7th Grade UBD – Unit 2 – Africa

Africa’s Diverse Population- Most Africans live in
places where trade, industry, climate, soil, or natural
resources allow large numbers of people to support
their families.

Location and Landforms- Africa is the second-largest
continent. It is more than three times the size of the
United States.

Think about the state
in which you live. What
different landforms
are in your state? Are
there any mountains
or valleys? How do
these landforms affect
your daily life?
(5 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
answer with theirs.
What things are
the same and what
things are
different? (3
minutes)

Africa is the fastest growing region in the
world.

Farmers are moving to cities because they
hope for better opportunities and young
people want to find jobs.

French and English are the most common
languages spoken in Africa.


Most Africans live in places
where trade, industry,
climate, soil, or natural
resources allow large
numbers of people to support
their families.
Vast areas of Africa, like
deserts and rain forests, are
less populated.
 This is because they lack
the rich soil, rainfall, and
minerals to support large
populations.

Africa is the fastest
growing region in the
world.

Challenges
 HIV/AIDS
 Medical Care
 Safe Drinking Water
 Good Housing
Video- Tap Project
Two thirds of Africa’s
population lives in rural
areas.
 Farmers are moving to
cities because they
hope for better
opportunities and
young people want to
find jobs.
 Urban growth is
increasing.


Africa is a place of
diversity because
many different groups
live there.
 Africans belong to more
than 2,000 ethnic groups
and speak more than
1,000 languages!
Key Term
Ethnic Group- A
large collection of
people with the
same cultural
background,
united by
language,
religion, or
ancestry.

French and English
are the most
common languages
spoken in Africa
because the United
Kingdom and France
have ruled there.
1.
Where do most Africans live?
2.
Why are French and English the most
common languages spoken in Africa?
Where do most Africans live?
1.

Two thirds of African’s population lives in rural areas.
Why are French and English the most common
2.
languages spoken in Africa?

French and English are the most common languages
because the United Kingdom and France have ruled
there.

Africa is the second-largest continent.

Africa is more than three times the size of the
United States.

Africa has few rivers compared to other
countries.

The Sahel is a semi-arid land of dry grass, 200 to
700 miles wide, that stretches across the
continent.

Nicknamed the "plateau
continent”.
 Few natural harbors.
 Boats can not travel easily
upstream or downstream
due to rapids and
waterfalls near the
mouths of rivers.
Key Term
Plateau- A
flat or gently
rolling land
that is higher
than nearby
areas.
Reading Activity- Eyewitness To History 1

Africa has few lakes.
Yet Africa’s three
largest lakes are
among the largest in
the world.
▪ All are population
centers.

Africa has few rivers
compared to other
countries.
 Although many rivers are
long they are very bad for
transportation.
▪ Dry up
▪ Waterfalls
▪ Rapids
Video- Carrying Water
Key Term
Continental DriftThe theory that the
continents slowly
and constantly move
within the Earth.
Reading Activity- Eyewitness To History 2


The Tropics are a region
of the Earth surrounding
the equator. They are
generally hot yearround.
Tropical climates are dry
and hot or wet and hot,
except where the
elevations of mountains
or highlands affect
climate.
Key Term
Tropics- Is a
region of the
Earth surrounding
the Equator. They
are generally hot
year-round.
Along the Equator,
both heat and rainfall
are plentiful. Thick,
lush, tropical rain
forests thrive here.
 A single tree can have
as many as 50 kinds of
plants growing on it.
 Constant heavy rains
cause leaching.

Key Term
Leaching- Is
when heavy
rains wash
away and
dissolve soil.

The Savanna is a large
open area of grass
where few trees and
bushes appear.

Rain falls only in
summer in the
savanna.

African deserts are
not flat at all or
colorless.

Rugged mountain
ranges rise out of the
shifting sand dunes.

The Sahel is a semi-arid
land of dry grass, 200 to
700 miles wide, that
stretches across the
continent.

The Sahel only receives 4
to 24 inches of rain per
year.

A drought is a period of
time when there is very
little rain or no rain at all.
It is a constant threat in
many countries.

Periods of little rainfall
can last for years.
Key Term
Drought- A
period of time
when there is very
little rain or no
rain at all.
1.
What is Africa's nickname?
2.
Although Africa's rivers are long, why
are they bad for transportation?
3.
How many inches of rainfall does the
Sahel receive per year?
What is Africa's nickname?
1.

Africa is nicknamed the "plateau continent”.
Although Africa's rivers are long, why are they bad for
2.
transportation?
 Although many rivers are long, they are very bad for
transportation because they dry up, have waterfalls, and
many rapids.
How many inches of rainfall does the Sahel receive per year?
3.

The Sahel only receives 4 to 24 inches of rain per year.

What has been the
“muddiest” point so far in
this lesson? That is, what
topic remains the least
clear to you? (4 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
muddiest point with
theirs. Compare
what things are the
same and what
things are different?
(3 minutes)