TEACHER’S GUIDE pg 1
TITLE:  Memo From the White House: Investigating Africa

I.	AUTHORS: 	
Lyn Malone					Jacqui Wilson
Barrington Middle School			Smyrna Middle School
Barrington, RI					Smyrna, DE
lynmaloneb@aol.com				jacquiwde@aol.com
ride1219@ride.ri.net				jwilson@den.k12.de.us

II.	SUBJECT: Geography/Social Studies

III.	GRADE RANGE:   upper elementary through  high school     

IV.	GENERAL EDUCATIONAL GOAL:  The goal of this lesson is for students to understand the patterns of living standards across Sub-Saharan Africa and to appreciate the value of thematic maps in comparing and contrasting demographic data among countries within that region.

V.	SPECIFIC OBSERVABLE BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
·	Identify statistical indicators that can be used to investigate the concept of standard of living.
·	Compare and contrast demographic characteristics among Sub-Saharan nations.
·	Use demographic data to identify Sub-Saharan nations under stress

VI.	GEOGRAPHY STANDARDS ENGAGED:
#1 How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.
#4 The physical and human characteristics of places.
#9 The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth’s surface.
#18 How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future. 

VII.	TIME REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION: 2-4 class periods

VIII.	MATERIALS USED:
ArcView or ArcVoyager Software
Memo From the White House handout (one per student)
Memo From the White House Data Sheet (one per student)
Metadata sheets (one per student)
Using and Viewing the ArcView Maps handout  (one per student)
Let ArcView Do It for You  handout  (one per student)
Memo From the White House: Directions for Final Project  handout (one per student)
Africa outline maps (one per student)

IX.	GIS SKILLS REQUIRED BEFORE STARTING:
none (students)

X.	PROCEDURES

1.	A.  If you have ArcView GIS software, open the project memo.apr.  You will see a View named “Africa” containing fourteen themes.

	B.  If you have ArcVoyager Special Edition software, prepare the project as follows:
a.  Open the project “Turn Me Loose Startup Project” 
b.  Add the theme cntry94.shp from the Data folder
c.  Rename the theme cntry94.shp “World Countries” 
d.	Add the theme subsa.shp from the Data folder
TEACHER’S GUIDE pg 2

e.	Rename the theme subsa.shp “Sub-Saharan Africa”
f.	Zoom in to focus the map on Africa
g.	Open the theme attribute table for “Sub-Saharan Africa”; in the Table Properties, hide all of the fields EXCEPT Name, Pop_k, Grwrate, Pop_15, Pop65_, Lifexpct, Infmortrt, Poppdoc, Safewater, Literate, Yrsschl, Phones_k, Radios_k, Tvs_k 
h.	Copy the theme “Sub-Saharan Africa” and paste it into the View twelve times
i.	Using the Legend Editor, create a graduated color map for each of the fields listed above.  Use a different monochromatic scheme for each (some color ramps will be used twice). Note: The darkest shade of the color should coincide with value representing the greater level of stress  (less developed).  Set the Null Value to -99 and check the box labeled “Include No Data Class” in the Legend. Make the No Data class gray. 
j.	Rename each theme to correspond with its Classification Field.

2.	Introduce the lesson, distribute Memo from the White House handout, and introduce the White House memo scenario. Students will work on this project in pairs.

3.	Distribute Data Sheets, Metadata sheets, and Using and Viewing the ArcView Maps handout. Explain the procedure students will follow to identify the countries they will recommend for the President’s visit. Their first task will be to identify the indicators upon which they will base their recommendation.  After selecting six indicators students will use the project maps and data to identify countries that are experiencing the greatest stress in each category. When stressed countries have been identified, students will select five destination countries from that group.

4.	If possible, model the investigation process with a projector before students begin. Remind them that they can only use one theme at a time. (See Extension 1)

5.	Allow 20-25 minutes for initial exploration and investigation. Students will complete the Memo From the White House Data Sheet as they explore.

6.   After students have worked for some time, tell them that you are going to show them a way to use the power of GIS to make their explorations easier. Introduce them to sorting the database using the handout Let ArcView Do It for You. Give students additional time to complete their Data Sheets.

7.   When students have completed their data collection, they should analyze their results to complete the task of identifying five countries for the President to visit. They may need to use the project here as well to assure that their selected countries represent the entire region.

