| WG.4 |
The student will locate and analyze physical, economic, and cultural characteristics of world regions: . . .Sub-Saharan Africa, . . . |
| WG.12 |
The student will apply geography to interpret the past, understand the present, and plan for the future by |
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a) |
using geographic knowledge, skills, and perspectives to analyze problems and make decisions; |
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b) |
relating current events to the physical and human characteristics of places and regions. |
Describe how physical, economic, and cultural characteristics influence regional development. Use the regional information provided below.
Countries
Location of countries with particular emphasis on countries listed (determined by their per capita GDP, land size, and population)
• GDP
- South Africa
- Gabon
- Botswana
• Land size
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Sudan
- Chad
- Mozambique
- Madagascar
• Population
- Nigeria
- Ethiopia
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Tanzania
- Kenya
Physical Characteristics
• Continent composed of a huge plateau, escarpments
• River transportation impeded by waterfalls and rapids
• Location of equator through middle of region; similar climate patterns north and south of the equator
• Smooth coastline; few harbors
• Large number of landlocked states
• Storehouse of mineral wealth
• Limited fertility of rain forest soils
• Kalahari and Namib deserts
• Bodies of water
- Nile River
- Zambezi River
- Niger River
- Congo River
- Atlantic Ocean
- Indian Ocean
- Red Sea
- Lake Victoria
- Lake Tanganyika
• Nature preserves and national parks
Economic Characteristics
• Large percentage of population engaged in agriculture (primary activity)
• Subsistence agriculture
• Nomadic herding
• Slash and burn agriculture
• Plantation agriculture
• Cash crops and food crops
• Poorly developed infrastructure
• Large number of landlocked states
• Substantial mineral wealth (diamonds, gold, alloys)
• Major exporters of raw materials
• Wide range of per capita income
• Productivity that lags behind population growth
• Desertification
• Demographics typical of developing economies
- Low per capita GDP
- Low life expectancy
- High population growth rate
- High infant mortality
- Large percentage of population under age 15
- Low literacy rates
Cultural Characteristics
• Uneven population distribution
• Many ethnic groups — Languages, customs
• Large numbers of refugees
• Few cities with population over one million
• Knowledge of history through oral tradition
• Country names related to historical empires — Mali, Ghana, Zimbabwe
• Cities as centers of culture and trade
- Lagos
- Dakar
- Johannesburg
• Cultural landscape
- Markets
- Churches
- Mosques, minarets
- Villages
- Modern city cores
• Diversity of Africans reflected in cultural heritage
- Masks
- Sculpture
- Dance
- Music
- Colorful dress
- Jewelry
Explain the following practical applications of how geography enables students to be informed, active citizens in their communities:
• Recycling programs
• Conversion of land from agricultural use
• Water sources (e.g., dams, reservoirs, wells, pipelines, ocean)
• Airport expansion
• Air quality
• Boundaries (e.g., school zones)
• Bicycle paths
• Mass transit
• City planning and zoning laws
• Energy use
• Location and size of public buildings (e.g., schools, recreation centers, hospitals, and libraries)
• Selection of locations for new stores and businesses
Explain that current events are shaped by the physical and human characteristics of the places and regions where they occur.
Use the following examples to explain how physical and human characteristics influence current events of places and regions:
• How physical characteristics influence current events:
- Natural hazards (e.g., flooding, earthquakes, volcanoes, drought)
- Climate, vegetation
• How human characteristics influence current events:
- Population distribution
- Geographic patterns of ethnic diversity
- A sense of place (emotional attachment to specific locations)
- Geographic patterns of trade and interdependence (e.g., oil)
- Geographic patterns of wealth and poverty (developed and developing nations)
Below is an annotated list of Internet resources recommended for this organizing topic. Copyright restrictions may exist for the material on some Web sites. Please note and abide by any such restrictions.
Chege, Nancy. “Lake Victoria: a sick giant.” People & the Planet. <http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=2110>. This site provides information on the negative impact of human activity on Lake Victoria.
“Introduction to the Nile River Basin.” Nile Basin Initiative. <http://www.nilebasin.org/>. This site provides information on the Nile River.
“Where is the world’s longest freshwater lake?” What You Need to Know about Geography. <http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzlongfreshwaterlake.htm>. This site provides information about Lake Tanganyika.
The World Factbook 2002. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. <https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html> This site contains searchable information on all countries, including Gross Domestic Product, land size, and population.
Africa. The World Bank. <http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/> This site provides information on each country, news and events, data and statistics, publications and reports, development topics, regional initiatives, and projects.
Sub-Saharan Africa. USAID. <http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/>. This site gives and overview of USAID programs in Africa.
Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning: World Geography Test Blueprint. Virginia Department of Education, 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/2002Blueprint9WG.pdf>. This site provides assessment information for the course in World Geography.
Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning: History and Social Science Released Items for Virginia and United States History. Virginia Department of Education 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/Release2003/History/VA-RIBs_g11wgeo-1.pdf>.
Other resources, such as the books listed below, may prove helpful in teaching this unit:
Aardema, Vema. Bringing the Rain to Kapati Plain. New York: Dial Books, 1981.
Courland, Harold. The King’s Drum and Other African Stories. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1970.
Musgrove, Margaret. Ashanati to Zulu: African Traditions. New York: Dial Books, 1976.
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