UNDERSTANDING AFRICA Portfolio Unit and Performance-Based Assessment

Project from Linda Hammon--Pre/AP World Geography Training at UTA UNDERSTANDING AFRICA Portfolio Unit and Performance-Based Assessment Name: Period: Group Name: Scenario The World Bank has just turned down a proposed route for a highway across Africa from Tunis, Tunisia, to Cape Town, South Africa. Your group is requested to submit to the World Bank a proposal for a better route for the highway. Students will study a series of maps, data, and atlases (and other references), to explain why the first route was turned down, and create a new and improved route with reasoned support for it. Focus Question How do human and physical characteristics of Africa influence its economic interdependence? The Product or Performance: Design a new highway route and support it with reasoned argument in the form of: Charts (history, culture, economics, politics) Reports on Tribal influences in the areas (tourism) Magazine Cover and article about the region (economic and tourism) Folktales that could be incorporated into the building of the highway (tourism) Large Map showing physical and political places On the large map you will show your proposed route for the highway Small thematic maps showing: Population Density Products Land Use Climatic Regions Natural Vegetation Elevations Average Annual Precipitation Civilizations Flags of each country used in final route Regional recipes (pick three out of the six) Design a new highway route and support it with reasoned argument in the form of a memo to the World Bank (This will be an oral presentation with all the above information brought into the presentation, including your proposed new route on the map). 1

Terms of the Project: Each group has a team leader (chosen by the instructor) Team leader will evaluate each group member Each group member will evaluate the team leader Presentations will count three test grades You are to work with your group to the best of your abilities, as you would in any team project or game. To not fulfill your duties will have a negative impact on the final grade that will be assigned by the team leader and instructor. Time will be given in class, but there will also be time outside class that some of the aspects of the project will need to be finished. This activity can be an enjoyable experience. Only a few can destroy it for others, so do not be the one to undermine your group. There is an attached letter that we will go over and you will need to take home with the packet for your parents to read and sign. This is a contract. To receive favorable scores by the team leader and instructor the contract must be upheld. You will also be responsible for work assigned by the instructor: vocabulary, worksheets, quizzes, etc. These will also be grades. There will be a major test after all presentations have been made. 2

Checklist o Large Map-the region that each group is responsible for will have a large map that must have the physical and political information placed on it. Later they will show their proposed highway route. o Smaller Thematic Maps- All eight neatly colored and matted on construction paper. o Chart-data acquisition chart (a graphic organizer to help structure the groups thoughts on the rejected route and proposed route) o Tribe Report- research on any tribe from the six regions. Type a one page report on the tribe and include information on how the highway may impact their lifestyle. o Magazine Cover and Article- each region of Africa has a problem or issue. The group will research this information for two areas and design a magazine cover and write two articles (5 paragraph essays) about the particular problem or issue. Refer to the magazine cover/issue rubric. o Folktale/Myth/Legend- research an African folktale/myth/legend from two regions. (Summary of folktale needs to be typed). Design an icon for your two folktales that can be used on the highway. o Flags- research the flag of each country used in the final route. (Use provided 4x6 cards). Design the flags and color for display. On the back of each flag write information about the colors, independence, and symbols of each country s flag. o Regional Recipe-a member or members of each group will chose a recipe from one of the six regions of Africa. During the presentation they will share the food with the panel and class. 3

Student Handout # 1 Assessment Information Proposal for Building a Highway Across Africa A Conference of African leaders has adopted as top priority the building of a highway across the continent. The purpose of the highway is to foster political cooperation among the African nations and to promote economic development, trade, and tourism. The highway would be financed by the World Bank, which with the African leaders, recently rejected an initial proposal for the highways and is now seeking alternate proposals. Your assignment will cover a couple of weeks: You will need to draw the original proposal for the highway and list reasons the proposal was rejected. Then you will need to draw an alternate proposal and explain how it improves on the original proposal. Enclosed is an outline map of Africa and a list of cities connected by the initial proposal for the transcontinental highway. Draw the route of the initial proposal on the map and list reasons you think it was rejected. To help formulate your reasons, consult atlases, lists of construction costs below, and other data provided by your teacher. Construction Costs: Terrain and climate influence the cost of road construction. Listed below are kinds of terrain ranked in order of expense for road construction, that is mountains are the most expensive, savanna the least expensive. Mountains Rainforest/Jungle Desert Bridge over major rivers Steppe Savanna Roads are most expensive to build in humid, subtropical climates than in Mediterranean climates. Before drawing your route, recall why you think the initial proposal was rejected. Keep in mind the purpose of the highway. Fill out the memo. Your route must do the following: Cover a major portion of the continent Connect major population centers Cross a minimum of 13 countries and maximum of 25 Pass through a capital city on the Atlantic Ocean and a capital city on the Indian Ocean. Enclosed is a map of Africa and a list for your group to write down the major cities that your group will connect in your highway. 4

Student Handout # 2 Data Acquisition Chart for Building a Highway Across Africa Country Physical Characteristics (landforms, climate) Cultural Characteristics (Anything from the ABC s of Culture) Economic Features (major exports & imports) Hazards (land mines, civil war, epidemics) Relations with other countries( allies, enemies) How will these Factors effect the Highway 5

