Exploring Africa

#TheCompleteSeries7lessons

With a variety of learning opportunities from games and quizzes to independent research (and everything in between), this pre-prepared Year 5/6 Geography scheme of work gives you everything you need to help your class become more familiar with the amazing continent of Africa, including detailed plans, differentiated activity ideas, slideshows and a range of printable resources.

This scheme of work is also part of a Topic Bundle. Perfect if you are teaching 'Africa' as a cross-curricular topic. We also have a free countries of Africa word search ready-to-download.

#Lesson1LocatingCountries

The first lesson in this series starts by locating the continent of Africa on a world map and ensuring children understand that the continent of Africa is made up of 54 countries. They will then use eight-point compass directions to help them identify, name and locate each of these countries on a map.

#Lesson2Nigeria

This lesson starts by recapping the location of some African countries in relation to the five regions of Africa. Children will then go on to identify all the countries of western Africa before looking in more depth at Nigeria. Through a fun board game, they can learn about the physical and human geography of Nigeria, or carry out independent research into a particular aspect of the geography of this west African country.

#Lesson3Morocco

Take your class to the unique region of northern Africa in this lesson as they learn about the culture, geography and features of north Africa and Morocco. They will use photos to start identifying the diversity of this country, before using information and data to correct some information about Morocco. Alternatively, they can carry out some independent research into one of five aspects of Morocco’s human and physical geography.

#Lesson4CentralAfricanRepublic

Looking at the region of central Africa, this lesson starts by exploring some of the physical features of the Central African Republic before going on to explore some of the human aspects of this country. Children will consider some of the reasons why a country that is so rich in natural resources has such a poor economy, thinking about what effect this has on the population. Children can also carry out their own research into one of five areas of the geography of the Central African Republic.

#Lesson5Tanzania

Heading east, this lesson explores the region of eastern Africa, in particular the country of Tanzania. Your class will learn about some of its most interesting geographical features, including Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Victoria and the Serengeti. Children are then challenged to write a diary entry or article about a trip to the Serengeti, drawing on the facts they have learnt. There is also the opportunity to carry out some independent research into one of five aspects of the geography of Tanzania.

#Lesson6SouthAfrica

Heading to the southern-most tip of Africa, this lesson focuses on the country of South Africa and its incredible biodiversity. After looking at some photos to get a taste of what South Africa is like, and learning a little of its history, children will learn how South Africa is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. They will look at the nine different biomes of South Africa and think about the plants and animals that can be found in each one. They can also carry out their own research into an area of the geography of South Africa.

#Lesson7LetsRecap

The final lesson in this series gives your class the chance to reflect on the learning they have done about Africa and some of its countries. They can then do some research of their own into one of the remaining 49 countries that they haven’t studied, or play a fun game to compare all the countries in Africa. This can all be rounded off with a fun end-of-unit quiz!

Free Overview (Medium-Term Plan)

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Free Assessment Grid

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Curriculum Objectives covered

• KS2 - locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on Europe (including the location of Russia) and North and South America, concentrating on their environmental regions, key physical and human characteristics, countries, and major cities
• KS2 - identify the position and significance of latitude, longitude, Equator, Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the Prime/Greenwich Meridian and time zones (including day and night)
• KS2 - describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle
• KS2 - describe and understand key aspects of human geography, including: types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water
• KS2 - use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied
• KS2 - use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and key (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world