The greening of the Arabian Desert
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the challenge of desertification and recognise the strategies to respond to it.
Key learning points
- Desertification is a major challenge in the region.
- Desalination provides water for farming.
- Tree planting projects aim to combat desert spread.
- Vertical farming is used to grow food sustainably.
Keywords
Desertification - the process by which fertile land becomes desert
Desalination - the process of removing salt from seawater
Sustainable - able to continue over a long time
Common misconception
We cannot grow new plants in the desert, it is too dry.
Plants can have special features, or adaptations, to help them survive in the desert. This, alongside new technology, means that plants can sustain life in the desert and overcome the issue of desertification.
Teacher tip
Students may find it easier to grasp desertification when they can compare it to issues closer to home. Briefly mention how parts of southern Europe or areas in Africa are also affected by desertification. This helps them realise it's a global challenge—not just a distant issue in the Middle East.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
Underground layer storing water
Process of removing salt from seawater
A shortage of resources
Man-made water supply for farming
Freshwater beneath Earth’s surface
Q2.Which resource is under increasing pressure in the Middle East?
Q3.Which country uses desalination plants most heavily in the region?
Q4.What is groundwater used for in the Middle East?
Q5.Why is desalination controversial?
Q6.Why is it wrong to say all Middle Eastern countries face the same water problems?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
Fertile land turning into desert
Removing salt from seawater
Able to continue over a long time
Q2.What is vertical farming?
Q3.What causes desertification?
Q4.Why is the belief that “we can’t grow plants in deserts” incorrect?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: The greening of the Arabian Desert, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: The greening of the Arabian Desert, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the The Middle East: How have natural resources shaped the Middle East? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.