National Curriculum Standards

National Standards for Geography: The World in Spatial Terms

• Standard 3: The geographically informed person knows and understands how to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface.

National Standards for Geography: Human Systems

• Standard 10: The geographically informed person knows and understands the characteristics, distributions, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics.

Developed by the National Council for Geographic Education

McREL Geography Standards: Human Systems

• Standard 13: Understands the forces of cooperation and conflict that shape the divisions of Earth's surface. Level III [Grade 6-8] Benchmark 5: Understands the factors that affect the cohesiveness and integration of countries (e.g., language and religion in Belgium, the religious differences between Hindus and Muslims in India, the ethnic differences in some African countries that have been independent for only a few decades, the elongated shapes of Italy and Chile).

Developed by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning

1. Throughout history, powerful nations and empires have set out to explore and settle in new parts of the world. Some of the most notable exploration and colonization were carried out by the Roman and Ottoman empires, whose territory covered much of Europe and parts of Asia and North Africa. Beginning in the 1500s, European nations began exploring and claiming parts of Africa. In the late 1800s, the colonization became a "scramble for Africa" as the European powers hastened to secure African territory ahead of their rivals.
   
   
2. Distribute to each student the CultureGrams printable map of Africa. Ask students to color on the map former colonies of France (using the list below).

   Algeria
   Comoros
   Morocco
   Benin
   Gabon
   Niger
   Burkina Faso
   Guinea
   Senegal
   Cameroon
   Ivory Coast
   Togo
   Central African Republic
   Madagascar
   Tunisia
   Chad
   Mali

3. As a class, discuss what the completed maps reveal about French influence in Africa.
   
   
4. Ask the students to read a CultureGrams report from one of these countries. Have them list some of the effects of colonization on the country and what effects are still felt today.