E

YP
GEOGRAPHY
OT PROTOTYPE
OT
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GEOGRAPHY
TEXTBOOK
SENIOR ONE

LOWER SECONDARY
CURRICULUM
 E
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OT
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PR

GEOGRAPHY
TEXTBOOK
SENIOR ONE

LOWER SECONDARY
CURRICULUM
Published 2020

This material has been developed as a prototype for implementation of the revised
Lower Secondary Curriculum and as a support for other textbook development interests.

This document is restricted from being reproduced for any commercial gains.

National Curriculum Development Centre

P.O. Box 7002,
Kampala- Uganda
www.ncdc.co.ug
 GEOGRAPHY
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CONTENTS
Preface .............................................................................................................vi
Acknowledgements.......................................................................................... vii
Chapter One ..................................................................................................... 1
Introduction to Geography .................................................................................... 1
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 2
What is Geography? ........................................................................................... 2
Branches of Geography ...................................................................................... 3
The Value of Studying Geography...................................................................... 4
How the Environment Affects Us....................................................................... 5
Activity of Integration ........................................................................................ 5
Chapter Summary .............................................................................................. 6
Chapter Two ..................................................................................................... 7
Showing the Local Area on a Map ......................................................................... 7
Introduction ....................................................................................................... 8
What is a Map? .................................................................................................. 8
Mapping a Local Area....................................................................................... 10
Activity of Integration ...................................................................................... 11
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................ 12
Chapter Three ..................................................................................................13
Maps and Their Use ............................................................................................. 13
Introduction ......................................................................................................... 14
Map Scale ......................................................................................................... 14
Types of Scale................................................................................................... 15
Using the Linear Scale to Measure Distance on a Map ................................... 17
How to Find Places and Features on a Map..................................................... 25
Grid and Grid References ................................................................................. 25
Compass Directions.......................................................................................... 27
Bearing ............................................................................................................. 29
Latitude and Longitude .................................................................................... 30
Activity of Integration ...................................................................................... 33
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................ 33
Chapter Four ....................................................................................................34
Ways of Studying Geography ............................................................................... 34
Introduction ......................................................................................................... 35
Studying Geography through Fieldwork .......................................................... 36
Learning Geography through Photographs ..................................................... 39
Activity of Integration ...................................................................................... 45
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................ 46
Chapter Five ....................................................................................................47
The Earth and Its Movements .............................................................................. 47
Introduction ......................................................................................................... 48

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What Shape is the Earth?................................................................................. 48

Movements of the Earth .................................................................................. 49
Why is the Earth Divided into Zones with Different Temperatures?............... 53
Activity of Integration ...................................................................................... 54
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................ 54
Chapter Six ......................................................................................................55
Weather and Climate ........................................................................................... 55
Introduction ......................................................................................................... 56
Weather and How it is Measured .................................................................... 56
What are Elements of Weather? ..................................................................... 57
How is Weather Different from Climate? ........................................................ 58
Measuring and recording elements of weather .............................................. 60
Atmospheric or Air Pressure ............................................................................ 64
Atmospheric Humidity or Air Humidity ........................................................... 65
Sunshine and How it is Measured.................................................................... 67
Clouds............................................................................................................... 68
Effects of Weather on your Life and that of your Community ........................ 70
Activity of Integration ...................................................................................... 70
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................ 71
Chapter Seven .................................................................................................72
Location, Size and Relief Regions of East Africa................................................... 72
Introduction ......................................................................................................... 73
The Relief Regions of East Africa...................................................................... 74
Activity of Integration ...................................................................................... 77
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................ 78
Chapter Eight ...................................................................................................79
Formation of Major Landforms and Drainage in East Africa ............................... 79
Introduction ......................................................................................................... 80
Rocks and Landforms ....................................................................................... 80
Formation of landforms in East Africa ............................................................. 85
Vulcanicity ........................................................................................................ 90
Activity of Integration ...................................................................................... 93
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................ 93
Chapter Nine ...................................................................................................94
Climate and Natural Vegetation of East Africa .................................................... 94
Introduction ......................................................................................................... 95
What are the Characteristics of the Main Types of Climate? .......................... 95
Equatorial Climate............................................................................................ 95
Mountain or Montane Climate ........................................................................ 96
Semi-arid and Arid Climate .............................................................................. 98
Tropical or Savannah Climate .......................................................................... 99
The Coastal Tropical Climate............................................................................ 99
What Factors Influence Climate in East Africa? ............................................. 100

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The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) .................................................. 101
Height ............................................................................................................. 101
Latitude .......................................................................................................... 102
Relief .............................................................................................................. 102
Distance from the Sea .................................................................................... 103
Rotation of the Earth ..................................................................................... 103
The Alignment of the Coast ........................................................................... 104
Types of Vegetation in East Africa ................................................................. 106
Drawing a Climate Graph ............................................................................... 108
What are the Factors that Affect the Climates of East Africa? ...................... 110
Activity of Integration .................................................................................... 110
Chapter Summary .......................................................................................... 111
Glossary .............................................................................................................. 112

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Preface
This Learner’s Textbook has been written in line with the revised subject
syllabus. The knowledge and skills which have been incorporated are
what is partly required to produce a learner who has the competences
that are required in the 21st century.

This has been done by providing a range of activities which will be

conducted both within and outside the classroom setting. The learner is
expected to be able to work as an individual, in pairs and groups
according to the nature of the activities.

The teacher, as a facilitator, will prepare what the learners are to learn
and this textbook is one of the materials which are to be used to support
the teaching and learning process.

Associate Professor Betty Ezati

Chairperson, NCDC Governing Council

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Acknowledgements
National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) would like to express its
appreciation to all those who worked tirelessly towards the production of
the Learner’s Textbook.

Our gratitude goes to the various institutions which provided staff who
worked as a panel, the Subject Specialist who initiated the work and the
Production Unit at NCDC which ensured that the work produced meets
the required standards. Our thanks go to Enabel which provided technical
support in textbook development.

The Centre is indebted to the learners and teachers who worked with the
NCDC Specialist and consultants from Cambridge Education and
Curriculum Foundation.

Last but not least, NCDC would like to acknowledge all those behind the
scenes who formed part of the team that worked hard to finalise the work
on this Learner’s Book.

NCDC is committed to uphold the ethics and values of publishing. In

developing this material, several sources have been referred to which we
might not fully acknowledge.

We welcome any suggestions for improvement to continue making our

service delivery better. Please get to us through P. O. Box 7002 Kampala or
email us through [email protected].

Grace K. Baguma
Director, National Curriculum Development Centre

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About this Book

This Learner’s Textbook provides a course in Geography for Senior One,
the first year of Secondary school. You should study all chapters of this
book. The book has been written following the revised Geography
Syllabus for Lower Secondary.

This book is based on an interactive approach to learning. This means that

you are expected to learn the geography in this book by doing the
activities in each chapter, not just by listening to the teacher or reading
the book. The activities are an important part of the book because you will
not be able to learn the ideas well unless you do all the activities.

The Senior One Learner’s Textbook consists of nine chapters and each
chapter will assist you to understand other chapters ahead. So read the
chapters following the order of the book.

As you use this book, you will learn about the nature of Geography as a
new subject and the importance of studying it. You are also going to learn
how Geography is related to other subjects you are going to study in
secondary school. So learning Geography will assist you to understand
other subjects in a better way.

In addition, this book will teach you many skills such as drawing, reading
and using maps; collecting and communicating information about an
area; reading and interpreting pictures and others. You are going to find
these useful in your day-to-day activities including in your life after school.

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Chapter One
Introduction to Geography

Key Words By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
• Environment a) know the meaning of geography and
environment.
• Human features
b) realise that geography is a study of the
• Human geography relationship between people and their
environment, both natural and made by
• Physical features
people.
• Physical geography c) identify and classify the features of the
environment by going outside the classroom
and observing.
d) appreciate that the study of geography helps
us to understand how our lives are affected by
the environment, and how we can preserve the
environment so that it remains useful to us.
e) appreciate that caring for and preserving
resources in the local environment,
community and country are signs of love for
one’s country.

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Introduction
In Primary school, you learnt Social Studies, which consists of geography
and other subjects. In this chapter, you are going to learn the meaning of
geography and the importance of studying it. This will help you make
proper plans for using your environment and to give advice to other
people about occupations and careers related to geography.

What is Geography?
Activity 1.1: Exploring our environment
Go outside the classroom and do the following:
1. Observe and draw a sketch diagram of the area. Then name all the
things you can see in the area.
2. Draw a table to divide the things you have written into natural
things and those made by people.
3. Discuss the way you have classified the things in the table and make
some changes where necessary.
4. As a class, display the field diagrams you have drawn, the names of
features in the area and the table you have made. Comment on
each group’s work and ask each other questions.
5. Share your views on what you understand by the environment.

You have found out that the area around your school has both natural
things and things made by people. All these things are called our
surroundings or environment. The natural things make up our physical
environment. All things made by people make up the human
environment.

Activity 1.2: Finding out how the environment affects us

In pairs, study Figure 1.1 and do the following:
1. In your notebook, write down the natural and human features
shown in each photograph.
2. Explain how the human activities carried out in each picture are
related to the natural environment.

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3. In what ways do you think human activities in each picture affect

the natural environment?
4. Present what you have written to the rest of the class and
comment on each other’s work.

