are usually on the
outskirts of cities.
A living situation
worsened by the
massive migration
of rural people to
the cities.
Answer
1. What are Basic Needs?
Basic needs are things such as food, water,
shelter, clothing, health care, and education.
2. What are shanty towns and why do they
exist?
Shanty towns are slum settlements on the outside
of the city. They exist because people moving into
the cities often cannot find affordable housing.
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)