While watching the clip, list 4
landforms you see in the video.
OBJECTIVES:
• understand key physical features and human activity that
affect river systems by identifying how the Nile changes
from source to mouth.
• examine how hydroelectric dams impact river systems
around the world.
• SS-HS-4.2.2Students will explain how physical (e.g.,
climate, mountains, rivers) and human characteristics
(e.g., interstate highways, urban centers, workforce) of
regions create advantages and disadvantages for
human activities in a specific place
PREVIEW
• What interesting
details do you see?
• What do you think
this physical
feature is?
• Complete the
Preview
• It is not surprising that you have so many
questions about the Nile River.
• At 4,160 miles in length, it is generally considered
to be the longest river in the world.
• In the upcoming activity, you will follow the path
of the Nile as it flows from its sources in the
mountains and highlands of Africa to its mouth on
the Mediterranean Sea. You will also learn about
how the river changes along the way.
• Read Section 1,
Introduction, in the
Student Text.
• Identify at least four
details in the mosaic
that relate to ideas in
the text you just
read.
• Be prepared to share
your answers with
the class.
Examine the Graphic Organizer.
• What interesting details
do you see?
• What are the sources of
the NILE?
• At about what parallel is
each source located?
• Where is the river’s
mouth?
• Through how many
countries does the Nile
flow?
• What physical
changes do you
expect to happen
to the Nile as it
flows from its
sources to its
mouth?
• What other types
of changes might
you expect to see
as the Nile flows
from its sources to
its mouth?
How do rivers change as they flow
across Earth’s surface?
• This map shows the
course of the Nile River
from its sources to the
sea. The Nile flows
through several countries
and crosses several
parallels of latitude,
including the equator and
the Tropic of Cancer.
During its long journey,
the Nile changes in many
ways. Keep this map in
mind as you try to
answer the Essential
Question.
Mark and
label the
feature on
your map.
• Step 2: Use the latitude and longitude
coordinates on the placard to locate the
feature on your map in Reading Notes for
Section 19.
Step 3: Read the 19.3 of your text to
find out more about the feature.
• Step 4: In an appropriate place on your map,
draw the feature.
• Write a caption that describes what the feature
is. Your caption should also explain how the
Nile River changes at that location.
Mark and
label the
feature on
your map.
• Step 2: Use the latitude and longitude
coordinates on the placard to locate the
feature on your map in Reading Notes for
Section 19.
Step 3: Read the 19.3 of your text to
find out more about the feature.
• Step 4: In an appropriate place on your map,
draw the feature.
• Write a caption that describes what the feature
is. Your caption should also explain how the
Nile River changes at that location.
Mark and
label the
feature on
your map.
• Step 2: Use the latitude and longitude
coordinates on the placard to locate the
feature on your map in Reading Notes for
Section 19.
Step 3: Read the 19.4 of your text to
find out more about the feature.
• Step 4: In an appropriate place on your map,
draw the feature.
• Write a caption that describes what the feature
is. Your caption should also explain how the
Nile River changes at that location.
Mark and
label the
feature on
your map.
• Step 2: Use the latitude and longitude
coordinates on the placard to locate the
feature on your map in Reading Notes for
Section 19.
Step 3: Read the 19.5of your text to
find out more about the feature.
• Step 4: In an appropriate place on your map,
draw the feature.
• Write a caption that describes what the feature
is. Your caption should also explain how the
Nile River changes at that location.
Mark and
label the
feature on
your map.
• Step 2: Use the latitude and longitude
coordinates on the placard to locate the
feature on your map in Reading Notes for
Section 19.
Step 3: Read the 19.6 of your text to
find out more about the feature.
• Step 4: In an appropriate place on your map,
draw the feature.
• Write a caption that describes what the feature
is. Your caption should also explain how the
Nile River changes at that location.
Longest River in the world – Nile
• Two main branches of
the Nile – Blue and
White which meet in
Khartoum, Sudan
• Blue Nile – source is
Lake Tana
• White Nile -(begins in
Lake Victoria)
• Flows through deserts
and arid landscape
Gift of Water, Transportation and
Power
•
Drinking, cooking,
washing, farming,
transportation, and
energy
•
•
1.
2.
Aswan High Dam –
2 reasons why it was built
Hydroelectric power
control flooding
PREVIEW
• Complete Part 1 of
the Preview for
this lesson in your
Interactive Student
Notebook.
EXAMINE THE IMAGE
• The physical environment is
one influence on how people
live.
• People living on an island in
the ocean may lead very
different lives from people
living on a continent near a
river, because their physical
environments are so different.
• Do you think that you would
have the same daily routines
and activities that you have
now if you lived in the vast,
dry lands of the Sahara?
• In this lesson, you will learn about the physical
characteristics of the Sahara and the Sahel and how
people have adapted to the varied environments in
this desert region.
• OBJECTIVES:
– Describe the physical characteristics of 3
environments of the Saharan Region
– Identify ways in which people have adapted to life
in these environments
– Analyze the impact of desertification on people
living in desert regions around the world
Sahara – Largest Desert in the world
• 3.5 million sq miles (United
States)
• 15 African Countries
• Harshest, driest area in the
world
• Less than 5 inches rain yearly
• What makes some of the
Sahara liveable?
Oasesan isolated area of vegetation in
a desert
• Lies on the southern
border of the Sahara –
drought and a little rain
• Not suitable for farming
• (MARGINAL LAND)
20.3 The Desert
Environment
• What are the physical characteristics
of the desert?
The Sahara has three main landforms:
ergs – (sand dunes)
• regs-gravel covered plains and
hammadas – high rock covered
flatlands
• Only two rivers flow through the
Sahara, the Nile and the Niger.
• Desert temperatures vary greatly
between day (above 100) and night
(below freezing) . Rain is unpredictable.
How do you think people have
adapted to living in the desert?
20.4 Adaptations to Life in the
Desert
• How have people adapted to
living in the desert?
Among those who live in the
Sahara are pastoral nomads such as
the Tuareg.
• The Tuareg wear long, loose
clothing to protect them from the
sun. Tuareg traders use camels for
transportation.
•
Drilling machines have reached
underground water to create new
oases.
20.5 The Oasis Environment
• What are the physical
characteristics of oases?
• Oases are tiny islands of fresh
water in the desert. Some oases
are natural.
• Others are made when humans
dig or drill into the ground. Date
palms are the most important and
common oasis plant.
• How do you think people have
adapted to living in oases?
20.6 Adaptations to Life in the
Oases
How have people adapted to
living in oases?
• Farmers grow cash crops like
dates and vegetables.
• Visiting nomads trade their
products for water and food.
• Farmers build windbreaks to
protect their fields from the
desert.
• People sometimes must walk
to distant wells as an oasis
town expands.
20.7 The Sahel Environment
What are the physical
characteristics of the Sahel?
• The land is marginal for farming.
• The vegetation is a mix of
grasslands, acacia trees,
• baobab trees, and small bushes.
• Drought is a fact of life.
• Desertification has begun in some
areas.
How do you think people have
adapted to living in the Sahel ?
20.8 Adaptations to Life in the
Sahel
How have people adapted to living
in the Sahel?
• Farmers plant crops, like millet and
sorghum, that grow in dry places.
• Farmers use shifting agriculture.
• Herders move their herds from one
grazing area to another throughout
the year.
• Farmers are testing new ways of
farming.
• People are starting to use coal
instead of wood for cooking.