Materials

• Cause and Effect Adaptations chart from ancient Greece and Rome

Instructional Activities

1. Review the session, “Geography and Physical Characteristics.” Give students time to share information from the Think, Pair, and Share activity.
   
   
2. Discuss the following about the West African Empire of Mali:
   • Adaptations to Environment      
   –    Mined gold in West Africa and traded it for salt from the Sahara Desert
   –    Used salt for their health and to preserve food
   –    Trade made Mali one of the wealthiest empires in the region
   • Human Characteristics 
   –    Miners
   –    Farmers
   –    Traders
   
   
3. Review the term adaptation. Refer to the Cause and Effect Adaptation chart you created about ancient Greece and Rome.
   
   
4. Review the location of Mali, and discuss how the people had to adapt to their environment. Have students provide information on these adaptations to add to the chart.
   
   
5. Review the term characteristic (traits). Ask students how location affects occupations and what different characteristics (occupations) these people from Mali had: Farmers, traders, and miners. Compare these occupations with those of ancient Greece and Rome.
   
   
6. Have students add two fact sheets to their Mali booklet.                   
   • Page 3: Adaptations to Environment
   • Page 4: Human Characteristics