8.   Distribute the handout Directions for Final Project and give students some class time to prepare.

XI.	ASSESSMENT:

1.	Each student will complete a Data Sheet which identifies ten stressed countries for each of six indicators and the specific data for each country.

2.   Each student will prepare a map that shows the five countries selected for the President’s visit.

3.	Each pair of students will present their recommendations for the President’s trip to the class. The presentation should identify the indicators used in the selection process and the reasons for choosing the five selected countries.

4.   Each student will write a paragraph summarizing information they have learned about Sub-Saharan Africa from working on the Memo From the White House Project.

TEACHER’S GUIDE pg 3

XII.  	EXTENSIONS:

1.	Introduce students to the Query Builder. After selecting six indicators to use in identifying destination countries, students will create a query expression to identify countries experiencing stress in all six categories.   

2.	Students should plan an efficient route for the President’s visit. Using ArcView or ArcVoyager they should create a map layout illustrating the capital cities he would visit and the sequence his trip would follow. In detailing the itinerary, students should create a data table identifying key cultural and geographic landmarks which might be seen in each capital city. The student-created tables should be joined to the capital cities table (in ArcVoyager) to create a customized map of the Presidents visit to Africa.

MEMO FROM THE WHITE HOUSE: 
INVESTIGATING AFRICA

TO:  White House Travel Department
FR:   Hillary Rodham Clinton
RE:   Africa TripRE:   Africa Trip

The President will be addressing Congress next week on the Alliance for Progress in Sub-Saharan Africa.  We need to release to the press the President’s plan to visit Africa next month.  Please select five countries that he could visit, should the Alliance for Progress be approved.  These choices should reflect the goal of this program, which is to support and improve the quality of life for the people of Sub-Saharan Africa. Choose five countries that you feel could benefit significantly from such a program. The countries must be in different geographic regions to reflect the fact that the Alliance for Progress initiative will benefit the people throughout the Sub-Saharan realm.  Along with your country selections, include data to justify your selection. Your report will be picked up at noon tomorrow by a White House intern.  After the President approves the country recommendations I will send you the dates to begin planning the route and itinerary.
_____________________________________________________________________
DIRECTIONS:

1.		You must select six indicators (themes) to use as a basis for your choice of countries to visit. Try to select indicators that will help you identify those countries experiencing the greatest stress. 
2.		After deciding which six indicators to use, write them in the appropriate section of the Memo From the White House Data Sheet. Complete the Data Sheet using the project maps and data. When the Data Sheet is completed, analyze your information and  choose five countries that you think should be visited. 
3.  		Prepare an outline map that shows the five countries you have selected. Be prepared to show your map to the class and explain your choice of indicators and countries. 

METADATA:  
W_NEWSWK.DBF: Recent demographic and socioeconomic data for countries
Source: Newsweek Education Program, New York, NY

POP_K:  Estimated total population, 1995. Estimate presented in thousands. -99 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

GRWRATE:  Rate of population growth, 1990. Estimated rate presented as a percent. -99.99 1995 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

POP<15:  Percent of population under age 15. No year given. -99.9 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

POP65+:  Percent of population age 65. No year given. -99.9 identifies an item for which no over data were available or data were not applicable.

LIFEXPCT:  Life expectancy, 1995. Average number of years a person might expect to live if born in 1995. -99 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

INFMORTRT:  Infant mortality rate. The annual number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births. No year given. -99 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

POPPDOC:  Population per doctor. Average number of people per medical doctor. No year given. -99 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

SAFEWATER:   Percent with safe water. Percent of population with reasonable access to safe water supply. No year given. -99 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

YRSSCHL:  Years in school. The average number of years spent in school by people age 25 and older. No year given. -99.0 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

PHONES_K:  Telephones per 1,000 people. No year given. -99 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

RADIOS_K:   Radios per 1,000 people. No year given. -99 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

TVS_K:   Televisions per 1,000 people. No year given. -99 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

CINEMAVS:   Average cinema visits per year. Average number of cinema visits per person, annually. No year given. -99.0 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

CARS_K:   Motor vehicles per 1,000 people. No year given. -99 identifies an item for which no data were available or data were not applicable.

LITERACY:   The percent of the adult population which can read and write.

