Unit 3: North Africa, West/Central Africa, East/South Africa, Middle East
PDE
Area of Study
Big Ideas
Standards/
Eligible
Content
7.1.9.A
 Geography is used to
North Africa:
7.1.12.A
explain the past, interpret
Physical Geography:
7.1.W.A
the present, and plan for
-Bodies of Water: Mediterranean Sea, Nile
7.1.9.B,
the future.
River
7.1.12.A
 Geographic
-Land Forms Sahara Desert
7.1.C.A
representations are
-Countries of focus: Egypt, Libya
7.1.U.A
essential to explain the
-Cities: Tripoli, Marrakesh, Cairo
7.1.W.A
-Landmarks: Pyramids of Giza
spatial organization of
7.1.9.B
-Topics of Introduction: Islam in North
people, places, and
7.1.12.A
Africa, Ancient Egypt
environments.
7.1.C.A
 Physical processes shape
7.1.U.A
patterns of the Earth’s
West Africa/Central Africa:
7.1.W.A
surface, including the
Physical Geography:
7.1.9.B
characteristics and spatial
-Bodies of Water: Niger River, Congo River
7.1.12.A
distribution of
-Landforms: Rainforest, Congo River Basin
7.1.C.A
ecosystems.
-Countries of Focus: Sierra Leone, Congo
7.1.U.A
 Places and regions have
-Topics of Introduction: Cities African
7.1.W.A
physical and human
Slave Trade, Blood Diamonds,
7.3.12.A
Deforestation of the rainforest
characteristics, and one’s
7.3.C.A
culture and experiences
7.3.U.A
may influence perception
East/South Africa
7.3.W.A
of place.
7.1.9.B
 Characteristics,
-Physical Geography:
7.1.12.A
distribution, and
-Bodies of Water: Victoria Falls
7.1.C.A
migration of human
-Land Forms: Serengeti Plains, Kalahari
7.1.U.A
populations impact
Desert
7.1.W.A
culture, economic
-Countries in Focus: South Africa, Kenya
7.1.9.B
interdependence,
Cities: Mogadishu, Nairobi, Johannesburg
7.1.12.A
settlement patterns, and
-Topics of Introduction: Crises in African
7.1.C.A
control of the Earth’s
(HIV, malnutrition, malaria, etc.)
7.1.U.A
surface.
Apartheid, Genocide
7.1.W.A
 Human actions modify the
7.1.9.B
physical environment, and
Middle East:
7.1.12.A
physical systems affect
-Physical Geography:
7.1.C.A
human systems.
-Bodies of Water: Red Sea, Persian Gulf,
7.1.U.A
 Interpret the meaning of a
Tigris, Euphrates, Dead Sea
7.1.W.A
specific work of art or
-Land Forms: Sinai Peninsula,
7.1.9.B
explain the architecture in
Mesopotamia
7.1.12.A
the context of the
-Countries in Focus: Israel, Lebanon,
7.1.C.A
historical time, culture
Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait
7.1.U.A
and region in which it was
-Cities: Jerusalem, Baghdad, Riyadh
7.1.W.A
made.
-Topics of Introduction: Arab/Israeli
7.3.12.A
Essential Questions





How can geographic
information systems
and other geographic
technologies impact
development?
What makes one place
different from
another?
What are the criteria
to create a region?
How is one place
different than another
place?
How do historical and
cultural contexts
influence how
art/architecture is
made and
interpreted?
7.3.C.A
7.3.U.A
7.3.W.A
9.2.8.A
9.2.8.B
9.2.8.C
9.2.8.D
9.2.8.G
Conflict, Major Religions: Judaism,
Christianity, Islam, Importance of Oil