East Africa7th Grade UBD - Unit 2 - Africa

Preview

People and Their Environment- East Africa’s

environment offers deserts in the North and areas of

vegetation in the South. The region is unevenly

populated.

Government and Economy- The years since

independence have been marred by civil wars.

Agriculture is the region’s major industry.

Society and Culture- The people’s diverse heritages

and ways of farming create many ways of life in East

Africa.

             

            

East Africa

East AfricaEast Africa- National Geographic

Key Ideas- People and Their Environment

Desert land and the Sahel occupy Northern East

Africa. In Southern East Africa, rainfall is moderate.

Highland areas keep temperatures moderate.

The region has few mineral resources. Most people

are farmers.

The region’s people are remarkably diverse.

Although growing, the region is unevenly populated.

Key Term

Horn of

Africa- The

easternmost

projection of

Africa, so

called because

of its

resemblance

to a rhinoceros

horn.

People and Their Environment

East Africa shares the

desert, savanna, and the

Sahel with West Africa.

Northern Sudan is a

desert. The Nile River

however, provides Sudan

with moisture along its

narrow path.

Southern Sudan has the

hot and wet climate of

equatorial areas.

Elevation and Climate

The Equator crosses

parts of East Africa.

The equatorial

climate is changed

by elevation in the

Highlands of

Ethiopia and Kenya.

Elevation and Climate

The changes in elevation

allow farmers to grow

foods that they typically

would not be able to.

Farmers in the highlands

can grow wheat, apples,

and strawberries.

Such crops normally can

only be grown in lands

further away from the

Equator.

Natural Resources

Unlike other regions of the

continent, East Africa has

few mineral resources.

Some East African nations

have built major

businesses based on the

region’s extraordinary

scenic beauty and the

diversity of the animals.

Population

East Africa is unevenly

populated.

Most Africans live in rural

areas.

In areas where population is

growing rapidly, food

production has not been able

to keep up with the demand.

Famines also continue to affect

the people of East Africa.

Key Term

Famine- A

famine is a

widespread

scarcity of food,

caused by crop

failure, population

unbalance, or

government

policies.

World VisionVideo- Famine No More

Tsetse Flies

Tsetse Flies are an

enormous health risk in

parts of Africa since they

can transmit a disease that

can affect the central

nervous system.

They breed along rivers

and streams and are active

during the day.

Tsetse Flies

The Tsetse Fly

spreads

sleeping

sickness among

people and

cattle, which

keeps the

population low.

Key Term

Tsetse Fly-

Tsetse Fly is a

type of fly that

lives only in

Africa, and

feeds

exclusively on

blood.

Tsetse FlyVideo- Death by Tsetse Fly

Diseases

Diseases like malaria,

cholera, and polio

contributed to making

multiple generations of

people poor in Africa.

This is because when

people are debilitated by

disease, their children are

left to grow up in poverty.

Ethnic Violence

Conflicts in Somalia,

Ethiopia, and Sudan

have threatened the

stability of the entire

region, due to

increased violence,

weapons, refugees,

and lawlessness.

Key Term

Genocide-

Genocide is

the killing of a

group of

people

because of

their race,

culture, or

political ideas.

Genocide

In 1994, members of the

ethnic majority in the nation

of Rwanda murdered as many

as 800,000 people, mostly of

the Tutsi minority.

The genocide spread

throughout the country with

staggering speed and

brutality, as ordinary citizens

were incited to take up arms

against their neighbors.

Genocide in RwandaVideo- Genocide in Rwanda

Key Ideas- Government and Economy

Independence in many East African nations

has been followed by civil wars, as rival

groups have fought for control.

Throughout the region, farming, animal

herding, and plantation agriculture offer

work for most people.

Kenya and Tanzania have turned tourism

into a highly profitable industry.

Regional Economies

Experimente

d with:

Agriculture

Herding

Tourism

Industrial

Growth

Ecotourism

Many countries in East

Africa have created

huge wildlife preserves,

where elephants,

rhinos, lions, and other

large game animals

can roam freely.

These preserves attract

thousands of tourists

from all over the world

each year.

Ecotourism

While these wildlife

reserves make millions

of dollars in revenue

each year, they take up

valuable farming land.

Many goverments are

giving local people a

share of the profits

from tourism to help

them invest in their

futures.

Key Terms

Poaching-

Taking

game or

fish

illegally.

Key Terms

East African

Community

(EAC)- The

organization has

been designed

to assist in

developing

mutual trade,

investment, and

security in the

region.

Questions

1. What problems are caused by the Tsetse Fly?

2. What benefits do game parks bring to East

Africa?

3. East Africa is famous for its wildlife.

Unfortunately, many animals are endangered

because of poaching. What is one possible

solution? Explain your answer.

Answers

1. What problems are caused by the Tsetse Fly?

The Tsetse Fly spreads sleeping sickness among people and

cattle, which keeps the population low.

2. What benefits do game parks bring to East Africa?

Tourists from all over the world to come to see the animals,

generating millions of dollars of revenue.

3. East Africa is famous for its wildlife. Unfortunately,

many animals are endangered because of poaching.

What is one possible solution? Explain your answer.

Student answers will vary.

Key Ideas- Society and Culture

The rich mix of ethnic heritages, different

religious faiths, national origins, and

ancient African traditions remains a major

influence on ways of life.

Farming, animal herding, and plantation

agriculture also influence where and how

people live.

Way of Living in East Africa

East Africa has few large

cities.

Those who have moved away

from villages usually work in

banking, trade, and tourism.

Such businesses, however ,

are not major factors in

giving the region its

character.

Fun Fact- Word Origins

The word coffee

comes from the

name Kaffa, a

province in

Southwest

Ethiopia, that is

believed to be the

birthplace of

coffee.

Eyewitness To HistoryReading Activity- Eyewitness To History 6

Questions

1. Where does the word coffee

come from?

2. Those who have moved away

from villages in East Africa try

to find jobs in cities doing what?

Answers

1. Where does the word coffee come from?

The word coffee comes from the name Kaffa, a

province in Southwest Ethiopia.

2. Those who have moved away from

villages in East Africa try to find jobs in

cities doing what?

Those who have moved away from villages in East

Africa usually work in banking, trade, and tourism.

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)