(a) (b)
Figure 1.1: Photographs showing the geography of different places
All that you have written about each picture in Figure 1.1 above is the
geography of the area where the picture was taken. So when we study
geography, we are interested in understanding how the environment
affects our lives and how we affect it.

Activity 1.3: Understanding the meaning of geography

1. In groups, search the internet or carry out library research about
what geography is.
2. Write a brief definition and description, and share these with other
groups through a class discussion.
3. After agreeing on the meaning of geography, make corrections in
your work if necessary.

Branches of Geography
You have learnt that in geography we study the natural and human
environments and how these affect our lives. So geography has two
branches, namely physical geography and human geography.

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Activity 1.4: Exploring the nature of geography

Individually, study the list below showing things in our environment. Copy
and fill in the table to show which branch of geography studies each of
these things.

Things in our environment

towns and cities, weather and climate, roads, rocks, hills and mountains,
railways, farms, soils, mines, fisheries, factories, vegetation, rivers, lakes

Physical geography Human geography

In the above activity, you have realised that each branch of geography
deals with a different environment. Think of other things which may be
studied in each branch of geography. Make a list and share it with your
classmates.

The Value of Studying Geography

Activity 1.5: Relating geography to your own life
In groups:
1. Discuss how studying geography may benefit you, your community
and country.
2. Write down the benefits in your notebooks.
3. Discuss what you have written with other groups.

Studying geography has several benefits. These include helping us make

wise use of our environment and conserving it for the future. It gives
practical skills in making and using maps, and collecting and presenting
information about our surroundings; and creates awareness about other

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parts of the world. You will find out more about the value of the subject
as you study it.

How the Environment Affects Us

You are probably aware that most of the things we do in the places where
we live depend mainly on the environment we live in. You are going to
understand this better as you end this chapter.

Activity 1.6: Exploring how you relate with the environment

1. Identify and make a list of the ways you and your family use the
environment around your home.
2. How do the activities you carry out affect the local environment?
3. Think of any other place you know or you have read about where
people use the environment in ways which are different from those
in which you use it. What kind of environment is in that place, and
how is it different from the one where you live?
4. Write a plan for caring for and conserving the natural environment
in your home area so that it remains useful to you and the people
who will live there in future.
5. In a discussion, share your action plan with the rest of the class so
that you comment on each other’s views.

Activity of Integration
Imagine your friend has completed high school. Among the subjects
he/she has studied is Geography. He/she needs your advice on the
occupations he/she can engage in. Write a letter advising him/her on
how he/she can use the knowledge and skills learnt in Geography to
earn a living.

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Chapter Summary
In this chapter, you have learnt that:
1. Geography deals with studying how we are related to our
environment.
2. The environment is all the physical and built features around us.
3. Geography has two branches: physical geography and human
geography.
4. Studying geography benefits you, your community and the country.
5. Most of the things we do, including the economic activities we carry
out, are mainly influenced by the natural environment.
6. Our activities can affect the environment negatively.
7. We need to use our environment wisely so that it remains useful to
us.

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Chapter Two
Showing the Local Area on a Map

Key words By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
• Compass rose a) know what a map is and how this can be used
• Landmarks to show places.
• Map b) understand that a map can tell us about
• Mental map places we have never seen.
• Scale c) understand that maps shrink or reduce the
• Symbols real sizes of things to fit them on paper.
d) draw a sketch map of your school or local
area.
e) use and interpret symbols, and identify
features on a map using symbols.
f) follow a map to get to places in the local area.
g) use a map of the local area to find out
information about people living in the area.

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Introduction
There are many physical and human features in the area where you live
and around your school. Can you name some of them? In this chapter, you
are going to learn the main physical and human features of a local area
and how these can be shown on a map.

What is a Map?
Think of the route you always follow as you travel from your home to the
market or place of worship. Do you always use a map? Every day we use
maps to move to different places. These maps are not always drawn but
exist in our minds. They are called mental maps. There are also maps
drawn on flat surfaces such as paper. These represent part of the earth or
the whole earth. In Topic 3, you will learn that reading and using maps is
one of the ways in which we can find out information about the earth.

Activity 2.1: Understanding what a map is

Study Figure 2.1 and do the activity that follows.

(a) (b)

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(c) (d)
Figure 2.1: Maps and photographs

1. Decide which of the above drawings are maps. Give reasons to

support your views.
2. Which ones are photographs? Give reasons to support your views.
3. What kind of features can be shown on maps?
4. How can a photograph be useful when constructing a map of an
area?
5. Write at least one sentence explaining what a map is and share it
with the rest of the class.
A map is a special kind of drawing of the earth’s surface. It can show the
whole world or part of it. Again, you have learnt that we represent features
on a map by means of outlines but not as pictures. The features on the
ground are drawn in plan as if the observer is seeing them directly from
above.
On a map, real features and places are represented using symbols. These
may include signs, colours, shades and abbreviations. How do features
appear on a photograph? The place on the map where all symbols are
explained is called a key. You are going to learn more about these later in
this topic.

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Figure 2.2: Map of Mwanza Town-Port

Activity 2.2: Representing features on a map

Look at Figure 2.2 above and do the following:
1. Identify the symbols used to represent the hotels, botanical garden,
market, stadium, railway line, lake, rocky island and ferry terminal.
2. In your notebook, construct a key for the map.

Mapping a Local Area

You now know what a map is and how physical and built features can be
shown on a map. Every time you move to different places, there are
certain important features which you see along the way. These assist you
in tracing the place you are going to. Think of those features and make a
list of them. The features you have listed are called landmarks.

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Activity 2.3: Drawing a map of a small area

1. Draw a map to show a visitor to your area how to get to your school.
2. Exchange your map with your neighbour.
3. Discuss and comment on each other’s map.
4. Share your comments with the rest of the class.
When we draw a map of an area such as a village, town or school, we put
only the most important features in the area. These enable us to follow
routes in the area and to find where certain things are located.

Qualities of a good map

Not every map drawn can be used to find our way about or to describe an
area. When we draw maps we take great care to ensure that other people
can read, interpret and use our maps. Such maps are called good maps.
Activity 2.4: Identifying qualities of a map
1. In pairs, draw a map showing the route from your school to home.
The map should show the physical and human features found along
the way.
2. Swap the maps so that each can find out where the other lives.
3. Can you follow that map and reach your friend’s home?
4. What things on the map can assist you in reaching there?
5. Ask your friend to describe the things on your map that can help
him/her to follow the map up to your home.

For us to be able to use maps to move around places or to guide other

people to places they have never been to, or to describe an area, the map
should have certain features that assist us in doing so. In the discussion
with your friend, you may have pointed out that you could follow a map
to reach each other’s home using a map title, key and a compass rose or
direction finder. These are called qualities of a good map.

Activity of Integration
Using the knowledge you have got from this topic, write a letter of not more
than one page to your friend in another school explaining how they can
produce a map of their home area and how they can use it to understand the
local geography of the area.

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Chapter Summary
In this chapter, you have learnt that:
1. A map is a special drawing of the earth’s surface showing features
in plan.
2. We use maps in our day-to-day activities.
3. When drawing a map of any area, we do not include everything in
the area.
4. For a map to be useful to us, it should have special qualities.

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Chapter Three
Maps and Their Use

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

a) draw a sketch map of your school and/or local area.
b) use and interpret symbols and identify features on a map using a
key.
c) use basic compass points to find directions or features on a map.
d) follow routes on a map.
e) draw a map using a simple scale and using a scale on a map.
f) use letter and number coordinates or bearings and directions to
locate places on a map.
g) locate places on an atlas map using latitude and longitude and
describe the places from information on the map.
h) understand the difference between a map and a photograph.
i) understand that there are many types of maps on different scales.
j) use a linear scale and representative fraction to estimate distance,
area and size of features on a map.

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Introduction
In Chapter Two, you learnt how you can use a map to represent an area.
Can you think of other ways in which maps are useful to us? In this
chapter, you are going to learn the main features of a map and how a map
is different from the real world or part of the earth it represents.

Map Scale
In order to represent features and places on a map, we reduce their actual
size by a certain amount. To understand this, let us see how scale is used
in pictures or photographs.

Activity 3.1: Understanding scale

Figure 3.1: Joel

Look at the picture of Joel in Figure 3.1 and do the following:
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1. Measure the length of his arm and leg in centimetres.

2. Measure his height in centimetres.
3. Do you think that is the real size and height of Joel?
4. If it is not, explain what has happened to Joel’s real size.
When a photograph is taken, the size of the object is reduced just as you
have seen in the case of Joel above. In reality, Joel is much bigger and
taller than his picture. He is about 150 cm tall. In the photograph he is only
5 cm tall. This means that 1cm on the photograph stands for 30 cm on the
real person. The photograph is thirty times smaller than his real size. That
is to say, every part of Joel’s body was reduced 30 times to fit in the
photograph. Therefore, the scale of the photograph is 1:30 (1 cm to 30
cm.)

In the same way, when you look at a map of any place, you realise that the
features and place represented are much smaller than their actual size. In
order to fit real features on a map, we reduce their size by a certain
amount. The number of times a real feature is reduced in order to fit on
paper is called a scale.

Types of Scale
Map scale can be expressed in different ways. Such different ways of
expressing the scale are called types of scale. Whichever way it is stated
the scale can assist you in using the map. In Activity 3.1 above, you have
learnt that the scale used to fit Joel in the photograph is 1:30. This means
that every part of Joel on the photograph is 1/30 its real length and size.
This is called the representative fraction scale. You will find this scale on
many maps you are going to use in this chapter. It tells you how much the
area shown on the map has been reduced. Thus, you can use it to find out
how big the place on the map is on the real ground.

