Regions
I CAN STATEMENTS:
Going Beyond:
A region is way of classifying areas of the Earth's surface based on human and/or physical criteria.
REGIONS are human constructs, meaning they are subjective (based on human opinion).
A REGION IS AN AREA OF LAND THAT HAS SIMILAR PHYSICAL AND HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS.
A region may be based on any of the following PHYSICAL (land) characteristics:
A region may also be based on the following HUMAN characteristics:
Regions can be different sizes:
An area may be part of more than one region at a time. For instance, Cincinnati is part of greater Cincinnati and the Midwest region of the United States.
Your job today is to use maps to identify several different regions in Africa. Please use the assignment from Google Classroom.
*This part of the assignment is a partner assignment. *
- I CAN define region.
- I CAN identify the characteristics of a region (geographical, political, social, etc.)
- I CAN determine and classify a region based on the following characteristics: landforms, climate, population, cultural or economic.
- I CAN compare and contrast two regions on a variety of characteristics.
Going Beyond:
- I CAN make inferences about how the geographical characteristics of a region can affect the political, social and population characteristics of that region.
A region is way of classifying areas of the Earth's surface based on human and/or physical criteria.
REGIONS are human constructs, meaning they are subjective (based on human opinion).
A REGION IS AN AREA OF LAND THAT HAS SIMILAR PHYSICAL AND HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS.
A region may be based on any of the following PHYSICAL (land) characteristics:
- Landforms (mountains, valleys, deserts, plains, etc.)
- Climate (temperate, tropical, Arctic)
A region may also be based on the following HUMAN characteristics:
- Population (population density, birth rates, etc.)
- Culture (religion, other beliefs, food, holidays, moral values, styles of art)
- Economics (natural resources that are available, levels of income, agricultural/farm products, division of money)
Regions can be different sizes:
- Greater Cincinnati is a region that includes one city and its nearby areas.
- The Midwest is a region that includes several states within one country (the United States).
- The Middle East is a region that includes several countries (Syria, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and many more).
- Sub-Saharan Africa is a region that includes several countries on one continent.
An area may be part of more than one region at a time. For instance, Cincinnati is part of greater Cincinnati and the Midwest region of the United States.
Your job today is to use maps to identify several different regions in Africa. Please use the assignment from Google Classroom.
*This part of the assignment is a partner assignment. *
BEFORE STARTING - Look back your notes:
1. What are some of the geographical characteristics that can be used to define a region?
2. What are some of the human characteristics that could define a region?
MAP 1
This map shows religions that are most commonly practiced in Africa.
Green - Islam is mainly practiced in this area
Light purple - Christianity mainly practiced
Dark purple - Indigenous (local religions mainly practiced
Questions:
3. What are the two main religions practiced in Africa, and WHERE is each practiced?
1. What are some of the geographical characteristics that can be used to define a region?
2. What are some of the human characteristics that could define a region?
MAP 1
This map shows religions that are most commonly practiced in Africa.
Green - Islam is mainly practiced in this area
Light purple - Christianity mainly practiced
Dark purple - Indigenous (local religions mainly practiced
Questions:
3. What are the two main religions practiced in Africa, and WHERE is each practiced?
MAP 2
This map shows climate zones of Africa.
Orange - Desert (Sahara)
Yellow - Semi-arid (semi-dry) transition zone
Light Green - tropical savannas (grasslands)
Dark Green - tropical rainforests
Olive - "Mediterranean" zone - mild coastal region
Questions:
4. What are the main climate types in Africa?
5. What similarities do you notice about the map of climate zones and the map of the religions practiced above?
6. WHY do you think certain religions spread in certain areas of Africa?
STOP! Check in with teacher here to make sure you are on the right track!
This map shows climate zones of Africa.
Orange - Desert (Sahara)
Yellow - Semi-arid (semi-dry) transition zone
Light Green - tropical savannas (grasslands)
Dark Green - tropical rainforests
Olive - "Mediterranean" zone - mild coastal region
Questions:
4. What are the main climate types in Africa?
5. What similarities do you notice about the map of climate zones and the map of the religions practiced above?
6. WHY do you think certain religions spread in certain areas of Africa?
STOP! Check in with teacher here to make sure you are on the right track!
MAP 3
This map shows language zones of the official languages of Africa. This means that the languages spoken in these areas are very similar (related)
Questions:
7. Look at the names of the language groups in the key. Where do most the languages originally come from (look up the countries of English, France and Spain if needed)?
8. Why do you think these languages are spoken in Africa?
This map shows language zones of the official languages of Africa. This means that the languages spoken in these areas are very similar (related)
Questions:
7. Look at the names of the language groups in the key. Where do most the languages originally come from (look up the countries of English, France and Spain if needed)?
8. Why do you think these languages are spoken in Africa?
MAP 4
This map shows life expectancy in Africa (how long the average person lives).
Questions:
9. Where do you see the HIGHEST life expectancy?
10. Where are the lowest life expectancies?
This map shows life expectancy in Africa (how long the average person lives).
Questions:
9. Where do you see the HIGHEST life expectancy?
10. Where are the lowest life expectancies?
This final map shows the United Nations - defined regions of Africa. You will need this for your country project.