The Great African Bicycle Safari (6th Grade Geography)
Date
July 9, 2004
Unit Overview
Title
The Great African Bicycle-Safari
Unit Summary
Students have completed their safari recommendations, and have learned
much about this vast continent of 53 separate nations along the way. During
their exploration of the Five Themes of Geography, students have learned that
Africa is a continent of many contrasts, contrasts of land, people, government,
and economies. Africa is a land rich in diversity. The quality of life in many
countries is improving, but others are overwhelmed with the struggle to
overcome the ravages of HIV/AIDS.
Standards
Essential Academic Learning Requirements:
Reading GLEs: 2.2 Expand comprehension by analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing information and
ideas.
3.1 Read to learn new information.
Other: Geography: 1.1 Use and construct maps, charts, and other resources to gather and interpret
geographic information.
2.1 Describe the natural characteristics of places and regions.
3.3 Examine cultural characteristics, transmission, diffusion, and interactions.
Writing
1.1 Develop concept and design.
1.2 Use style appropriate to audience and purpose.
1.3 Apply writing conventions.
2.2 Write for different purposes.
KSD Curriculum Frameworks (or SLOs):
Writing Focus: Persuasive Writing
Social Studies Targets: World Geography and Culture - Africa
KSD Technology:
Student Tech Standards: A1 Use the Internet and other electronic resources for research and digital media
retrieval.
Evaluate and critique the quality and credibility of electronic information.
B5 Integrate two or more applications.
Learning Outcomes (Enduring Understandings) – (relates UBD worksheet 5.1)
The five themes of geography (Location, Place, Human/Environment Interaction, Movement, and Regions) define a
nation’s identity and character within world society.
Overarching Essential Question(s) – (relates to UBD worksheet 5.5 and/or 6.3)
How do the five themes of geography serve as a framework to help us understand the physical and human
characteristics that define a country?
How can the five themes of geography be used to evaluate physical characteristics, and cultural/ economic values
within an individual country to achieve international support for a common benefit?
Evidence of Learning
The Great African Bicycle Safari (6th Grade Geography)
In groups, students will research, analyze, and create the following to demonstrate their understanding of the five
themes of geography in articulating a nation’s identity:
1) Interactive Map of Africa highlighting individual countries and distinguishing characteristics
2) Power Point Presentation synthesizing the geographic diversity of the 53 different nations located on the
continent of Africa.
3) Persuasive letter and route documentation sent to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation highlighting the preferred
route for an international bicycle route across continent to raise media awareness and generate additional funding
for AIDS/HIV prevention throughout the continent of Africa.
Unit Implementation – Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction
Instructional Activities
Time
Grouping
Teacher Read Aloud, “Africa Is Not A
Country”
Introduces diversity of people, lands,
economies, and environment of many
countries within Africa.
60 min.
Whole Class
Unit Introduction
-30 min. computer class-Instructor will go
through Web Quest Introduction Scaffold.
-60 min. Whole Class Overview of Web
Quest. Teacher will discuss purpose for
unit, review Web Quest roles and
responsibilities, go over rubrics, and include
time for Q & A.
90 min.
Whole Class
Video Presentation – National Geographic
Series on Africa
-Instructor will lead students through
presentation by stopping film to elicit
discussion at various points in the film.
60 min.
(5
sessions)
Video Presentation-Map Skills for
Children
Computer Lab
-Computer Lab time for explicit technology
instruction working with Power Point, Word,
and Excel.
(Interactive Picture, Persuasive Letter, and
Power Point Presentation with Five Themes
are content areas)
Groups
assigned by
instructor will
meet at end of
lesson time to
choose
specific roles
within the
group.
Whole Class
Scaffolds
None
Assessments
Discussion Focused on
Content of Book
Check for
Understanding
African Project
Each assigned group
will submit a sheet with
specific names for role
assignment.
None
60 min.
-view/
Discuss
Add’l 60
min.
activity
Whole Class
Hard Copy
Poster Map
Example
30 min.
(three
separate
sessions)
Whole Class
Schoolkit
Tutorials
Elicit Discussion
Begin organizational
work on group roles.
Monitor Strategies.
Basic Map Making
Workshop for Skill
Reinforcement
Check for
Understanding,
Develop content
exercises with
Computer Resource
Instructor.