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Scale 1:50,000
Figure 3.2: Part of the map of Kapiri
On most maps, a scale is usually represented as a straight line divided into
several numbered units. This is called a linear scale or bar scale. It helps
you to find how far one place is from another. It also helps you to measure
distance along roads, railways and other linear features on the map.

Figure 3.3: A linear scale

Find this out on the map in Figure 3.2. Measure the length of each unit on
the scale. What distance does one centimetre represent? You have
probably found out that every 1 cm on the line scale stands for 500 m or
half a kilometre on the ground. If you convert kilometres to centimetres,
you will find that 1 cm stands for 50,000 cm. Express it as a representative
fraction and see what it comes to. This means that on the map, every 2 cm
represent 1 km.

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Activity 3. 2: Exploring scale

In groups, go outside the classroom and do the following:
1. Using a metre rule or a measuring tape, measure the length and
width of your classroom block.
2. Draw a map of the classroom block on paper to scale.
3. State the scale you have used to draw the whole block on paper as:
i) a representative fraction; and
ii) a linear scale.
A scale can also be expressed in words. Look at Figure 3.2 again. Write its
scale, 1: 50,000 in words. You could have written it as “Every one unit on
the map represents fifty thousand units on the ground where the map was
taken from” or “One centimetre on the map represents fifty thousand
centimetres”. What you have written is called a statement scale.

Using the Linear Scale to Measure Distance on a Map

Whenever we are going on a journey, we need to get prepared. We need to
estimate the amount of money and time we shall spend. This is not always
easy if we do not know the distance we are going to travel. When we have
a map of the area, it is possible to estimate the whole journey by using its
linear scale. What we need is to know the scale of the map.

Activity 3.3: Applying scale

In groups:
1. Discuss and suggest the tools you need to measure the distance of
the walkway or footpath from your classroom to the head teacher’s
office.
2. Get any one of the tools you have suggested, move outside and
measure that distance.
3. Share your results with other groups.
4. Are all your results the same? If not, why do you think they are
different?
You could have noted that the walkway or footpath you have measured is
not straight. It has bends or corners. Even on maps, there are several
linear features with several bends and corners. These are called winding

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features. We can measure the distances covered by these features using

different methods. These include using a pair of dividers, thread or the
edge of a piece of paper.
Using a pair of dividers
(a)

(b)

Figure 3.4: How to measure distance using a pair of dividers

Activity 3.4: Using dividers

A. .B

Figure 3.5: A road with bends

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Get a pair of dividers, a foot ruler (scale) and a pencil and do the following:
1. Look at Figure 3.5. From where the road begins, identify a part
which is almost straight, mark it off using a pencil and give it a
number.
2. Repeat this until you have divided the whole road into fairly straight
parts.
3. Using a pair of dividers, measure the length of the first part.
4. Transfer the pair of dividers onto the foot ruler. Place the left hand
pointer of the divider at zero cm and read off the length indicated
by the right hand pointer.
5. Record the length in your notebook.
6. Repeat steps (iii), (iv) and (v) above until you have measured all
parts of the road.
7. Add up all distances measured in order to get the total length of the
road.
8. Share your answer with the rest of the class and see whether you all
have got the same length.
You can use the above method to measure the distance along a road,
railway or river. Think of other features which you can measure using the
linear scale. Remember that in the case of a map, you read distance
against the linear scale instead of a foot ruler. The linear scale on the map
is marked with whole numbers from 0 (zero) towards the right, i.e. 1,2,3,4
kilometres and so forth.
We use this side of the scale to measure and read off distances which are
in complete whole numbers. To the left of 0, the scale is divided into 10
equal parts. Each of these is 1/10th (one tenth) of a kilometre. We use
units to the left of zero to measure distances which are less than a
kilometre. Using this method, try to measure the distance of any one road
on the map in Figure 3.2.
Using a straight edge of paper

Step 1 Step 2

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Step 3
Figure 3.6: Using an edge of paper to measure distance

Activity 3.5: Measuring distance with a piece of paper

In pairs, get a pencil, foot ruler and a small but long piece of paper with a
straight edge.
Using Figure 3.5 again, do the following:
1. Towards the end of the left hand side of the edge of paper, put a mark
to show the starting point of the road and place it along the road with
the marked point against the starting point of the road.
2. Hold the paper firmly against the starting point and turn it along the
road until part of the road disappears underneath the edge of paper.
3. Put a mark on both the paper and map at the point where the road
leaves the edge of paper. When you do this, then you have measured
off a fairly straight portion of the road.
4. Starting at the point you have marked, repeat steps (2) and (3) until
you reach the end point of the road and mark it on the edge of paper.
5. Transfer the edge of paper onto the foot ruler and read off the length
of the road.
6. Compare your result with the one you got in Activity 3.4.

Using a string or thread

We can measure distance on a map using a string or cotton thread. To
understand this, try the following activity.

Activity 3.6: Measuring with a thread

1. Carry out library research on how we can use a string or thread to
measure distance on a map.
2. Make notes pointing out all the steps involved.

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3. Share your notes with the rest of the class.

4. Why do you think it is advisable to use cotton thread when measuring
distance?
5. Use the string or thread method to measure the distance along any
one road on the map in Figure 3.5 above.

Using the linear scale to calculate area on a map

When using a map, we may be interested in knowing how big certain
features are, e.g. a farm, forest, swamp, township or an airfield. Some of
these features have shapes which are similar to those of polygons, which
you have learnt about in mathematics. These are called features with
regular shapes. Other features have shapes which do not resemble any
polygon. These are called irregular shapes. Look at the map of Uganda
and find out the kind of shape lakes Victoria and Kyoga have. Whatever
shape a feature may have, we can estimate its size or area.

Using a mathematical formula

In Mathematics, you learnt how to calculate the area of different shapes,
e.g. a square, rectangle, triangle, circle and others, using certain formulae.
Now, you are going to use the same formulae to estimate the area of
different features on a map.

Activity 3.7: Applying formulae

In small groups, get a metre rule or any other measuring tool and do the
following:
1. Look around your classroom. What kind of shape is it?
2. Draw its outline in your notebook.
3. Calculate the area of the classroom.
4. Explain how you have got the area.
You have noted that your classroom resembles a certain shape. So you
have used the formula for calculating the area of that shape to get the
area of the classroom. In the same way, we use mathematical formulae to
calculate areas of features with regular shapes. Remember to use the
linear scale in order to get the measurements or dimensions of the
features.
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Activity 3.8: Using a formula on a map

In pairs, study Figure 3.7 and do the following:
1. Calculate the:
i) area of the aerodrome
ii) area of the railway quarters.

Figure 3.7: Sketch map of Tororo

Using the map grid
Think of physical and human features in the area around your school or
home area with irregular shapes. Make a list of those features. If we want
to find out the area of such features on a map, we can use the map grid or
graph paper method. On most topographic maps, each grid square is
usually 1 km2. So the total number of squares covered by the feature is
equal to the area of the feature.

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Activity 3.9: Estimating area

Individually, look at Figure 3.8 and:
1. identify the area covered by the lake.
2. count all grid squares which are fully covered by the lake (assume
that each square has an area of 1 square kilometre). Write the
number in your notebook.
3. count all squares which are touched but not fully covered by the
lake and divide their number by 2. Write the result in your book.
Why do you think we divide these by 2?
4. add the values you have got in steps (2) and (3) above. Your final
result is the area of the lake.
5. state the formula you have used to get the area of the lake.
6. swap your results with your friend, and then discuss them with your
teacher.

Figure 3.8: Map of Lake Victoria

You could have found out that you all got much the same answer for the
area of the lake. Any minor differences have resulted from the way you
have counted the grid squares covered by the map. You can follow the

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same steps and also use the same formula you have used above to
estimate the area of any feature on a map with an irregular shape.

Using a mathematical formula

Alternatively, we can divide the irregular feature into several shapes
whose areas can be calculated using known mathematical formulae. Do
Activity 3.10 in order to understand this.

Figure 3.9: Map of a swamp

Activity 3.10: Applying formula to irregular features

Look at Figure 3.9 and do the following:
1. Divide the swamp into figures with regular shapes e.g. rectangles,
squares, triangles, semi-circles and give each figure or polygon a
number.
2. Measure the dimensions of each polygon in centimetres.
3. Using a suitable formula, calculate the area of each polygon.
4. Add the areas of all polygons to get the total area of the swamp.
On a map we use the linear scale to measure the dimensions of the
polygons we create from the area covered by the feature with an irregular
shape.

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How to Find Places and Features on a Map

On the surface of the earth and on maps, different features are found in
different places. To be able to use the map, you need to describe where
features are found. Now you are going to learn how you can do this.

Activity 3.11: Identifying features on a map

Look at Figure 3.2 again and do the following:
1. Identify:
i) any three rivers shown on the map.
ii) one permanent swamp on the map.
iii) one place where a school is found.
2. Explain how you have been able to find those features.
You have noted that certain features can be found using words written
against or close to them. These are the names or labels of such features.

Grid and Grid References

Topographic maps have a network of lines drawn all over them. These are
called grid lines. They cross one another at right angles and form a grid of
squares. These lines can also help you to find features anywhere on the
map. The vertical lines are called 'eastings', as they increase in value as
you move east on the map. The horizontal lines are called 'northings' as
they increase in value as you move north on the map (see Figure 3.10).

