Materials

• Climate map of the regions either from an atlas or from the textbook or from the following website http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/middle_east.html
• Wall map or transparency of the region
• Students will need a teacher-developed worksheet that lists vocabulary words students need to know.
• Background information on the region included with this lesson

Instructional Activities

1. Display a climate map of the region, and have students analyze the climate by reading the key and interpreting the map. Instruct the students to write a paragraph that describes the climate in North Africa and Southwest Asia. NOTE: Answers should show that the students understand the arid climate in the region. Next, have the students explain how to predict the population density in the deserts.
   
   
2. Distribute worksheets that list vocabulary words students need to understand, and have students write definitions of the terms. You may wish to have them create a picture display of the terms by assigning one or two terms to each student to locate and bring in pictures. Vocabulary should include the following:
   
   
   1. seasonal flooding
   2. oasis
   3. delta
   4. alluvial soil
   5. irrigation
   6. desertification
   7. wadis
   8. petroleum
   9. desalination
   10. nomad
   11. Bedouins
   12. Sahel
   13. Farsi
   14. mosque
   15. synagogue
   16. church
   17. Torah
   18. Koran
   19. Bible
   20. Kurds
   21. Palestine
   22. Mecca
   23. Medina
   24. Jerusalem
   25. Jews
   26. Muslims27. Islam
   28. Muhammad
   29. Jesus
   30. Christians
   31. Suez Canal
   32. Aswan Dam
   
   
   Discuss the definitions with the students, display pictures to illustrate the terms, and point out on a map the locations where these items are found.
   
   
3. Have the students research on the Internet and in other sources, desertification and its impact on the region. Make sure students include the causes of desertification in the Sahel.