Standards Addressed in this Lesson:

8.3.3.5.4 Describe the locations of human populations and the cultural characteristics of Southwest Asia and North Africa.

8.3.3.6.4 Describe how the physical and environmental features of Southwest Asia and North Africa affect human activity and settlement.

8.1.5.13.1 Explain how different types of governments reflect historically and culturally specific understandings of the relationships between the individual, government and society.

8.4.3.14.3 (Describe varieties of religious beliefs and practices in the contemporary world including Shamanism/Animism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

ELA Literacy Standards:

6.14.9.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

6.14.10.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Overview and Directions:

This lesson is meant to help you build your knowledge and understanding of the human and physical geography of North Africa and Southwest Asia. It will focus on the ethnic and cultural groups, languages, religions, physical and land features, climate, economies, and histories of this region of the world.

Directions:

1. You will read, review, and analyze the articles below in order to help you gather and sort information about elements of human and physical geography in North Africa and Southwest Asia. You will read the first article (the shorter one) first to gather and collect as much information as you can on the topics of the graphic organizer. Then, you will skim the second (longer) article to help you fill in any gaps you have on your graphic organizer that may need more information. You may want to PREVIEW the graphic organizer before reading the articles so you know what information to keep your eye out for.

Background: Middle East | Scholastic.com 

Scholastic: Middle East

2. Use the articles to completely and correctly fill out the Information Organizer. Choose what you feel are the most important details and facts from the article to be written under each topic of the organizer.

3. After completing your information organizer, you will share and compare what you wrote down with one or more peers to help you develop a more clear and specific understanding of what details and facts from the article are the most important to remember. This share and compare activity is meant to help you 1) discuss and figure out the most important details and facts from the articles; 2) find commonalities and differences among the information you all wrote down; 3) explain and defend your reasons for writing down the information you did; and 4) learn and review the important information from the articles even further through conversation and dialog.