Figure 3.10: Map grid

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Each line is identified by a two-figure number, which appears in ascending

order. Eastings are always read before northings when stating a location.
To remember this order, say… along the corridor, THEN up the stairs. The
number formed by eastings and northings is called a grid reference. It
consists of an even number of digits. It is similar to a coordinate in
mathematics.
Grid references are of two types, i.e. four-figure and six-figure references.
A grid reference is got by stating how far east and north the feature
extends. For instance, in Figure 3.10, point A lies 36 east and 22 north. The
four-figure grid reference for point A is 3522.
You can also find and state the position of a feature using a six-figure grid
reference. You can get this by adding a figure to the easting and a figure to
the northing of the four-figure grid reference. The third figure of each
reading is one-tenth of a whole number. To get this, divide the grid square
into ten equal small squares along the eastings and ten squares along the
northings.

Figure 3.11: Six-figure grid reference

The feature you are trying to locate will lie in one of these tiny squares.
Still remembering to go along the corridor and up the stairs, work out the
extra numbers you need and put them into your four-figure grid reference,
like 626 334 for the feature shown in Figure 3.11 above.

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Activity 3.12: Using grid reference

In pairs, look at Figure 3.10 and:
1. state the four-figure grid reference of points B, C and D.
2. state the six-figure grid reference of points A, B and C.
3. write at least two sentences explaining the advantages of using
four-figure and six-figure grid references to locate features on a
map.

Compass Directions
How would you describe to a friend the route from your home to the
nearest trading centre?
You would probably describe it using words like at a certain point “turn
left or right”. However, you could do this in a better way by describing the
route map. When using a map, we use compass directions.

Activity 3.13: Revising a compass

Using your knowledge from Primary school:
1. explain what you understand by a compass.
2. draw a diagram of a compass showing the cardinal points.
The line diagram you have drawn in Activity 3.13 is not the actual
compass. It is called a compass rose or a direction finder. To be able to
use the compass to find directions more accurately, we further subdivided
the cardinal directions into four other directions. These are called
intermediate directions or inter-cardinal points. They are northeast (NE),
southeast (SE), southwest (SW) and northwest (NW).
Note: Inter-cardinal points combine two directions, e.g. northeast,
meaning that you move east, then north at the same time. In other words,
northeast lies north of east.

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Activity 3.14: Subdividing a compass

Figure 3.12: An eight-point compass rose

Copy the compass rose in Figure 3.12 into your notebook.
1. Using a protractor, measure and state:
i) the angles between nearby cardinal directions.
ii) the angles between cardinal directions and intermediate
directions.
2. Divide the angles between cardinal directions and intermediate
directions halfway using straight lines and measure the angle of each.
3. Name the new directions created by subdividing the intermediate
directions.
In Activity 3.14, you have come up with a compass rose with 16 points.
This is called a sixteen-point compass rose. The new directions you have
got combine three directions. These enable you to find and describe the
directions of all places and features accurately.
To determine the direction of one feature or place from another, draw a
compass rose at the point from which you want to describe direction.
Then draw a straight pencil line connecting the two points. Read off the
direction corresponding or closest to the point whose direction you want
to find.

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Bearing
You can also describe the position of a feature or place from another using
their distance apart in the form of an angle. The angle is measured
clockwise from the north line. This angular distance is called a bearing. It
is stated with three figures. For angles less than 100o we write a zero
before the measured angle, for example, 045o instead of 45°. To
understand this better, follow the steps below.
To determine the bearing of one point from another, draw a compass rose
at the centre of the point from which you want to determine the bearing.
Then draw a line joining the two points. Using a protractor, measure
clockwise the angle between the north and the line you have drawn
joining the two points. Look at Figure 3.13 and state the bearing of A from
B and of B from A.

Figure 3.13: How to determine bearing

Activity 3.15: Finding bearing

Study the sketch map of Tororo in Figure 3.7 and do the following:
Determine:
1. The bearing of the cement factory from the quarry in Tororo
Municipality.
2. The bearing of Tororo College from the ginnery near Mudodo River.
3. The bearing of the ginnery near Mudodo River from Tororo College.

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Latitude and Longitude

The maps you have used above all show small areas with great detail.
These are called large scale maps. On the other hand, a map showing
your country, East Africa or the whole world shows a very large area but
with little detail. These are called small scale maps. When we want to
describe the exact positions of features or places on small scale maps, we
use latitude and longitude.

Lines of latitude

Figure 3.14: (a) Lines of latitude (b) How the equator divides the world

Activity 3.16: Understanding latitude

In pairs, look at Figure 3.14 and do the following:
1. Discuss what you understand by latitude.
2. In your notebook, write at least two sentences explaining latitude.
3. Suggest how lines of latitude are determined and marked on maps.
4. Share what you have written with the class.
Latitude measures how far north or south of the equator a place is
located. The equator is the starting point for measuring latitude. For this
reason, it is marked as the 0 (zero) degree latitude. It divides the world
into two equal parts – north and south, as shown in Figure 3.17 (b). What
do we call these parts? The number of latitude degrees increase as we
move further away from the equator, all the way up to the 90 degrees
latitude at the poles.

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Lines of longitude

Figure 3.15 (a): Lines of longitude (b) How the Prime Meridian divides the earth

Activity 3.17: Understanding longitude

In pairs or individually, look at Figure 3.15 and do the following:
1. In your notebook, write at least two sentences explaining what you
understand by longitude.
2. Suggest how longitudes are determined and marked on maps.
3. How are longitudes different from latitudes?
4. Share what you have written with the class.
Longitude measures how far a place is east or west of the major vertical
line called the Prime Meridian. The Prime Meridian runs through
Greenwich in England. Because of this, it is also called the Greenwich
Meridian. It is the starting point for measuring longitude. It is marked as
the 0 (zero) degree longitude. It divides the earth into two equal parts –
west and east, as shown in Figure 3.15 (b).

Using latitude and longitude

Lines of latitude and longitude also form a grid system on the map. To find
a location on the grid system, simply read the latitude along which a place
or feature lies in degrees. Then read the longitude.
At the point where the two lines meet, state the two numbers. These give
the coordinates of the feature. For example, in Figure 3.16, Kampala City
lies at latitude 0.2 degrees north of the equator and at longitude 32.35

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degrees east of the Greenwich Meridian. So the position of Kampala can

be stated as 0.2oN 32.35o E.

Figure 3.16: Map of Uganda with latitude and longitude

Activity 3.18
1. Study Figure 3.16 and do the following:
Using latitude and longitude, find the position of:
(i) Arua, (ii) Lira, (iii) Mbarara, (iv) Soroti, (v) Moroto and
(vi)Jinja
2. Now open your atlas and look for the world map showing political
units or countries. Using the map:
i) Find out the lines of latitude and longitude between which the
following countries lie: Angola, Chad, Australia, Ecuador, Uganda,
Egypt, India and Iran.
ii) Find the cities lying at the following locations:
5.19oN 4.01oW; 33.56oS 18.28oE; 38.45oS 62.15oW; 0.19oN 32.35oE;
1.20oN 103.45oE; 41.50oN 87.45oW; and 15.20oS 28.14oE

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Activity of Integration
Ask your teacher to provide you with a topographic map (scale 1:50000) of
the area where your school is found. Study the map and find out places that
you would wish to visit if given a chance to go on a geography tour towards
the end of the school term.
1. Choose a route that you would follow in order to see a good number of
interesting features. Draw a simple map with marked stopover points.
Write at least two sentences describing the activities you would do at
each stopover point.
2. Determine the distance (in kilometres) your journey would cover from
the school to the furthest place you would wish to visit.
3. Estimate the total amount of money you would spend on transport,
including the return journey, if the transporter charges 100,000
shillings per kilometre.

Chapter Summary
In this chapter, you have learnt:
1. that all human beings, including you, move around places using
mental and drawn maps.
2. that a map is drawn in plan as if one is looking at features on earth
directly from above.
3. that objects or features are represented on a map using symbols.
4. that all features on a map are smaller than their real size because they
are reduced using scale.
5. how to draw a map of a local area using symbols and a scale.
6. how to use the linear or bar scale of a map to measure distance and
estimate the area or features on the real ground. You can do these
using different methods.
7. the difference between small scale and large scale maps.
8. how to find places and the positions of features on maps of different
scale.

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Chapter Four
Ways of Studying Geography

Key Words By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
• Fieldwork a) understand how to use and apply different techniques
• Observation used in fieldwork and apply these to studying a local area.
• Questionnaire b) use maps, aerial images, photographs, graphs and charts
• Aerial to communicate data.
photograph c) analyse and present statistics gathered in fieldwork.
• Ground d) write conclusions to summarise fieldwork.
photograph e) know the three different angles from which photographs
• Horizon can be taken and the terms used to describe the different
• Oblique parts of a photograph.
photograph f) appreciate the effect of perspective on oblique
photographs.
g) understand the difference between photographs and
maps.
h) recognise features on a photograph and make a sketch of
an area from a photograph.
i) appreciate that fieldwork and photographs are important
because geography is the study of the real world.
j) use fieldwork to study a local area

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Introduction
In this chapter, you are going to learn how and where you can find
geographical information. After reading about and using the different
sources of geographical information, you will be able to suggest which
source is most important and why.
Activity 4.1: Finding out information
In pairs, study Figure 4.1 and do the activities that follow:
(a)
Amount of crop produced in
Year tonnes
Paddy rice Maize Wheat
2010 25,070 23,000 16,670
2012 23,040 25,000 14,290
2014 24,950 25,040 15,710
2015 24,880 23,530 16,000
2016 25,280 23,180 16,830

(b)

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(c)

Figure 4.1: Some sources of geographical information

1. Summarise the information presented in the table, newspaper

extract and photograph.
2. Using the information provided in the table, draw a graph to show
the production of any one crop from 2010 to 2016.
3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each source of
information.
4. In your opinion, which source is most effective in giving
geographical information? Give reasons why you think it is the
most effective.

