The Middle East8th Grade World Geography

SOL: WG1d, 3a, 4Ms. Gigliotti

Objectives

• SWBAT:• Describe what they believe is the Middle East• Locate the countries, location, and physical

characteristics of the Middle East on a map• Describe the physical characteristics, such as

water features, landforms, and climate and their effects on the Middle East

Guiding Question

• What countries make up the Middle East and what are the region’s physical characteristics?

Do Now• Please take out out a sheet of paper. Put your name,

date, and period in the upper right hand corner• Answer the following questions on the sheet of

paper• 1. Where do you think the Middle East is?• 2. What countries are in the Middle East?

• 3. Once you are done, put your pencil/pen down and look forward so I know you are done

• We will discuss your answers as a class

So, Where Actually is the Middle East?

Based on this picture, why do you think the Middle East is referred to as the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia?

Countries in the Middle East

• GDP• Kuwait• United Arab

Emirates• Qatar• Israel

• Land Size• Algeria• Saudi Arabia

• Libya

• Population• Iran• Turkey• Egypt

Location of Each Country

Mountains

• There are three mountain ranges in the Middle East:

• Atlas, Taurus, and ZagrosZagrosTaurus

Atlas

Water Features

Climate

• The Middle East has desert and semiarid climates

• The Sahara region is the largest desert in the world. It’s 3.5 million square miles and covers most of North Africa

• The Sahel region is at the edge of the Sahara

Climate• The Steppe region borders the Sahara to

the North and South and averages less than 14 inches of rain a year

The Desert

• An oases is a place in the desert where underground water can surface• This makes small-scale farming in the desert

possible• Oases allows for villages, towns, and even

cities to develop in the desert

Aswan High Dam• Aswan High Dam controls the Nile River’s

water flow• The dam also helps control the water’s flow

and alluvial soil• Alluvial soil is rich soil made up of sand and

mud deposited by moving water

• The dam provides Egypt with water for agriculture and hydroelectric power

Aswan High Dam

Water Systems

• Seasonal Flooding• Irregular rainstorms can cause flash

flooding• Wadis• Streambeds that remain dry until a heavy

rain• Flash floods cause wadis to become

dangerous• Why?

Exit Slip• On a piece of paper with your name, date, and

class period at the top, please pick and answer only ONE set of questions:• What is an oases? What can develop around oases?

OR• What is a wadis? What makes wadis dangerous? Why?

*Please turn it into your class’ tray when you are done*