The Great African Bicycle Safari (6th Grade Geography)
Five Themes of Geography –
-Explicit Instruction Teach Five Themes and
incorporate those themes into presentation
(cartographer function)
60 min.
(two
sessions)
Researchers
and
Cartographers
Africa Map.xls
Rubric Africa.xls
This is the overall
assessment rubric for
Five Themes of the entire unit.
Geography.doc
Persuasive Letter
-Review persuasive letter strategies with
students.
30 min.
Letter Writers
Research Time for Five Themes, Letter
Writing, and “Best Route” Poster
-Best route poster summarizes information
included in Five Themes for each country
and provides the Foundation with a visual of
overall route and recommended options.
-Poster may be decorated with art, pictures,
cultural icons, maps, and comments of
interest.
-Instructor will spend some time reviewing
creative options with students assigned to
this role.
45 min.
(Three
work
sessions,
but may
be expanded
as
needed.
Small groups
and
independent
work.
Power Point Presentation
-Student Led
-Final group project summarizing all work
completed with final map segments (posterhard copy) and letter of recommendation for
preferred routes to submit to Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation.
5 groups
(15-20
min.
each
group)
Small Groups
to Whole
Class
Persuasive Letter
Guidelines.doc
None
(See
internet and
book
resources
listings
below).
Africa.ppt
Persuasive Letter
Rubric.doc
Final Projects (Rubric
used for assessment).
Rubric plus
Oral Presentation
Assessment by
Teacher.
Group member
individual selfassessment.
Accommodation Options
ELL / IP Students
Students will be given a research role and spread throughout groups to allow for
peer support. ELL/IP students will receive extra one-on-one help with instructor
in fulfilling their role.
Highly-Capable Students
These students will have the opportunity to create a bulletin board in class
highlighting the project. I will also be meeting with highly capable students to
discuss opportunities to “dig deeper” into content areas, especially relating to
Five Themes of Geography as it pertains to each country they have adopted.
Prerequisite Skills
Students will need explicit instruction to develop technology skills using Power
Point, Working effectively with provided Scaffolds, Interactive Pictures, Build
schema for Five Themes of Geography, Review persuasive writing strategies.
Materials and Resources Required for Unit
The Great African Bicycle Safari (6th Grade Geography)
Adopted Print Materials: “Africa,”
by Cynthia Klingel , Copyright 2004 by The Child’s World
“Africa Is Not a Country, “ by Margy Burns Knight and Mark Melnicove
Illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien, Copyright 2000
“A Is For Africa,” by Ifeoma Onyefulu, Copyright 1993, Cobblehill Books, Dutton, NY
“Africa,” by David Petersen, Copyright 1946, Children’s Press.
“Discovering Africa’s Land, People, and Wildlife,” by Aileen Weintraub, Copyright 2004 by Enslow
Pulbications.
“Ashanti To Zulu- African Traditions,” by Margaret Musgrove, Pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon,
Copyright 1976, Dial Books for Young Readers, NY
Adopted and other Audio/Visual: National Geographic Video Series on Africa (set of 5)
Making & Reading Maps – Map Skills for Children – Schlessinger Media, Copyright 2004
- Step by Step process constructing a map (Intended Audience-Primary-Intermediate elementary).
Supplemental Resources (including Internet resources):
Internet References for Africa and HIV/AIDS updates in Africa:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Focus on HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Africa
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/GlobalHealth/HIVAIDSTB/HIVAIDS/AfricaMission/default.htm
PBS/National Geographic Site Focuses on Africa
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/
Discover Africa-Kids Zone
http://www.afro.com/children/discover/discover.html
Atlas Map for Africa – Also includes maps of individual countries within Africa
http://www.factmonster.com/atlas/africa.html
Comprehensive informational site for Africa
http://www.africanaonline.com/africa.htm
Supplies:
Technology – Hardware (Click boxes of all equipment needed.)
Computer(s)
VCR
Projection System
Printer
Video Camera
Camera
Digital Camera
Scanner
Video Conferencing
Television
Laserdisc
Other
Technology – Software (Click boxes of all software needed.)
Word
FrontPage
KidPix
Excel
Internet Explorer
Inspiration
PowerPoint
SchoolKiT
Clicker 4
Publisher
Encarta - Optional
Image Blender/Photo Editor
Author
First and Last Name
Robin Buxton
Grade Level
6th
Email
Robin.Buxton@kent.k12.wa.us