Studying Geography through Fieldwork

Activity 4.2: Finding out from the field
In groups, go outside the school and:
1. ask people in the local area about the different activities they do.
2. look around and write down the different things you see in the area.
3. write a report about the area studied.
4. through discussion, share your findings with other groups.

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You have probably found out from field information about the activities
carried out by people in the area around your school. You have also seen
the natural features found in the area. The information you collected from
the field is the geography of the area around your school. So, the field is
one of the sources of geographical information. Visiting an area and
collecting information about it is called fieldwork study.

How can we Study Geography through Fieldwork?

To be able to understand the steps and methods involved in carrying out
fieldwork, do the following activity.

Activity 4.3: Exploring steps in fieldwork

In a group or as an individual:
1. Choose a topic to be studied in the area outside the classroom.
2. Decide the reasons (objectives) for doing the fieldwork.
3. Decide how you are going to collect information while in the field.
4. Go out to the field and collect the information, emphasising how
the natural environment and human features are related.
5. Draw a map showing how physical and human features are
distributed in the area.
6. If possible, you may carry out measurements of particular things in
the field or you may ask people how much land is used for each
activity, how many buildings of a certain kind are in the area, etc.
7. After collecting all the information needed, write a report about the
area studied. Through discussion, compare group reports.

While in the field, you collected some information such as that about the
relief of the area, vegetation types, and crops grown or how people use
their land, type of buildings and so forth, by looking around and seeing
things by yourself. This is called observation.
Your teacher could also have given you a number of questions to ask
people in the field in order to get information from them. This list of
questions is called a questionnaire.

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Activity 4.4: Understanding methods

In pairs, discuss and suggest possible names for the following methods
you could have used to get some information while in the field. Through
discussion, share the names you have suggested with the rest of the class.
1. Talking to the local people and asking them questions about the
things they do.
2. Measuring the size of gardens, market stalls, buildings and other
features in the field.
3. Drawing sketch maps, field transects and panoramas.

Writing a Report about Fieldwork

You collected information about the area you studied during fieldwork.
How do you think one can know what the geography of the area you
studied is like? Possibly you have thought of telling and explaining to the
person what you found out. Since it is not possible to tell everybody what
we have got from the field, we write it down so that others can read for
themselves. The information we write about the area studied is called a
fieldwork report. To be able to write a report about your study, do
Activity 4.5 below.

Activity 4.5
Using the information you collected during the field study you did in
Activity 4.2 above, follow the steps below and prepare a fieldwork report.
Present the report to your teacher for any assistance you may need.
1. Remember the topic and objectives of your study.
2. State the topic and summarise your objectives at the beginning.
3. Briefly describe the area studied, possibly with a map.
4. Write down the information you got about every objective in words.
5. Analyse the statistics you got, if any, and present them in tables,
charts or graphs.
6. Include photographs or other maps, if any.
7. Summarise what you found out from the fieldwork, including the
relationships between the people of the area and their physical and
human environment.

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Learning Geography through Photographs

If we cannot reach a place very easily, we can learn about it by looking at
its photographs. These can tell us a lot about the geography of even
those areas we have never been to. To understand this, do the following
activity.

Activity 4.6
Study Figure 4.2 and do the activities that follow.

Figure 4.2: Photograph as a source of geographical information

1. In your notebook, write down the natural and human features you
see in the photograph.
2. Explain how any two human features are influenced by the natural
environment.
3. In what ways do you think human activities might affect the
natural environment shown in the photograph?

All that you have written about Figure 4.1 is the geography of the area
where the picture was taken. So studying photographs is another way in
which we can get geographical information.

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Types of photographs
Photographs are of different types. These depend on the angle at which
the photographer looks at the features on the ground through the camera.
Which types do you know? Those taken while the photographer is
standing on the ground or on another feature connected to the ground are
called ground photographs. Photographs can also be taken from the air,
i.e. when the photographer is not directly connected to the ground. Such
photographs can be taken from an aeroplane, a very tall building or a
flight balloon. These are called aerial photographs. To understand this
further, do Activity 4.7.
(a)

(b)

Figure 4.3: The Rift Valley in Uganda

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(a)

(b)
Figure 4.4: Kampala City
Activity 4.7
Look at Figures 4.3 and 4.4 and:
1. identify and write in your notebook the buildings and vegetation in
each photograph.
2. explain the differences between the photographs shown in each
figure.
3. suggest what type of photograph each one is. Give reasons to
support your opinion.

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You could have realised that aerial photographs are not the same. This is
because while in the air, the photographer can look at features on the
ground at different angles. Photographs taken when looking at features
vertically, i.e. at an angle of 90o, are called vertical aerial photographs.
These show only the top views of the features on the ground, with all
features appearing as flat objects. Those photographs taken looking at
features at an angle less than 90o are called aerial oblique photographs.
These show both the top and side views of objects.

Describing where things are on a photograph

In Chapter Three, you learnt the different ways in which you can find
things on maps of different scale. Which one of these can you remember?
However, with a photograph we do not usually know which direction the
camera was pointing when the person took the photograph. So we cannot
use compass points.
When describing features on the ground and aerial oblique photographs,
you divide the photograph into regions depending on how far away from
the observer the features are. These are foreground, middle ground and
background. The part of the photograph which shows the sky is called the
horizon. We do not divide this into regions. Can you suggest why this is so?

Background

Middle ground

Foreground

Figure 4.5: Divisions of a photograph

If you want to give the exact positions of features, you subdivide the above
three grounds into other regions. These are left foreground, right
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foreground; left middle ground, right middle ground; left back ground and
right back ground.

Activity 4.8
Look at photograph (a) in Figure 4.1 again and do the following:
1. Using a straight edge, draw in your notebook, the outline of the
photograph and divide it into the first three regions.
2. Subdivide it further into six regions.
3. Identify the features found in each region and write them down.
4. Subdivide it further into nine regions and suggest which names you
can give to the new regions.
5. Swap your work with one of your neighbours and comment on each
other’s work.
When you look at photograph (b) in Figure 4.4, you realise that it does not
have any foreground or background. What type of photograph is it? You
have probably suggested that it is a vertical aerial photograph. So, when
interpreting such a photograph, you use terms like bottom, top, left,
centre and right to describe where things are.

Activity 4.9
Using these words: bottom, top, left, centre and right, describe the area
shown on the photograph in Figure 4.4 (b)
Note: On photographs we can describe activities which are taking place as
well as what the place looks like.

Drawing a sketch from a photograph

Sometimes it is useful to draw a sketch based on a photograph to show
the most important features of the photograph. You do not need to show
everything on the photograph but simply what kinds of things are found in
each area. For instance, areas of buildings, main roads, types of
vegetation, areas of farming, swamps, rivers or lakes, flat land or hills. Try
to divide the photo into just three or four kinds of areas. To understand
this better, see Figure 4.6.

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Figure 4.6 is a sketch of the area shown in Figure 4.2.

Activity 4.10

Study Figure 4.7 and do the tasks that follow.

Figure 4.7: Photograph showing Rukiga Hills, Kabale

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1. Draw a sketch of Figure 4.7 to show the main features on the

photograph.
2. Divide the sketch you have drawn into appropriate divisions.
3. Name the features on the sketch.
4. Describe the area shown in the photograph.

Research Task
Individually:
1. Conduct a library or internet search about the sources of
geographical information and write a report of your findings.
2. In your opinion, which source is most important? Give reasons why
you think it is the most important.
3. Present your report to the class through discussion.

Activity of Integration
1. Abu Saidi, a student of Ife High School in Nigeria, wants to study the
geography of Tanzania. He has visited your school looking for assistance on
how he can find out the information he wants.
2. Using the knowledge and skills you have learnt under this topic, write an
advice note of about one page to help him get the information about the
geography of Tanzania. Suggest to him which method/methods would be
the most useful and why.

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Chapter Summary
In this chapter, you have learnt:
1. that we can get geographical information from various sources
including maps, statistics, graphs, charts, newspapers and other
mass media.
2. the advantages and problems associated with each source of
information.
3. that photographs are of different types depending on the angle at
which they are taken.
4. how to conduct a fieldwork study and record the geography of an
area.
5. that fieldwork and reading photographs are very important because
they tell us what exactly a place looks like.
6. how to communicate geographical information using tables of
statistics, graphs, charts and maps.

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Chapter Five
The Earth and Its Movements

Key Words By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
• Axis a) understand the relationship between the earth and the sun
• Oblate and how this affects temperatures and seasons.
spheroid b) draw diagrams to show the relationship between the earth
• Rotation and the sun’s rays and the causes of temperature variations
• Revolution and use these to show why the earth can be divided into
• Equinox tropical, temperate and polar regions.
• Solstices c) understand how the earth’s rotation causes day and night.
• Summer d) calculate time using longitude.
• Autumn e) appreciate how the movement of the earth in relation to the
• Winter sun affects the way people live: the effect of temperatures
and seasons, lengths of day and night.

