Brittany Wolgast

Geography/History Lesson Plan

Where in the world is Africa?
th

Grade:

5 grade

Subject:

Geography

Topic:

African Geography

Lesson Objective:
After completing the tasks for this lesson, the 5th grade students will be able to use a world globe
and map of Africa determine what regions are within the continent, locate specific countries,
research details of individual countries, and compare/contrast the features of the countries
presented to the class with an accuracy or 80% or greater.

NCSS Standards:
Strand I: Culture. Students will be studying the culture of a specific African country and debrief
the rest of the class on what religious and political influences are present. The students will also
find out how many native languages are within their chosen country.
Strand III: People, Places, and Environments. Africa is a very different continent than North
America in the aspect of how people live their lives. Students will be locating Africa on the
globe, looking at a map of Africa, and learning what the regions are and how location affects the
people.

Materials Needed:
Africa Map worksheet
Country Database worksheet
The Lost Boys of Sudan article
Somalias New President Ahmed Pledges to End Piracy, Seek Peace article
Topographic Globes and Maps
iPads (1 for each set of partners)

Lesson Procedures:
-

Since we are working on building knowledge about world geography, we are going to
spend time learning about the different regions of Africa.

Each of you have an unlabeled map of Africa. As a table, work together to see what you
can label without looking at any other map or globe. (4 mins.)

Now that you have taken some time to discuss what you know about Africa already, use
the globes and maps I have provided for you to finish labeling your map. (5 mins.)

Class discussion questions to ask (5 mins.)

o What countries were you able to label before looking at the map?
o What do you know about any of the countries? Political, religious, etc?
o What are the African regions?

Regions- Northern, Western, Middle, Eastern, and Southern:

http://goafrica.about.com/od/africatraveltips/ig/Maps-of-Africa/Regional-Map-of-Africa-.htm

Using the iPads I have provided, work with a partner to learn more specific details about
a country in the region of Africa I have assigned your table and fill out the Country
Database worksheet. (Provide 15-20 minutes and check to see how much time they need
to finish the worksheet)

Tables will be allowed time to prepare important information to present to the class
during the next social studies block. (15-20 minutes)

Attachments:
Africas Political Borders unlabeled map worksheet
Country Database worksheet (2 pages)
The Lost Boys of Sudan article: http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm
Somalias New President Ahmed Pledges to End Piracy, Seek Peace article:
http://archive.is/SjkkA

Grouping:

All table members will work together to label as much of the Africa map as possible
before participating in a whole class discussion in which the class will complete the
labeling.

Each table (3-4 students) will be assigned a specific region on Africa and partners at the
table will choose one country within that region to complete the Country Database
worksheets.

The tables will present their region together to the class after discussing some similarities
and differences among the countries each student chose.

Modifications:
-

Students will work in partners for the Country Database worksheets, but can choose to
work individually if they need more of a challenge.

The two articles I have included, about Sudan and Somalia, can be given to the advanced
students who need a challenge or the articles can better help the lower-performing
students focus on the specifics of a given country. The articles can provide more context
for what those countries have been like in the past.

Assessment of the Geography skill:

Content

Voice/

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

9-10 pts.

6-8 pts.

3-5 pts.

0-2 pts.

All required topics are

10 of the required

8 of the required

Many topics are

included. Topics are

topics are included.

topics are included.

missing or less than 5

discussed clearly and

Topics are somewhat

Topics are slightly

topics are addressed or

in an organized

discussed but more

discussed but more

topics do not contain

manner.

info. is required.

material is needed.

relevant info.

Speaker presents in a

Speaker presents in a

loud, clear voice and

loud, clear voice but

Presentation does not read straight

from the notes.

looks at the notes

occasionally.

Speaker presents in a
voice that is
sometimes clear but
constantly refers to the
notes.

Speaker does not

present in a loud or
clear voice and reads
simply from the notes.

Student total: ____/20 pts.

References:
http://archive.is/SjkkA
http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm
www.iRubric.com

COUNTRY DATABASE

NAME:

DATE:

CLASS:

Country Name

Capital

Form of Government

Country Population

Capital Population

Head of Government

Language

Religion

Major Industries

Imports

Exports

Main Crops (agriculture)

Five Landforms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Five Bodies of Water

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Main Vegetation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Climate

Location (relative and

absolute)

Year Country was Founded

Three Historical Sites

1.

Three Tourist Attractions

1.

Three Largest Cities

1.

2.

2.
3.

2.

3.

Five important leaders

& why.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Food and Drink

3.

Five Important Events

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Wars/ Revolutions

Holidays/ Celebrations

Education

Articles:
http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/closboys.htm
http://archive.is/SjkkA