1. Unit 10: Southwest Asia and North Africa (“SWNA”)
Lesson 1 Purpose:
This activity introduces the lesson.

2. Southwest Asia and North Africa
Emphasis on:
Iraq, Turkey, Israel, Iran
Libya, Egypt and Saudi Arabia
Image wikicommons
©2012, TESCCC
Grade 6 Unit 10 Lesson 01

3. “Get Started” Activity
Draw a T-chart in your journal. Label the left with North Africa and the right side with Southwest Asia.
Next categorize the countries listed on the board as part of either North Africa or part of Southwest Asia.

4. Map of Southwest Asia and North Africa
On the blank map of the region, make
a guess and label the countries (ones
with a star next to them) on the map
using pencil so you can make corrections
later, if needed.

5. Image Arizona Geographic Alliance
©2012, TESCCC
Grade 6 Unit 10 Lesson 01

6. Image Arizona Geographic Alliance
©2012, TESCCC
Grade 6 Unit 10 Lesson 01

7. Bodies of Water
Add the following to your map and color them with blue map pencil:
Mediterranean Sea
Red Sea
Persian Gulf
Black Sea
Caspian Sea
Tigris River
Euphrates River
Nile River

8. Image wikimedia
Arabian Desert
©2012, TESCCC
Grade 6 Unit 10 Lesson 01

9. 1. Atlas Mountain Range 2. Sahara Desert
Source: wikimedia commons
©2012, TESCCC
Grade 6 Unit 10 Lesson 01

10. Region’s History Ottoman Empire: 1600’s Source: wikimedia commons
©2012, TESCCC
Grade 6 Unit 10 Lesson 01

11. British Empire 1800s Source: wikimedia commons ©2012, TESCCC
Grade 6 Unit 10 Lesson 01

12. Image University of Notre Dame OCW
©2012, TESCCC
Grade 6 Unit 10 Lesson 01

13. Source: wikimedia commons
©2012, TESCCC
Grade 6 Unit 10 Lesson 01

14. Source: wikimedia commons
©2012, TESCCC
Grade 6 Unit 10 Lesson 01

15. Group Activity Sketch a large-scale map of the region on chart paper.
Transfer all the information from your individual maps to the large-scale map. (countries, bodies of water, deserts and mountain ranges)
What geographic factors helped to define the boundaries of Southwest Asia and North Africa?

16. Discussion Questions
1. What geographic factors helped to define the boundaries of Southwest Asia and North Africa?
2. What historical factors helped define the boundaries of Southwest Asia and North Africa?

17. Key Understanding/Main Idea
Write the following sentence in your journal and fill in the blanks.
__________ and historical _________help define the ________ between nations, and also affect how _________ interact.
Word Bank:
factors boundaries nations
geographic

18. Desert Caravan
a group (as of merchants or pilgrims) traveling together on a long journal through the desert or dangerous regions; a group of pack animals or of vehicles traveling together one behind the other

19. Partner Activity
You and your partner will trace Ibn Battuta’s travels.
Read Ibn Battuta’s travels and plot on the map provided the places he visits over a span of about 30 years.
Use a marker to plot his travels from beginning to end.

20. Explain/Elaborate Create one or two questions you would ask Battuta.
With a partner, you will role play.
Student A asks the two questions and
Student B answers from Battuta’s point
of view. Repeat the process with
Student B asking the two questions
and Student A answers from Battuta’s
point of view.