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Physical landscapes of the Middle East
I can define the location and key landscapes of the Middle East.
Lesson 2 of 12
New
New
- Year 9
Physical landscapes of the Middle East
I can define the location and key landscapes of the Middle East.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Middle East lies at the crossroads of continents.
- It has deserts, mountains, plateaux, and fertile valleys.
- The Zagros and Taurus Mountains were formed by tectonic movement.
- The Rub' al Khali is the largest sand desert in the Middle East.
Keywords
Tectonic - the large scale processes that take place within Earth’s crust
Mountain - a natural, raised part of Earth that is higher than a hill
Plateau - an area of high, flat land
Desert - an area of land that is extremely dry and receives less than 25 centimetres of rain per year
Common misconception
The Middle East is all desert.
Students will learn that the Middle East contains diverse landscapes including mountains, valleys, and fertile land.
Using a large wall map or interactive digital map will help students visualise the physical and political geography of the region.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the physical landscape features to their descriptions:
Match the physical landscape features to their descriptions:
Q2.Which of these is part of the coastal landscape?
Which of these is part of the coastal landscape?
Valley
Hill
River
Q3.Which of the following is an example of a physical landscape in the UK?
Which of the following is an example of a physical landscape in the UK?
The London Underground
Heathrow Airport
Manchester Arena
Q4.What is a valley?
What is a valley?
A steep cliff near the sea
A flat area at the top of a mountain
A river that flows underground
Q5.Which process can shape physical landscapes over time?
Which process can shape physical landscapes over time?
Voting
Shopping
Printing
Q6.Which of these landscapes would you most likely find in a desert?
Which of these landscapes would you most likely find in a desert?
Glacier
Cliff
Bay
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Q2.What makes a desert a desert?
What makes a desert a desert?
It has lots of sand
It is very cold
It has no animals or plants
Q3.The Middle East is not just desert – it also has such as the Zagros range.
The Middle East is not just desert – it also has such as the Zagros range.
Q4.Why is it incorrect to say “The only physical geography in the Middle East is desert”?
Why is it incorrect to say “The only physical geography in the Middle East is desert”?
Because some parts are cold
Because some parts are cities
Because the desert is not very big
