Blended Learning Lesson Plan

Lesson Title: Welcome to Africa

Objectives:
Students will be able to identify African physical systems and human characteristics of places.
Students will be able to identify climate and vegetation regions of Africa.
Students will be able to explain Africa’s current human population.
State Standards:

Standard 1: Analyze the cultural, economic, environmental, physical, political, and population
geographies of contemporary Africa.

7.1.1.PR

Identify select African physical systems and human characteristics of places.

This indicator was designed to encourage inquiry into the primary physical and human
characteristics of places within the African continent, such as landforms, water bodies, countries,
and cities.

7.1.2.ER

Identify climate and vegetation regions of Africa and the spatial distributions and patterns of
natural resources, including the impact of their location on human activities.

This indicator was designed to encourage inquiry into the distribution and pattern of physical
systems within the African continent and how the locations and characteristics of these systems
influence livelihood choices available to people.

7.1.3.HS

Explain Africa’s current human population distributions and patterns, and use geographic models
to compare the conditions driving migration and demographic change.

This indicator was designed to encourage inquiry into the distribution and pattern of human
populations within the African continent, why they are located where they are, and how those
patterns change over time through economic, environmental, and politically driven migration.

7.1.4.HS Compare and contrast the dynamic physical and human conditions that lead to the
creation of ethnic, gender, language,
and religious landscapes of African societies.

This indicator was designed to encourage inquiry into the distribution and pattern of culture traits
within the African

Context: This lesson is taught to develop an understand of the world’s geography. This will be
the first of many countries we will learn about. Students will already know how to read maps and
develop characteristics about physical geography and human qualities. Students will also have
been taught a mini lesson on Africa from the textbook in the previous class. This country will be
taught to eventually develop an understanding of the world’s geography.

Data: Student’s will be placed in random groups based on no prior data. This is the first unit so
it will stand as the stepping stone for the units to follow. Data in this lesson will be collected to
see who takes what part in each group, the leader, hard worker, and who needs someone to work
with them through everything.
Materials: Students will need their IPADs to create a presentation on Africa. They will used
websites and resources online as well as their online textbook to help understand information.
They will need access to a presentation app such as powerpoint, POWTOON, etc. Students will
also play a Kahoot game.

Detailed paragraphs from here on down.

Procedures:
Introduction (10 minutes): I will start this topic but showing the students where Africa is
on the map and breaking students into groups and explaining the Power-point they need to
create. Half of the groups will be doing research on South Africa while the other half will do it
on North Africa. I will explain on this class will work and how the following class periods will
be used to collect data. I will also tell them what work will need to be completed and home and
how to do work alone and then bring information to show the group.

Teacher Directed (15 minutes): For this group I will show them the credible websites to
look on to conduct their research. I will show them how to look and access databases as well as
credible websites. I will tell them to try to avoid using Wikipedia however it could be a good
place to start. Use the resources located on the bottom on the Wikipedia page rather than the
page itself. I will also show them apps to use to create their presentation such as Power-point,
haiku deck, POWTOONS, and how each one works. I will show them this demo video on how to
make a POWTOON, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMkC6YuJQ_U , the students are
already familiar with the other presentation tools I have suggested. I will show them an example
of what I am looking for.

Collaborative (10 minutes): During this time the students in each group will decide what
job is for everyone. Students will each have to have a topic to look up to aid in the presentation. I
will need to know what everyone’s job was to ensure fair groups. This will also help me when
grading to see where some people need help and how to group the students for the next unit.

Independent Digital (20 minutes): At this time students will each work on their own
research for the topic their group has assigned them. They will gather many sites and maybe
even check out books from the library to help them with this project. This will set them up for the
next class when they start putting their presentations together.

Closure (15 minutes): Students will finish with a Kahoot on Africa to make sure
everyone has a good understanding of the continent. I will also check their research as they
leave to make sure they used time wisely in class.

Rationale:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMkC6YuJQ_U POWTOONS Demo Video):
This video is used to show the students how to create a POWTOON. Many students
create powerpoints and prezis because they know how to do it and they are easy. This
will help student vary the way it is presented. A POWTOON is images with voice-overs
explaining each topic. I like POWTOON because it reinforces an understanding to the
child creating the presentation and the students watching.

(Kahoot Game on Africa): This game will help students understand the information on
Africa that we have learned to this point. Some students need to learn by doing instead of
just reading and writing notes so this will help those students learn the information.