Geographic Characteristics of Africa

Introduction

 

You are an explorer who is traveling through Africa, trying to learn as much as you can about the beautiful continent. Your family writes you a letter, asking for details about the geographic features you are seeing on your journey. They do not know the geographic layout of Africa and want to ask for help from you, the expert. Let's do some research on the geographic features of Africa so that you can write back to your family and explain, describe, and discuss all of the things you have seen and learned on your journey! 

Task

 

For this assignment, you will form a research team with one other student. This student is also exploring Africa and will be able to help you compile your research and create a Google Slides presentation that you can send to your family to teach them about the different geographic features you have seen on your trip. 

Each of the following features must be present in your Powerpoint: 

Sahara

Sahel 

savanna

tropical rain forest

Congo River

Niger River 

Nile River 

Lake Victoria 

Great Rift Valley 

Mt. Kilimanjaro 

Atlas Mountains 

Kalahari Desert

Please give the following details about each feature: 

Where is it located? 

What size is the feature (give measurements)?

Is it naturally occurring or man-made? 

What are 2 interesting facts you learned about the feature?  

Provide a picture which shows the feature on a map of Africa.

 

Process

Step 1: Work with your partner to visit the following websites that discuss each feature you must tell your family about. Use these website to find information such as where the feature is located, its size, whether it is naturally occurring or man-made, and 2 interesting facts you learned about the feature. Complete this task before looking for your pictures. 

Sahara

https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_overview_lo.html

Sahel 

https://www.britannica.com/place/Sahel

savanna

https://www.ducksters.com/science/ecosystems/savanna_biome.php

tropical rain forest

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rforest.html

Congo River

https://www.britannica.com/place/Congo-River

Niger River 

https://www.britannica.com/place/Niger-River

Nile River 

https://www.ancient.eu/nile/

Lake Victoria 

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lake_Victoria

Great Rift Valley 

https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Great-Rift-Valley/274642

Mt. Kilimanjaro 

https://www.mountkilimanjaroguide.com/kilimanjaro-facts.html

Atlas Mountains 

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Atlas_Mountains

Kalahari Desert

http://www.kalaharidesert.net

Step 2: Now that you have all of your information on each of the features, you may go back and find the pictures you need to include in each slide. 

Evaluation

 

Grade Content Visual Display Mechanics Team Work

Outstanding

25

Students go above and beyond in their coverage of the topic. All required information is present, as well as more content than expected. The created presentation is visually pleasing. All text is readable on the slides. Extra effort and attention to detail was used in the creation of the presentation. All grammar, usage, and mechanics are used appropriately within the presentation.  Students work together as a team to fairly and evenly split up work. Students help one another and maintain a positive attitude while completing the Web Quest

Excellent

20

Students cover the content completely and accurately. All required information is present.  The created presentation is visually pleasing. All text is readable on the slides and arranged strategically.  Grammar, usage, and mechanics are used mostly correctly within the presentation. Some small punctuation or usage errors may occur. Students work together well to complete the assignment. They split responsibilities and help each other when needed. 

Good 

15

Students cover some of the information. Some information may be missing or incorrect.  The created presentation has readable text.  Small issues with grammar, usage, and mechanics occur within the presentation. Students work together to complete the assignment, but have problems fairly and evenly splitting up work or helping each other when needed

No Work 

0

No work attempted No work attempted No work attempted/issues with grammar, usage, and mechanics effect the readability of the information within the presentation No work attempted/ Students do not work well together, do not split up work, and do not help each other when needed. 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

Along with your final project, please turn in one paragraph discussing your experience with this Web Quest. What did you like? What did you dislike? Do you have any suggestions for ways that Mrs. Zeagler can improve this Web Quest in the future? 

Credits
Teacher Page

Common Core State Standard Association: 

  • Locate on a world and regional political-physical map: Sahara, Sahel, savanna, tropical rain forest, Congo River, Niger River, Nile River, Lake Victoria, Great Rift Valley, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Atlas Mountains, and Kalahari Desert.

Bloom's New Taxonomy Association: 

  • This Web Quest deals mainly with the Knowledge and Understanding areas of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy. Through this assignment, students are first being asked to identify and retrieve information about major geographic features of Africa. After that, students are asked to discuss their findings in the form of a powerpoint which could be used to relay the information they gathered to others.