Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understanding the physical and natural characteristics of Africa: Students should be able to identify and describe the main physical and natural characteristics of Africa, such as mountains, plains, deserts, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Additionally, they should understand how these characteristics influence the continent's biodiversity and climate.

2. Identifying and describing the main African biomes: Students should be able to identify and describe the main biomes of Africa, such as the tropical forest, savanna, desert, and Mediterranean. They should also understand how these biomes are formed and what their distinct characteristics are.

3. Relating the physical and natural characteristics of Africa to African cultures and societies: Students should be able to make connections between the physical geography and the cultural and social diversity of Africa. They should understand how the continent's geography has shaped African societies and cultures over time.

   Secondary objectives:

   • Developing research and presentation skills: Throughout the lesson, students will be encouraged to research and present information on the topics discussed. This will help develop their research, synthesis, and presentation skills.
   • Promoting critical thinking and discussion: Students will be encouraged to think critically about the information presented, make connections between the topics, and participate in classroom discussions.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of Previous Content: The teacher starts the lesson by briefly reviewing previous content related to physical geography. He may remind students about the definition of geography, the importance of studying the geography of different regions of the world, and some basic concepts such as relief, climate, and biomes.

2. Problem Situations: The teacher presents two problem situations to the students that will arouse their interest and curiosity about the lesson's topic. The problem situations can be:

   • Situation 1: "Imagine you are a scientist studying biodiversity in Africa. How would you explain to your colleagues the physical and natural characteristics of the continent that contribute to the great diversity of plants and animals?"
   • Situation 2: "Suppose you are an urban planner and have been assigned to work on a Development project in an African country. How do the physical and natural characteristics of the country, such as mountains, rivers, and deserts, influence urban planning and Development?"

3. Contextualization: The teacher explains to the students the importance of understanding the physical and natural characteristics of Africa. He may mention how these characteristics influence biodiversity, climate, agriculture, and the lives of people living on the continent. Additionally, the teacher may mention examples of how Africa's geography impacts the continent's economy and politics.

4. Capturing Students' Attention: To capture students' attention, the teacher can share some curiosities about Africa. For example:

   • Curiosity 1: "Did you know that Africa is the second largest continent in the world, after Asia? It has an area of over 30 million square kilometers, which is approximately 20% of Earth's total land area!"
   • Curiosity 2: "And that Africa has the longest river in the world, the Nile River, which stretches over 6,650 km? The Nile passes through 11 African countries, providing water for millions of people and sustaining agriculture in these regions."
   • Curiosity 3: "Last but not least, Africa is the only continent that extends from north to south from most of the tropical zone north of the Equator to the temperate zone south. This diversity of latitudes contributes to the great variety of climates and biomes in Africa."

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity 1: "Journey through the African Continent" (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Description: The teacher divides the class into small groups and provides each group with a blank map of Africa. Then, he presents a series of physical and natural characteristics of Africa, such as mountains, rivers, deserts, and biomes, and asks the groups to locate these features on the map.
   • Step by step:
     1. The teacher distributes the maps and necessary materials to each group.
     2. He then starts the activity by presenting the first physical or natural feature, for example, the Sahara Desert.
     3. The groups must locate the Sahara Desert on the map and mark it with a symbol or color.
     4. The teacher continues presenting more features, and the groups continue marking them on the map.
     5. At the end of the activity, each group will have a map of Africa with the main physical and natural features marked.

2. Activity 2: "African Biomes in Boxes" (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Description: Still in groups, students will create small models representing the main biomes of Africa. They will use materials such as paper, clay, fabric, etc. to create the three-dimensional representation of the biomes.
   • Step by step:
     1. The teacher provides each group with an empty shoebox.
     2. He presents the main biomes of Africa (tropical forest, savanna, desert, Mediterranean) and briefly explains their characteristics.
     3. The groups choose a biome to represent and start assembling the model inside the box, using the available materials.
     4. They should include elements that represent the biome's characteristics, such as tall and dense trees for the tropical forest, grasslands for the savanna, sand and cacti for the desert, etc.
     5. At the end of the activity, each group will have a ready model of the chosen biome, which they can present to the class.

