Egypt and WWII

• Geography
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Egypt and WWII

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will be able to identify the key geographical features of Egypt and describe the role geography played during a major WWII event in Egypt.

This slide should be kept on the screen throughout the lesson to remind students of the learning objective.

What do you already know about the geography and history of Egypt?

Geography of Egypt

Egypt is located in northeast Africa and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the east, and the Sahara Desert to the west.

Use a map to show the location of Egypt and its surrounding bodies of water and countries.

Geography of Egypt

Egypt is located in Northeast Africa and covers an area of 1,001,450 square kilometers.

Introduce the geography of Egypt and discuss the size and location of the country.

Cairo

What is the population of Cairo?

Share one interesting fact about Cairo

The Nile River

The Nile River is the longest river in the world, stretching over 4,000 miles from its source in East Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile River was the lifeblood of Ancient Egypt, providing water, fertile land, and transportation.

Use a map to show the path of the Nile River and its importance to Ancient Egypt.

Share two things you learnt about the Nile River

PEOPLE & CULTURE

About 90 percent of Egyptians are Muslim, which means they are followers of the Islamic religion. About 10 percent of Egyptians are Copts, one of the oldest branches of the Christian religion.

Egypt's population is growing rapidly. This puts strains on Egypt's resources, since most people live in a narrow strip of land along the Nile River. Having so many people in such a small area can cause overcrowding, from schools to apartment buildings to hospitals.

Children are highly valued in Egypt, especially in rural areas where they help on family farms. Children are also expected to look after their parents in their old age.

Nature

Egyptians have always been close to the natural world. The ancient Egyptians left paintings and carvings of large animals like elephants, hippos, leopards, and cheetahs. These animals were once common in Egypt, but they are now rare or extinct because of hunting and habitat loss.

What wild animals can be found in Egypt today?

What were some of the large animals found in ancient Egypt?

1. Hippos
2. Leopards
3. Cheetahs
4. Elephants

What is the population distribution in Egypt?

1. Most people live in the Sahara Desert
2. Most people live in a narrow strip along the Nile River

What is the main religion followed by Egyptians?

1. Christianity
2. Hinduism
3. Islam
4. Buddhism

Which river is the longest in the world?

1. Yangtze River
2. Amazon River
3. Mississippi River
4. Nile River

What are the borders of Egypt?

1. Red Sea
2. Mediterranean Sea
3. Sahara Desert
4. Indian Ocean

Geography and war

World War II and Egypt

Slide 1: Introduction

El Alamein is a coastal town in Egypt, located on the Mediterranean Sea. It is famous for its historical significance, especially during World War II.

Slide 2: Physical Geography

El Alamein is situated in the Western Desert, which is part of the larger Sahara Desert. It features arid landscapes, sand dunes, and rugged terrain.

Qattara Depression

Slide 3: Human Geography

In terms of human geography, El Alamein has a small population, primarily engaged in tourism and fishing. It attracts visitors from around the world due to its historical significance.

Which desert is El Alamein a part of?

1. Gobi Desert
2. Sahara Desert
3. Kalahari Desert
4. Atacama Desert

What is the primary economic activity in El Alamein?

1. Agriculture and mining
2. Tourism and fishing
3. Manufacturing and technology
4. Banking and finance

What is the physical geography of El Alamein?

1. Mountains, forests, rivers, fertile plains
2. Snow-capped peaks, glaciers, fjords
3. Arid landscapes, sand dunes, rugged terrain
4. Tropical rainforests, waterfalls, coral reefs

Where is El Alamein located?

1. Italy
2. Greece
3. Egypt
4. China

Further Reading

The Children's University of Manchester

Giza 3D

One day in Cairo

Provide a list of recommended reading materials for students who are interested in learning more about Ancient Egypt.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.