Name _____________________
The Physical Geography of Africa
An Independent Assignment for AC Social Studies
Date: _________ Period: ____
Your task: Hop in the jeep… Come on let’s go!... You are about to embark on a special
private tour of the physical geography of Africa. You will cruise through the continent
of Africa exploring top destinations, put yourself in the harsh environments of the
desert regions, learn how land that was once farmland became a desert and eventually
tour our focus countries. What will be your favorite? The Great Rift Valley? The
Sahel? OR the African savannas? Buckle your seatbelt…Here we go!
Very important: Details for
each assignment are on the
checklist that I made for you.
Make sure that you read and
understand what is required.
Main Entrées: Students will complete ALL four assignments.
Assignment #1:
Tour of Africa
Take a continental tour of Africa that
spans the second largest continent of
the world. You will gain understanding
of the variety of climates as well as
learning about African culture and
history
Create a “first person” journal that
gives specific information about each
destination that you visit.
Points of Interest:
o
o
Sahara Dunes, Morocco
Pyramids of Egypt, Cairo
o
o
o
o
Dienne, Mali
Omo River Region, Ethiopia
Mountain gorillas, Rwanda, DRC
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
o
o
o
o
Zanibar, Tanzania
Victoria Falls, Zambia
Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
Cape Town, South Africa
Your product choices:
1. photo journal with captions
2. personal diary
3. cartoon with dialogue bubbles
Assignment #2
Environment Adaptation
Think about how people have
adapted to their environment.
Create a detailed drawing on the
template given to you that
illustrates all three environments:
desert, oasis, Sahel
For each environment:
1. Draw details of the environment in
the background. Think about the
physical features, climate, and
vegetation of the area.
2. Draw a person in the center. Add
clothing and other possessions to show
adaptations that people have made.
Think about: housing, transportation,
economic activity (jobs), and type of
community.
3. Label ways in which the person has
adapted to the environment. Example:
Label a person’s arms “strong from
shoveling snow in the winter.”
Assignment #3
Environmental Issues
Part A:
Step 1: Read the article,
“Farmland to Desert”
Step 2: Using the template, draft
a paragraph response to the EQ:
How can farmland become desert?
Step 3: Read the article,
“More Farmland to Desert”
Step 4: Answer the question
AGAIN…
How can farmland become desert?
Part B:
Draft a written response for
each question:
1. Are the world’s deserts growing or
shrinking?
2. What human characteristics
contribute to desertification?
3. How might people adapt to living in
areas threatened by desertification?
Assignment #4
Focus Countries
Pack your bags!
You will learn about the location,
climate, features and natural
resources of our focus countries
in Africa by thinking “outside
the box (or bag)”
Step 1: Read the information
sheet labeled “Africa’s Focus
Countries”
Step 2: Complete the two-column
worksheet.
Step 3: “Pack Your Bags”
Choose one of the focus countries
that you would like to visit and
follow the directions on the
worksheet. Be creative and “think
outside the box!”