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Introduction
In Primary school, you learnt about the solar system and the position of
the planet earth in relation to the sun. In this chapter, you are going to
learn about the shape of the earth, the movements of the earth and how
these movements affect time, climate and people’s ways of life in the
different parts of the world.

What Shape is the Earth?

The earth is the planet on which we live. All other living things live on
earth. It is the only planet with life. This is because it has enough supply of
oxygen and water, which are needed for life. Also, since the earth is not
very far from the sun, it has moderate temperatures, that is, it is neither
too cold nor too hot. What do you know about the shape of the earth?

Figure 5.1: A model showing the shape of the earth

Activity 5.1
In pairs, look at Figure 5.1 above and do the following tasks:
1. Identify the positions of the poles, and the equator.
2. Describe what the earth looks like at the poles and at the equator.
3. Describe the shape of the earth.
Through discussion, share what you have written with the class.
You have probably described the earth as a round planet. However, when
you look at Figure 5.1, you will realise that the earth is flattened at the
North Pole and the South Pole. Again, you will see that it is enlarged at the

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position of the equator and becomes smaller as one moves towards the
poles. So it is not perfectly round or spherical. This shape is called oblate.
Therefore, the true shape of the earth is an oblate spheroid or a geoid.
The bulging of the earth at the equator is caused by its rotation.

Movements of the Earth

Activity 5.2
1. Draw a diagram showing the shape of the earth and on it include
the main lines of latitude and longitude.
2. Conduct internet or library research about the solar system and
make notes with diagrams.
3. Find out why it is called so and how many planets make up the
solar system.
All the nine planets in the solar system move around the sun. Each follows
a particular path called an orbit. No planet enters the orbit of another
planet. Imagine what would happen if two huge planets met.
Because you live on the surface of the moving earth, it is not easy to know
that it is actually moving. In fact, the earth makes two types of movement.
Firstly, it spins or rotates on its axis. This movement is called the earth’s
rotation. Secondly, it moves around the sun. This is called the earth’s
revolution.

The rotation of the earth

What time of the day do you feel the most heat outside? Is it hottest during
the middle of the night, during the morning, or during the afternoon? If we
receive heat from the same sun, with the same temperature, then why
doesn’t temperature outside remain the same the whole day? All these
happen because every day the earth rotates on its axis. Figure 5.2 shows
the earth’s axis.

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Figure 5.2: The earth rotates on its axis

Activity 5.3
1. In pairs, get a globe or football, torch and marker or bold ink.
2. Using a marker or bold ink, put an X-mark on the ball, in case you do
not have a globe.
3. Hold the globe or ball in your hands such that your friend standing at
the opposite side flashes a torch upon it.
4. Spin the globe or ball and observe what happens.
5. Write a paragraph to explain what you have observed.
6. Explain how we get daytime and night-time on earth.

In a similar way, the earth normally moves on its axis from the east to the
west once every 24 hours. That is one complete rotation. This is why we see
the sun rising in the east and setting in the west every day. As the earth
rotates, it exposes half of itself to the sun while the rest of it is in darkness.
The part of the earth facing the sun experiences daytime while the one
hidden away is in night-time.

Figure 5.3: Rotation of the earth around the sun

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Why places on earth have different time

Apart from causing day and night, the rotation of the earth also results in
time differences. For every 150 of longitude we move from the Prime
Meridian eastwards, we gain one hour. And as we move westwards, for
every 150 of longitude, we lose one hour.
The sun reaches the highest position in the sky at 12 noon. At that time,
the Greenwich Meridian lies under the sun. This is called 12 noon local
time along the Prime Meridian. Local time at the Greenwich is called
Greenwich Mean Time or simply GMT. All meridians to the east of the
Greenwich Meridian have sunrise before the Prime Meridian. Local time
along these meridians is ahead of GMT. Meridians to the west have sunrise
after the Greenwich, and the local time is behind GMT. See Figure 5.4.

Fig 5.4: Longitude and time

Activity 5.4
1. If the time at place X is 1600 hours and GMT is 1400 hours, find out:
i) How many hours X is from GMT.
ii) The longitude at which place X lies.
2. If the time at Greenwich is 7.00 GMT, calculate the time at:
(i) 75 0 E (ii) 750W

Revolution of the earth

The earth takes one year or 365 ¼ days to complete its journey around the
sun. This journey is called a revolution. After every four years, the earth

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takes 366 days to complete this same journey. The fourth year is called a
leap year. All other years have 365 days. The earth’s axis always points in
the same direction in the sky. It is permanently tilted at an angle of 661 /20
to the earth’s path.

Figure 5.5: Revolution of the earth

The movement of the earth around the sun leads to changes in the
position of the latitudes in relation to the sun. On 21st March, the sun is
overhead at the equator. This is called the equinox. Another Equinox
occurs on 23rd September. On 21st June, the sun is overhead at midday at
the Tropic of Cancer. This is called the summer solstice. On 22nd
December, the sun is overhead at midday along the Tropic of Capricorn.
This is called the winter solstice.

Activity 5.5
Study Figure 5.4 above and do the following:
1. Find out the hottest months in places along the equator.
2. When is it summer in the Northern Hemisphere?
3. When is it spring in the Southern Hemisphere?
4. When is it summer in the Southern Hemisphere?

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5. Conduct internet or library research about how the four seasons

influence people’s activities and way of life.

Why is the Earth Divided into Zones with Different

Temperatures?

Activity: 5.6
1. Conduct internet or library research about world climate zones and
in your notebook:
i) draw the earth, mark and name the equator, the tropic lines,
and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles.
ii) mark out the tropical, temperate and the polar zones.
iii) describe the characteristics of each of these zones.
iv) explain the other factors that cause temperature differences in
an area.
v) share your report with the class through discussion.

Look at Figure 5.2 again and find out whether the earth is upright. If it is
not upright, estimate the angle at which it is inclined. You have realised
that the earth slants at an angle of 66.50 degrees from the sun. This makes
different places on earth lie at different angles from the sun. The places
are hit by the sun rays at different angles and so they receive different
amounts of heat. At the equator, the sun rays strike the earth directly over
a small area. The heat is concentrated over a small area, thus increasing
the temperatures.

At higher latitudes, the rays are slanting and spread over a large area. The
heat is spread over a large area, thus reducing the temperatures. The
distance travelled by the sun rays to strike different places varies. The
distance is short at the equator while at the poles it is very long. This
partly brings about the temperature differences. The shorter the rays, the
greater the heat and the longer the rays, the less the heat. This explains
why the temperatures in the areas near the equator are constantly hot.
The division of the earth into zones is based on the differences in
temperature.

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Figure 5.6: Sun’s rays striking the earth’s surface

Activity of Integration
Imagine one of the daily newspapers in your country has
published an article entitled “The sun will soon stop moving”.
The National Science Forum has organised a conference to
discuss the newspaper article, and your school has been invited
to participate in the discussion. Using the knowledge you have
learnt in this chapter, prepare a paper of at least one and a half
pages that you will present at the conference. In your paper,
point out the likely effects on time and people’s lives if the sun
stopped moving.

Chapter Summary
In this chapter, you have learnt:
1. that the earth is the only planet with living things because it has
large amounts of water and oxygen, and moderate temperatures.
2. that the earth is spherical in shape.
3. that the sun lies at the centre of the solar system and all planets in
this system move around the sun following particular orbits.
4. that the earth makes two movements: rotation and revolution.
5. that the rotation of the earth leads to day and night while the
revolution causes seasons.
6. how the distance of a place farther north and south of the equator
brings about differences in temperature and climate.

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Chapter Six
Weather and Climate

Key words By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

• Climate a) understand the difference between weather and

• Condensation climate.
• Dew point b) understand the main elements of weather and
• Humidity climate.
• Isohels c) understand how to record the main elements of
• Isohyets weather.
• Isonephs d) know how to plot weather on maps and the terms
• Millibars used for plotting.
• Okta e) make some simple instruments for measuring and
• Precipitation recording weather.
• Sleet f) read or use maps and graphs to describe weather and
• Weather climate.
• Weather log g) know the names and characteristics of the main types
of clouds and rainfall.
h) appreciate that weather affects your day-to-day life
and activities.
i) appreciate the importance of recording weather for
farmers and others.

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Introduction
In Primary school, you learnt about the solar system and the position of
the planet earth in relation to the sun. In this chapter, you are going to
learn about the shape of the earth, the movements of the earth and how
these movements affect time, climate and people’s ways of life in the
different parts of the world.

In your home area, people usually take weather and climate to mean the
same thing. In this topic, you are going to learn the difference between
weather and climate and how you can measure and record weather in an
area. Also, you are going to learn how weather and climate affect your
own life and the way people in other parts of the world live.

Weather and How it is Measured

Activity 6.1: Understanding weather

1. Look outside. How would you describe the weather around your
school?
2. What was the weather like around your school yesterday?
3. Is today’s weather different from that of yesterday or the last three
days? If yes, describe the differences.
4. In your own words, explain what you understand by weather.
When we talk of weather, we are actually talking about the conditions of
the air or atmosphere at a certain time. The weather may be sunny or
cloudy. It may be hot or cold, windy or calm. It may be rainy. Our country
has many different kinds of weather at any one time. You have probably
realised that even a small area like the one where you live or go to school
has different weather conditions every day.