MEMO FROM THE WHITE HOUSE: DATA SHEET
Directions: At the top of each column, identify the indicator you have selected. Use the Memo project to identify ten countries which are most stressed for each of your indicators. Be sure to include both the name of the country and its value for that indicator. For example, if “Life Expectancy” is one of your indicators, and Mali is one of the ten most stressed for that indicator, its ”Life Expectancy” entry should say “Mali: 48."

Indicator 1:
	
Indicator 2:	
Indicator 3:	
Indicator 4:	
Indicator 5:	
Indicator 6:	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

Using and Viewing the Africa Maps............

Things I need to know:
1. TO VIEW A MAP....... 
Select the map you want to see by clicking on the small square box to the left of the map title in the Legend Window. When a check appears in the box, that information will be displayed on the map.

2. TO VIEW A DIFFERENT MAP........
You can only look at one map at a time. In order to change maps you must de-select the map you are currently looking at by clicking on the checked box next the map title in the Legend Window. Select a new map by clicking on the small square box next to its title as in #1 above.

3. TO IDENTIFY A COUNTRY AND SEE ALL ITS DATA.........

Click on the Identify tool in the tool bar then click on the country you wish to identify.	

4. TO ZOOM IN ON A SMALL COUNTRY OR PART OF THE MAP.............
Click on the Zoom tool in the tool bar then drag a box around the area you want to zoom into.

5. TO RETURN TO THE WHOLE MAP AFTER ZOOMING IN ON ONE REGION...........
Click on the Zoom to Previous button to return to the map of Africa.

6. TO SEE ALL THE MAPS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.........
Scroll down the Legend Box with the scroll bar located on its right.

LET ARCVIEW DO IT FOR YOU

 ArcView can sort the data for you to make it easier to identify countries in stress for any indicator. Here’s how:

1. Display the Population map by de-selecting all others and checking the box next its title.  Make Population the active theme by clicking on the theme name. Click the Open Theme Table to open the table of data associated with the map.

2. Select the indicator you wish to investigate by clicking on its name (field mane) at the top of a column.

3. Sort the data from lowest to highest or highest to lowest by clicking on one of the two sort buttons in the tool bar. Now you can see which countries are lowest or highest in the indicator you selected.

4. To see these countries on the map, hold down the Shift key while clicking on the countries you wish to see. As you select the countries, they will turn yellow in the table. Return to the map by selecting “Africa” from the Window menu. The countries that were yellow in the table are now yellow on the map.

5. To clear the map of the selected features, use the Clear Selected Features button on the tool bar. 

Memo From the White House

Directions for Final Project:

1. Prepare a map that shows the five countries you have selected for the President’s visit. 
·	Each country should be colored and labeled. 
·	Be sure that you have selected five countries in different parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. 
·	On the back of your map make a chart that shows data from the six selected indicators for each of your five destination countries.

2. Your completed Data chart should include the following:
·	Six indicators from the ArcView/ArcVoyager Project labeled at the top of each column.
·	At least ten countries listed under each indicator.
·	Specific data for each of the countries listed.

3. Write a paragraph that summarizes what you learned about Sub-Saharan Africa from working on the Memo From the White House project. The paragraph should identify two or more specific characteristics of this region that you did not know about until working on this project.

4. Present your conclusions to the class.
·	Identify the five countries you have selected for the President’s visit to Africa.
·	Justify the selection of these countries with reference to specific data from the project.
·	Use visual aids (your map) and appropriate language to give a concise and clear presentation of your conclusions. 

Memo From the White House
	Grade Sheet
Name________________________________________

1. Map

_____ 5 countries are colored in and labeled (10 points)

_____ the countries are located in different parts of Sub-Saharan Africa (5 points)

_____ a chart of specific data about the 5 selected countries in on the other side of the map (10 points)

2. Data Chart

_____ identifies 6 indicators (5 points)

_____ includes at least 10 countries under each indicator (10 points)

_____ includes specific data for each listed country (10 points)

3. Paragraph

_____ identifies 2 or more characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa which can be identified from the Memo project (25 points)

4. Presentation

_____ identified the selected countries (5 points)

_____ justified the selection of countries with specific data from the project (10 points)

_____ used visual aids (maps) and voice to give a concise and clear presentation (10 points)

Total__________