Agenda Message for Monday August 31st: 4th thru 7th periods take make-ups for SWA Geography Quiz. Social Studies Progress Reports go home tomorrow, Sept. 1st.

Standard SS7G7: Location, Climate, Physical Characteristics, Natural Resources, & Population

Essential Question for Monday August 31st:

What are SWA’s two most valuable natural resources?

Warm-Up:What is the official title for OPEC?

Today We Will:1. Take SWA Make-Up Quiz2. Review SWA Natural Resources

FIRST FIVE

E.Q. Answer for Monday, August 31st:1. Petroleum (oil) & 2. Natural Gas

Warm-up:Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

ANSWERS

Two of the most important natural resources in the middle east are:Natural GasOil

Oil Pumping Rig

These two resources bring wealth into the region because they are needed for much of the world’s economy. Deposits of underground oil and natural gas were discovered in Southwest Asia as the beginning of the 1900’s.

At first, companies from the United States and Europe controlled the drilling and refining of most of the oil, but now most of the oil operations are controlled by the countries themselves.

Middle Eastern Wealth

Over half the world’s known oil reserves are found in this part of the world. This has made some of these countries very rich and has led them to have a great deal of control over the global economy.

In the 1960’s several of these Southwest Asian countries joined with other oil-rich countries around the world to create the ORGANIZATION OF PETROLEUM EXPORTING COUNTRIES (OPEC) in order to have more control over the price of oil in the world market. OPEC has called for an embargo, or a slowdown or temporary halt to oil supplies at different times to get political and economic agreements

FIRST FIVEAgenda Message for Tuesday September1st: Social Studies Progress Reports go home TODAY! Return Progress Reports with Parent Signature for Homework Grade of 100.

Standard SS7G7: Location, Climate, Physical Characteristics, Natural Resources, & Population

Essential Question for Tuesday September 1st :

How has the discovery of oil in certain SWA countries effected their growth and development?

Warm-Up:List the four leading exporters of oil from SWA.

Today We Will:1. Review SWA Natural Resources2. Hydro-electric Power Generation3. Drip Irrigation

E.Q. Answer for Tuesday September 1st:Countries that have petroleum have become exceedingly rich. With their wealth they are able to invest in the improvement of the lives of their citizens. Investments include such things as education, medical & healthcare, housing, jobs, etc.

Warm-Up:Saudi ArabiaKuwaitIraqIran

ANSWERS

From other countries in the world. While some countries in Southwest Asia have grown very rich due to their oil production, others have struggled to help their populations make a decent living.

The Middle Eastern countries with the greatest reserves of natural gas and oil are Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait. Some other countries have smaller reserves, especially those found around

The Arabian Gulf. These countries have enjoyed tremendous growth in national wealth and an improved standard of living in the last 50 years. Those countries without oil reserves have had a much harder time improving living conditions for their populations. This difference in wealth in some of the Southwest Asian countries has led to conflicts among the nations.

FIRST FIVEAgenda Message for Wednesday September 2nd: Social Studies Progress Reports go home TODAY! Return Progress Reports with Parent Signature for Homework Grade of 100.

Standard SS7G7: Location, Climate, Physical Characteristics, Natural Resources, & Population

Essential Question for Wednesday September 2nd:

What major investment has Saudi Arabia made in order to meet its needs for fresh water?

Warm-Up:Explain the concept of uneven distribution of natural resources as it applies to SWA.

Today We Will:1. Review SWA Natural Resources2. Desalination 3. Drip Irrigation

ANSWERSE.Q. Answer for Wednesday September 2, 2015:Saudi Arabia has invested in a very technical and expensive process called desalination. These sea-water treatment plants take sea water and remove the salt and minerals to make fresh drinking water.

Warm-Up:Some countries in SWA have all the natural resources they need and others have very little or none. These natural resources include oil and natural gas plus fresh water.

SWA WaterEnvironmental Issues

Desalination: Is the process of removing salt and other chemicals from seawater. It is very expensive and requires complex technology.

Water pollution: Is a growing problem. Many farmers are using chemical fertilizers, which have contaminated water supplies through runoff water. This has increased the salt level found in soil, eventually making it impossible to farm.

Building of dams: To produce hydroelectric power and water for irrigation has become a source of conflict. These conflicts result from greatly reduced flows of water available to other countries located downstream. Examples Turkey versus Syria & Iraq..

Agenda Message for Thursday September 3rd: Return Social Studies Progress Reports with Parent Signature for a Homework Grade of 100. Middle School Progress Reports go home Sept. 9th.

Standard SS7G7: Location, Climate, Physical Characteristics, Natural Resources, & Population

Essential Question for Thursday September 3rd:

How does OPEC control oil production and the price of oil in the world market?

Warm-Up:How do Bedouins survive in desert environments of SWA?

Today We Will:1. Desalination 2. Drip Irrigation

FIRST FIVE

E.Q. Answer for Thursday September 3rd:OPEC controls the production and price of oil on the world market through use of quotas (limits) on daily production or output which in turn impacts the cost of oil in the world.

Warm-Up:Bedouins are desert nomads that wander from place to place in search of water and grazing for their animals (camels, horses, donkeys and goats). They also make rugs and metal works which they sell in local desert towns.

ANSWERS

Agenda Message for Friday September 4th: Middle School Progress Reports go home Wednesday September 9th.

Standard SS7G7: Location, Climate, Physical Characteristics, Natural Resources, & Population

Essential Question for Friday September 4th:

What is the cause of potential conflicts over water in SWA?

Warm-Up: How does irrigation often lead to both water & soil pollution?

Today We Will:1. Desalination 2. Drip Irrigation

FIRST FIVE

E.Q. Answer for Friday September 4th:The building of dams by SWA countries for hydro-electric power and irrigation have caused the flow of water downstream to be diminished. This results in tensions because all SWA countries have a critical need for water.

Warm-Up:The use of irrigation also required the use of chemical fertilizers. These fertilizers cause run-offs into local streams which accumulate to cause water pollution. In addition, overuse of chemical fertilizers can also cause salt levels to build in the soil which eventually causes soil pollution.

ANSWERS