Activity 6.2: Identifying weather conditions

In pairs, study the photographs in Figure 6.1 below and do the following:
1. Identify the different weather conditions in each.
2. Write a paragraph of at least four lines describing the weather
conditions in each photograph.
3. Present what you have written to the class.

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a b

c d
Figure 6.1: Conditions in the atmosphere

What are Elements of Weather?

Activity 6.3: Understanding elements of weather
1. In pairs, discuss and list the things you talked about when
describing weather in the two activities above.
2. Write them down and share your list with the rest of the class.
The conditions that prevailed in the atmosphere around your school
yesterday could have been different from what they are now. What are
those conditions called? The things you have listed in Activity 1.3 (a) are
called elements of weather. Rainfall, sunshine, heat and coldness
(temperature), air pressure, air humidity or moisture in the air and clouds
are all things which determine the weather conditions of a place.

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How is Weather Different from Climate?

Activity 6.4: Understanding the difference between weather and

climate

In groups, do the following:

1. Discuss the pattern of weather in a year in the area where you live.
2. Write at least two paragraphs describing that pattern.
3. Through discussion, share what you have written with the rest of
the class.
4. Suggest a name we can give that weather pattern.

In your description, you have probably written about the times of the year
or seasons in which you can expect heavy rain or drought in the area
where you live. Or you may have talked about the months when
temperatures become hotter than usual. When you describe such a
pattern of weather, you are talking about the climate of your area. The
kind of weather a place has over a long period of time is its climate. The
two most important elements used to describe climate are precipitation
and temperature.

What is precipitation?
Activity 6.5: Understanding precipitation
In groups, study the pictures in Figure 6.2 and do the tasks that follow.

a b

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c d
Figure 6.2: Types of precipitation

1. Identify the type of precipitation you see in each picture and write it
in your notebook.
2. Which of those types of precipitation do you usually experience in
your home area or around your school?
3. Write two sentences explaining what you understand by
precipitation.

The earth’s surface receives moisture from the atmosphere in different

forms. All forms of moisture falling from the atmosphere are called
precipitation. It may be in the form of rain, snow, hail, sleet or mist. In
Uganda and the rest of East Africa, rainfall is the most common and
important form of precipitation received.

What is temperature?
Have you ever woken up in the morning when there is mist in the air
outside the house? What did you feel on your body? What do you always
feel when you sit under the sun? You have probably thought of coldness in
the case of a misty morning, and hotness in the case of sitting under the
sun. The atmosphere usually has different amounts of heat at different
times. The amount of heat in the air is called air temperature. When you
say the morning is cold or the afternoon is hot, you are actually talking
about the temperature of the air surrounding you.

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Measuring and recording elements of weather

Activity 6.6: Measuring weather

a b

d
c

e f
Figure 6.3: Some weather measuring instruments

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Study Figure 6.3 above and do the following:

1. Using previous knowledge, identify the weather instrument shown
in each picture.
2. Copy and fill in the table below.

Picture Name of weather Element of weather

instrument it measures
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
3. For each instrument you have identified, write at least three
sentences explaining how it is used to measure and record weather.
4. Present what you have written to the class.
5. What is the name of the place where all weather recoding
instruments are kept and used?

Weather changes are very important in our daily lives. This is the reason
we have to record weather conditions every day in order to make weather
forecasts. Weather forecasts enable people to plan their activities and to
take precautions against bad weather.
A place where weather is measured and recoded is called a weather
station.

Project: Measuring and recording elements of weather in the local area

You are going to carry out a project to measure and record elements of
weather around your school. You will need a book where you will record
information about the weather conditions on a daily basis. This is called a
weather log.

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Activity 6.7(a): Making a weather log

1. Write your name on a clean notebook.
2. Write out the days and dates of the month for which you will be
recording temperature and rainfall.

Activity 6.7(b): Measuring temperature

Work as a group to carry out this activity at school on a daily basis for a
period of three months. You will have to keep a record of the weather
elements at your school in your weather log for those three months.
1. Get a thermometer from the science laboratory.
2. Measure and record the lowest and highest temperatures of the
day.
The lowest temperature should be measured between 6.00 a.m. and 7.00
a.m. The highest temperature should be between 2.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.

Activity 6.7 (c): Rainfall and how it is measured

You are going to make a rain gauge which you will use to measure rainfall.
This is a short-term gauge so it is checked after each downpour. Collect
the materials listed below and follow the steps outlined to make the
gauge.

Materials
• Sharp scissors
• Fine mesh screen/a transparent polythene sheet
• Nail file
• 2 two-litre bottles (or funnel)
• Permanent marker
• Ruler
• Masking tape
• Saucepan or basin

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Read the following instructions before beginning the activity:

1. Carefully cut a two-litre bottle with straight sides and a flat bottom
into half to make a funnel. File any sharp edges.
2. Place the cut bottle on the uncut bottle so that the spouts/edges
are touching and in line.
3. Tightly fix the funnel onto the top of the bottle using the masking
tape. Place a transparent polythene sheet over the funnel opening
and press it slightly inwards. Tape it in place. Make a hole inside the
polythene sheet to direct water into the bottle.
4. Mark the bottle from the bottom ½ cm apart upwards with the
permanent marker. For more accurate readings, tape a ruler to the
side of the bottle. Each ½ cm represents 500 millimetres.
5. Place the rain gauge outside in an open place.
6. Read off and record in your log book the amount of rainfall received
once every 24 hours.
The amount of rainfall recorded during the month is the monthly total
rainfall. The amount of rainfall recoded for a whole year is the annual
total rainfall. Some months are wet while others are dry. To get the
average picture of rainfall received in an area, we divide total annual
rainfall by the 12 months in a year. The result is the mean monthly
rainfall. Rainfall figures for all the months in a year can be represented on
a bar graph. This enables us to describe the rainfall pattern of an area.
To show how rainfall is distributed over a country like Uganda or a larger
region like East Africa, places receiving equal rainfall amounts are plotted
on maps and joined using lines called isohyets. The map produced is
called a rainfall map or precipitation map (see Figure 6.4).

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Figure 6.4: Rainfall map of part of East Africa

Atmospheric or Air Pressure

Have you ever slept on a hard surface for long hours? How did you feel
when you got up? Why do you think you felt that way? You probably felt
some pain in your body. This is because the weight of air that surrounds us
or the atmosphere was pressing your body against the ground. This
weight is called atmospheric pressure.

Measuring atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric pressure is measured using a barometer. There are two
types of barometer, as shown in Figures 6.5 and 6.6 below.

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Figure 6.5: A mercury barometer Figure 6.6: An aneroid barometer

The mercury barometer consists of a bowl in which mercury is put. A glass

tube filled with mercury is then inverted into the bowl. As the air in the
atmosphere uses its weight to push down the mercury in the bowl, the
mercury level in the glass tube falls while the mercury level in the bowl
rises. When the atmospheric pressure falls, the mercury in the glass tube
also falls.
When the mercury levels stabilise, the column of the mercury in the glass
tube is equivalent to the atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure is
measured in units called millibars.

Activity 6.8: How the aneroid barometer works

1. Carry out internet or library research on how the aneroid barometer is
used to measure atmospheric temperature.
2. Write down your findings and present them to the rest of the class
through discussion.

Atmospheric Humidity or Air Humidity

Most of the time, the air around us is not dry. It contains some amount of
water in the form of an invisible gas. This gaseous water or moisture is

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called water vapour. The amount of water vapour held in air is called
humidity. The water in air comes from different sources, such as from
open water bodies and soil by evaporation and from vegetation and other
plants by transpiration. Humidity influences the formation of clouds and
precipitation.

Activity 6.9: Proving that air contains water

Get a cold mirror or a piece of glass or if your classroom has glass
windows, close the window and do the following:
1. Breathe onto the mirror or glass. What do you notice? Have you
seen anything coming out of your mouth? Do you see anything on
the glass? What happens when you let the glass stay for some
time?
2. Write down your observations and share what you have written
with your friends.

How is humidity measured?

Humidity in the atmosphere is measured using a hygrometer. The
simplest hygrometer is a sling psychrometer. It consists of two
thermometers, a wet bulb and a dry bulb thermometer. The wet bulb is
wrapped in a wet cloth and dipped into a bowl of water. This keeps the
muslin wet. The wet bulb records a lower temperature.

Figure 6.7: A hygrometer

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When water evaporates from the wet cloth it takes away heat with it. This
leads to cooling on the wet bulb thermometer, thus giving a lower
reading. The dry bulb records the hotter temperature. It is kept in the
normal environment. The difference in temperatures recorded by the two
thermometers gives the humidity in the air. A large difference means
humidity is low and a small one means humidity is high. If there is no
difference, the air is said to be saturated. This means that the air cannot
take in any more water vapour.

Humidity is recorded as a percentage of the amount of water vapour that

the air is holding compared to the amount the same air can hold before it
gets saturated. This is called relative humidity.

Sunshine and How it is Measured

In most parts of our country, the sun shines almost every day. Sunshine
benefits us in many ways.

Activity 6.10: How important is sunshine?

In your notebook:
1. explain how sunshine benefits you and your local area.
2. write an article for a local newspaper explaining what would happen
if it did not shine for three months in Uganda.

