Many Americans have heard of Ethiopia only in the context of drought, famine, and war. As they listen to the news stories, it is important for students to recognize that the media portrayals of Ethiopia are not always complete and that Ethiopia is, in fact, a geographically diverse country, including forests, grasslands, and the Blue Nile. This lesson will teach students about Ethiopia's different geographic regions.

Geography, earth science

Standard 1: "How to use maps and other geographical representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective"
Standard 3: "How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface"
Standard 4: "The physical and human characteristics of places"

Three to four hours

• Computer with Internet access
• Large wall map of the world
• Blank Xpeditions outline maps of Ethiopia
• Writing materials

Students will

• discuss their perceptions of Ethiopia, based on what they have heard in the media;
• map the Blue Nile and Lake Tana;
• research and answer questions about Ethiopia's geographical regions, climate, and agriculture;
• research and answer questions about the current drought in Ethiopia;
• write magazine articles explaining to Americans some of the things they might not have realized about Ethiopia and why it might be a good idea for Americans to learn more about the country.

Ask students to list the things they know or have heard about Ethiopia. Then have them share their lists with the class. What are some common perceptions of this country? Discuss some of the things they have heard about Ethiopia in the media.

Tell them that Nevada Wier, an award-winning photographer, and Virginia Morell, an acclaimed author, have recently hiked and rafted their way down the Ethiopian Blue Nile, a distance of about 500 miles (800 kilometers). Have students ever heard of people traveling in Ethiopia? What about taking a trip on the Blue Nile? What do they imagine the landscape would look like on this trip?

Inform the class that Ethiopia has a diverse landscape that is not fully portrayed in the media. Give each student a blank outline map of Ethiopia and ask them to map the Blue Nile and Lake Tana using the resources below.

Ask students to conduct research, either individually or in groups, on Ethiopia's diverse geographical regions and climate zones. Have them visit the following Web sites and answer the questions below:

National Geographic: MapMachine
Africa Guide: Ethiopia
Lonely Planet: Ethiopia
Natural Vegetation in Africa
Photographs of Ethiopia's rivers and gorges

Questions:

• What major geographical regions exist in Ethiopia, and where are these regions located?
• What is the climate and vegetation like in these regions?
• How does Ethiopia's climate compare with that of other North African countries? Is it more or less arid than the countries in the Sahara?
• What types of agricultural activities occur in western Ethiopia? In eastern and southeastern Ethiopia?

Ask students if they have heard anything in the news about the current drought in Ethiopia. Have them go to the following Web pages to learn a little about this situation, and then have them answer the questions below:

BBC: Eyewitness—Where Hunger Reigns
Famine Early Warning Systems Network
PBS: Online NewsHour Interview—Deadly Drought
UN ReliefWeb: Horn of Africa Drought

Questions:

• What region of Ethiopia is most affected by the drought?
• Is the entire country equally susceptible to famine?
• What factors besides the drought contribute to the lack of water and to famine in Ethiopia?
• What would you expect the Blue Nile region to be like during the Ethiopian drought?

Now that they have learned the basics of Ethiopian geography, have students discuss (either as a class or in groups) the ways in which their new knowledge differs from the common perceptions that most Americans have of Ethiopia. What do they think Americans should know and understand about Ethiopia? What information might they gain by learning about Morell and Wier's expedition down the Blue Nile? What might Ethiopians want Americans to know about their country?

Ask students to pretend they are magazine journalists who have been asked to write articles explaining to an American audience some of the things that Ethiopians would like Americans to know about their country. The articles should explain what the geography of Ethiopia is like, what the precipitation levels are throughout the country, which regions are experiencing the greatest drought-related problems, and what factors besides drought may contribute to famine. They should conclude their articles by explaining the ways in which they think Americans might benefit from reading "Ethiopia's Sacred Waters—The Blue Nile" (Morell and Wier's December 2000 National Geographic Magazine article). How might that trip contribute to a better understanding of Ethiopia?

• Have students read about PlayPumps, an innovative water supply solution, in the PBS Frontline/World article, South Africa: The Play Pump, or watch the accompanying video clip (7 min). Discuss the feasibility and effectiveness of installing PlayPumps in Ethiopia. Is there an available supply of groundwater in Ethiopia? How would installing PlayPumps impact communities faced with a water shortage?
  
  
• Draw two columns on the board, labeling one "common perceptions" and the other "realities." Have students contribute words and phrases to each column, based on their previous and new understanding of Ethiopia.
  
  
• In addition to geography and drought-related issues, have students' articles discuss Ethiopian culture, food, religion, etc., to add to the audience's understanding of this country.
  
  
• Have students go back to the MapMachine and look more carefully at the Africa precipitation map. Which African countries do they think would have the highest and lowest population densities, based on water availability? Have them create a population density map at this site to see if their predictions were accurate.

BBC: Eyewitness—Where Hunger Reigns
Famine Early Warning Systems Network
National Geographic: Ethiopia's Sacred Waters—The Blue Nile
National Geographic: MapMachine
PBS: Online NewsHour Interview—Deadly Drought
PlayPumps International