Prior to the start of class visit set up a display to show the West African land features for students that will be discussed. You can do this by using this link or visiting http://thegoldroad.org/map.aspx#l. 

• Be sure to select Landscapes under Categories If done correctly eight markers should be displayed on the left hand side (Niger River, Niger River Headwaters, Niger River Inland, Oasis of Erfoud, Sahara, Sahel, Savanna, Senegal River).
• See visual rendering here:

Ask students to view the displayed map and identify key geographical features they see. Examples may include:

• Oceans, rivers, valleys, deserts, plateaus, plains

Ask students to then consider how each of these geographical features could have been an obstacle to people or could have been harnessed by people for their development. As appropriate, make connections to Activity 1 examples that students made. 

Examples may include:

• Access to food (water sources for fishing, forest areas for hunting)
• Access to lumber or stone for homes (quarries, forest areas, etc.)
• Access to industry (proximity to business/large cities, ability to trade)
• Access to resources (metals, minerals, etc.)

Finally, as a whole class, engage in discussion making parallels to your region of the country. Responding to the question of  why certain types of human activities or development are tied to geographical features.