3. Activity 3: "Geography and Culture" (5 - 7 minutes)

   • Description: To conclude the Development stage, the teacher proposes a group reflection on the relationship between the geography and the cultural and social diversity of Africa. He may ask questions like: "How does Africa's geography influence the lives of people living there?", "How does geography contribute to the cultural and social diversity of Africa?", "How does geography influence Africa's economy and politics?".
   • Step by step:
     1. The teacher divides the class into groups and asks the proposed questions.
     2. Each group discusses the questions and prepares a brief presentation with their conclusions.
     3. The groups present their conclusions to the class, promoting a final discussion on the subject.

These playful and interactive activities will help students understand and remember the physical and natural characteristics of Africa, as well as stimulate critical thinking and group collaboration. Additionally, the final activity will help students make connections between geography and African culture and society.

Return (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes)

   • The teacher calls each group to share their solutions or conclusions from the activities. Each group will have a maximum of 3 minutes to make their presentation. During the presentations, other students should pay attention and ask questions or make comments, if necessary.
   • The teacher can guide the discussion by asking questions like: "How did you decide to locate the physical and natural characteristics of Africa on the map?", "What were the challenges and discoveries when creating the biome models?", "What connections did you make between the geography and African culture and society?".

2. Theory Connection (2 - 3 minutes)

   • After all presentations, the teacher synthesizes the main ideas presented by the groups. He reinforces the connections between the activities carried out and the theoretical concepts discussed in the Introduction of the lesson.
   • The teacher can ask questions like: "How did the activities help us better understand the physical and natural characteristics of Africa?", "Which of these characteristics do you think are most important for biodiversity and people's lives in Africa?", "How does Africa's geography influence African cultures and societies, according to what we learned today?".

3. Individual Reflection (1 - 2 minutes)

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher proposes that students reflect individually for a minute on the answers to the questions: "What was the most important concept you learned today?" and "What questions have not been answered yet?".
   • Students can write down their answers on a piece of paper or share verbally. The teacher can collect the answers to assess students' understanding and identify any knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in future lessons.

4. Lesson Closure (1 minute)

   • The teacher concludes the lesson by thanking everyone for their participation and effort. He may remind students to review the lesson material at home and prepare for the next class.
   • The teacher can also provide a brief summary of the main points of the lesson and the skills students have developed, such as the ability to analyze and make connections between geographical and cultural information, and the ability to work in groups to solve problems.

The Return is a crucial stage of the lesson plan, as it allows the teacher to assess students' understanding, reinforce key concepts, and stimulate reflection. Additionally, group discussion and individual reflection promote active learning and knowledge construction by students.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary and Recapitulation (2 - 3 minutes)

   • The teacher recaps the main points and concepts covered during the lesson, reminding students about the physical and natural characteristics of Africa, such as mountains, rivers, deserts, and biomes, and how these characteristics influence biodiversity and the continent's climate.
   • He also recalls the main characteristics of African biomes, such as the tropical forest, savanna, desert, and Mediterranean, and how these biomes are formed and what their distinct characteristics are.
   • Finally, he emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between geography and African culture and society, and how Africa's physical geography has shaped African societies and cultures over time.

2. Theory-Practice Connection (1 - 2 minutes)

   • The teacher highlights how the practical activities carried out during the lesson helped reinforce the theoretical concepts discussed. He may mention, for example, how the activity "Journey through the African Continent" allowed students to visualize and locate Africa's physical and natural characteristics, and how the activity "African Biomes in Boxes" provided a deeper understanding of the continent's main biomes.
   • He also reinforces how the final reflection and group discussion activity allowed students to apply what they learned and make connections between physical geography and African culture and society.

3. Extra Materials (1 minute)

   • The teacher suggests some extra materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge on the topic. These materials may include documentaries, books, websites, and interactive geography apps. He may also suggest some topics for future research, such as the influence of geography on Africa's economy and politics, or the relationship between geography and current conflicts and challenges on the continent.

4. Subject Importance (1 - 2 minutes)

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher reinforces the importance of the subject for students' daily lives. He may mention, for example, how Africa's geography influences the lives of people living there, from agriculture and climate to biodiversity and culture.
   • Additionally, he may highlight how understanding African geography and culture is important to combat stereotypes and prejudices, and to promote diversity and inclusion.

The Conclusion is an essential stage to consolidate learning and motivate students to continue studying the topic. It allows the teacher to reinforce key concepts, connect theory to practice, and highlight the importance of the subject. Additionally, by suggesting extra materials and topics for future research, the teacher stimulates students' curiosity and interest in the subject.