Student Handout # 2 Data Acquisition Chart for Building a Highway Across Africa Country Physical Characteristics (Landforms & Climate) Cultural Characteristics (Anything from the ABC s of Culture) Economic Features (major exports & imports) Hazards (land mines, civil war, epidemics) Relations with other countries( allies, enemies) How will these Factors effect the Highway 7

Student Handout # 3 Connect the Cities: Building a Highway Across Africa Use the outline map of Africa to draw the rejected route, which connected the following cities in this order: 1. Tunis, Tunisia 2. Algiers, Algeria 3. Niamey, Niger 4. Abuja, Nigeria 5. Yaoundé, Cameroon 6. Brazzaville, Congo 7. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) 8. Kampala, Uganda 9. Nairobi, Kenya 10. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 11. Lilingwe, Malawi 12. Lusaka, Zambia 13. Harare, Zimbabwe 14. Johannesburg, South Africa 15. Port Elizabeth, South Africa 16. Cape Town, South Africa 11

Student Handout # 4 Why Was the Route Rejected? Using the atlas and data, state three reasons that the World Bank and African leaders might have rejected the proposed highway. Keep in mind the purpose of the construction of the highway: To encourage economic development and trade among countries To promote tourism To promote political and economic cooperation between countries To stimulate economic development To develop a transportation system Probable reasons for rejection of the initial proposal: 1) Physical geographic reasons: 2) Human geographic reasons: 3) Another Physical or Human geographic reason: 12

Student Handout # 5 Checklist: Highway Across Africa Group Members: _ Class Period: Before the map and memo are graded, the following elements must be completed: THE MAP includes a title, date, and cartographer s name(s) includes a legend/key is neat, clearly organized, and legible is accurately labeled (spelling counts) THE HIGHWAY ROUTE is a transcontinental road connects population centers covers a minimum of 13 countries and a maximum of 25 countries passes through a capital city on the Atlantic and one on the Indian Ocean THE REPORT FORM conforms to mechanics of writing (punctuation, grammar, and spelling) has all parts of the form and portfolio completed 13

Student Handout # 6 Countries and Capitals Connected by Our Proposed Highway Country/Capital 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 16. 17. 18. 191. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 14

Student Handout # 7 Memo: Final Proposal for Route Across Africa To: The World Bank From: Subject: Alternate Proposal for Building a Highway Across Africa After considering the data and the rejected highway route, we designed an alternate proposal, which is included here on a map, accompanied by a list of countries connected by the highway. Our proposed highway meets the following criteria: Crosses a major portion of the continent Connects major population centers Crosses countries Passes through the capital city of on the Atlantic Ocean and the capital city of on the Indian Ocean. Is practical and crucial to the economic development of Africa. We have emphasized the influence of the physical and human geographic features of the continent in designing our proposal. Keeping in mind the purpose of the highway, we submit the following four specific reasons our proposed route is a better plan. We are including reasons concerning physical, cultural, and economic geography, and (group s choice). 1) Physical 2) Cultural 3) Economic 4) (Group s Choice) 15

Magazine Cover of Problem in Africa Objective: To Design a Magazine Cover and Write an Article about a Problem and Solutions in Africa Today. Directions: Follow each Step Part One: - Magazine Cover: 1. Select one of the problems in Africa: a. apartheid d. low life expectancy b. endangered animals e. poverty c. illiteracy f. starvation and famine 2. Select an original title for the magazine. 3. Select a title for the cover story. 4. Draw an illustration about the problem selected. 5. Include the price of the magazine. 6. Include date, month, and year the magazine was issued. 7. Use colored markers or map pencils for the illustration. 8. The cover should be neat, attractive, and colorful. 9. Use the textbook, class notes, or worksheets to help you. Part Two: - Magazine Article: 1. Discuss the problem in Africa that was selected for the cover story. 2. Be sure to include why it is a problem and how it has affected the people. 3. Be sure to include solutions to help solve the problem. 4. The title of the article is the cover story selected. 5. Write the article on notebook paper and attach it with a small amount of glue to the back of the magazine cover. 16

Grading Scale Part One - Magazine Cover 16 Points Illustration 5 Points Cover Story 5 Points Title of Magazine 2 Points Price 2 Points Date 10 Points Neatness, Attractive Cover 10 Points Group Cooperation, Participation Total Part Two Magazine Article 10 Points What is the problem? 20 Points Why it is a problem and the affects on the people? 20 Points Solutions to the problems. Total Total Score 17

UNDERSTANDING AFRICA Group Period Student Group Evaluation (To be seen by teacher only) 1. Cooperation: Willingness to do tasks (max 25) 2. Dependability: Tasks completed on deadline (max 25) 3. Accuracy/Neatness (max 25) 4. Above and Beyond: (max 25) These students deserve these points because they did more than the minimum. Without them we could not have finished our portfolio. Comments: a. Research (max 5) b. Typing (if needed) (max 5) c. Art work of all kinds (max 5) d. Creative Writing (max 5) 18

Understanding Africa Group Student Period Group Leader s Name Group Leader Evaluation (to be seen by teachers only) 1. Leadership Skills: Able to delegate work to all in the group 2. Dependability: Tasks completed by leader by deadlines 3. Fairness: Treated everyone in the group equally 4. Decision Making: Made acceptable decisions to everyone in group Grade Points (max 25) (max 25) (max 25) (max 25) Comments: 19