Figure 6.8: A Campbell Stokes sunshine recorder

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Sunshine is recorded using a Campbell Stokes sunshine recorder. This

consists of a glass sphere held by a metal frame. Inside the frame is a
sensitive card labelled in hours and minutes at the margins. As the sun
apparently moves across the sky, its rays burn traces on the card if the
sunshine is not constant. If the sunshine is constant, its rays burn a
continuous line on the card. The lengths of the burnt sections are added
to get the total hours of sunshine for the day. We record sunshine on maps
by drawing lines showing places with equal amounts of sunshine. These
are called isohels.

Clouds

(a) (b)
Figure 6.9: Cloud cover

Activity 6.11: Finding out about clouds

In groups, go outside the classroom, observe the sky and:
1. describe the appearance of the clouds.
2. describe the cloud cover using the key provided in Figure 6.10
below.
3. list the types of clouds that you know.
4. explain the importance of clouds to human beings.
5. write and present a report about cloud cover in the area around
your school.

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Figure 6.10: Key for cloud cover

Types of clouds
Activity 6.12
In pairs, carry out library research on the types of clouds and fill in the
table below.
Name Height Appearance
Cirrus
Nimbus
Stratus
Cumulonimbus

The amount of cloud cover is estimated in oktas. One okta represents

approximately one eighth of the sky covered with clouds. Cloud cover can
be represented on maps using lines. These lines join areas with equal
average cloudiness over a certain period. They are called isonephs.

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Effects of Weather on your Life and that of your

Community
You have already learnt how the different elements of weather affect
people’s ways of life. A number of your activities and those of other people
in your community depend mainly on sunshine, temperature and rainfall.
During the rainy season, vegetation flourishes and people are busy in their
gardens. Weather changes can affect you and your community positively
or negatively.

Activity 6.13
In your notebook, copy and fill in the table below:

Weather condition Benefits Negative effects

Rainfall
Sunshine
Temperature

Activity of Integration
A rural farmers’ cooperative society has just acquired a piece of farmland in an
area they have never lived in before. They intend to start a mixed farm where
they will cultivate crops and keep animals. They need to know the weather
pattern of the area in order to carry out farming successfully. The local
government Secretary for Production and Marketing has chosen you to give
advice to the farmers.

Write an advice note to the farmers’ cooperative society, pointing out:

1. the most important elements of weather they need to record and study
and why you think they are the most important to them;
2. the instruments they can use to record those elements and the kind of
information they should keep about each element;
3. and four ways in which they can use weather information to run the
farm.

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Chapter Summary
In this chapter, you have learnt:
1. that weather is the condition of the air around us at a certain time
and it is described using its elements.
2. that weather changes in a short time, while climate takes long to
change.
3. how to measure and record different elements of weather.
4. that precipitation and temperature are the most important
elements of weather used to describe the climate of our country.
5. that weather affects our day-to-day activities and general way of
life.

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Chapter Seven
Location, Size and Relief Regions of East
Africa

Key Words By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
• Cliff a) use maps, statistics, graphs and diagrams to analyse
• Deposition population.
• Drainage b) appreciate that East African countries vary greatly in
• Earthquake area and population.
• Erosion c) know the East African countries, their approximate
• Faulting population and area.
• Glacier d) use contours to show physical features and draw
• Landform cross-sections from simple contour maps.
• Lava
• Magma
• Plate tectonics
• Rift valley
• Rock
• Volcano
• Vulcanicity
• Warping
Wave

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Introduction
From your Primary school, you have always heard your teachers and other
people say that our country, Uganda, is found in East Africa. Again, if you
have ever travelled to places far away from your home area, you could
have noted that the physical features in those places are somewhat
different from those around your home. This is because although East
Africa is one region, its relief is not uniform everywhere. In this chapter,
you are going to learn about the position of East Africa on the African
continent, the size of East Africa, the relief features of East Africa and how
they were formed.

What is East Africa?

Activity 7.1: Understanding East Africa
In groups, study the atlas and,
1. identify the countries making up East Africa and list them.
2. draw a sketch map to show the location of East Africa.
3. discuss and agree on what is meant by East Africa; then share your
views and sketch map with other groups in a whole class discussion.

You have realised that different groups have identified different countries
making up East Africa. Some have identified three countries while others
have identified six countries. This comes about because of the way we
look at East Africa as a region.
Those who have identified three countries look at the traditional East
Africa. Those who have identified six countries look at the East African
Community. In studying Geography, you are going to take East Africa as
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

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Location and Size of East Africa

Activity 7.2:
1. Describe the position of East Africa in relation to other countries
and regions.
2. Describe the position of East Africa using latitude and longitude.
3. Draw a sketch map to show the location of East Africa.

Activity 7.3:
In pairs, search the Internet or any other source for figures (data) showing
the size of East African countries.
1. Copy the information into your notebook and use it to draw a pie
chart or bar graph.
2. Using the diagram you have drawn, determine the:
i) Largest country in East Africa,
ii) Smallest country in East Africa.
3. Estimate how many times the largest country is larger than the
smallest one. Give a reason to support your estimate.
4. Share what you have written and the diagram you have drawn with
other pairs in a whole class discussion.

Activity 7.4:
1. Individually, look for data about the population of the East African
countries from any source you can come across.
2. Draw a pie chart to represent the data you have got.
3. Which country has the:
i) Largest population
ii) Smallest population

The Relief Regions of East Africa

In your home area or in the area around your school, there are several
physical features, which may include mountains, hills, valleys, outcrop
rocks and flat plains. All these can be used to describe the appearance of
the landscape in the area. These features are called relief features or
landforms. Similar features are also found in other parts of Uganda and

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the rest of East Africa. A large area of land with almost similar relief
features is called a relief region. `

Figure 7.1: Map showing the relief regions of East Africa

Activity 7.5
In groups, study Figure 7.1 and do the following tasks:
1. Copy the map in your notebook and on it name:
i) the countries.
ii) the different relief regions of East Africa.
iii) at least two mountains in each country.
2. Which relief region covers the largest part of East Africa?
3. Identify the relief region in which your home area is found.
In the above activity, you have found out that East Africa is divided into
five major relief regions. Each region has certain characteristics which
make it different from other regions. The largest part of Uganda is covered
by the plateau region. The most important differences between regions
lie in the appearance of the landscape and the height. These relief regions
have an influence on the local weather and climate. This, in turn,

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determines the economic activities people in each region do and their

ways of life in general. You are going to find out more about this influence
in the following activity.

Activity 7.6
In groups:
1. Choose one or two relief features in the area around your school and
conduct a field study of the feature/features.
2. Use a range of methods to collect information about the
feature/features.
3. Explain how the feature/features may influence the weather
conditions and climate of the area.
4. Explain how the relief features in the area influence the activities
people carry out and the way they live.
5. Draw a sketch map to show the physical environment and human
activities carried out in the area.

a b C

d e
Figure 7.2 Natural hazards

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The area you have studied could have experienced some unusual natural
events which have had negative effects on people’s lives, property and
the environment. Such events are called hazards. Think of any hazard
which has occurred in another part of your country or elsewhere in East
Africa. To understand this better, study the pictures in Figure 7.2.

Activity 7.7
In the same groups you used in Activity 7.6:
1. Ask people living in the area about places which have experienced
hazards in the past and the kind of hazards they were. Also identify
places which may experience hazards and the kind of likely hazard
for each. Mark both places on the sketch map you have drawn.
2. Ask the local people how much harm each hazard caused. Using that
information, suggest how harmful the likely hazards might be.
3. Suggest steps that can be taken to prevent such hazards from taking
place again.
4. Through discussion, share your findings with the rest of the class.

Activity of Integration

1. Suppose you have been given a chance to migrate and live in another East
African country, which relief region would you prefer to live in the new
country? Give reasons for your preference.
2. Suggest the disasters which might strike your new home area and how
each might affect you.
3. Suggest ways you would assist people in your new home area to reduce the
effects of the disasters.

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Support: Relief regions of East Africa

Chapter Summary
In this chapter, you have learnt that:
1. the features that can be used to describe the physical appearance of
an area are called landforms.
2. a large area of the earth’s surface with almost similar landforms is
called a relief region. A relief region may be hilly, mountainous, or
almost flat.
3. the largest part of East Africa is covered by the plateau.
4. the economic activities that people carry out in any area and their
ways of life are partly influenced by the relief.
5. some relief regions experience severe natural events which affect
communities negatively. Such events are called natural hazards.

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Chapter Eight
Formation of Major Landforms and Drainage
in East Africa

Key Words By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
• Cliff a) locate the major landforms on the map of East Africa.
• Drainage b) understand how the main types of rocks are formed.
• Earthquake c) understand that the main types of landforms were formed
• Erosion by rocks themselves or by rocks being worn away or eroded.
• Faulting d) understand the main concept of plate tectonics and how
• Glacier this has led to the formation of the main physical features of
• Landform East Africa.
• Lava e) draw diagrams to show the formation of important physical
• Magma features.
• Plate f) understand the characteristics of the main physical features
tectonics in East Africa.
• Rift valley g) understand the relationship between drainage and
• Rock landforms.
• Volcano h) recognise landforms on photographs.
• Warping i) understand how your own life and that of your community
• Wave are affected by physical features.
j) appreciate that the landforms, rocks and drainage all affect
the way people live.

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Introduction
In these relief regions, there are different physical features such as
mountains, hills, valleys, outcrop rocks and flat plains. You also learnt that
these features are called landforms. In this chapter, you are going to
explore how these and other landforms were formed; and how the
landforms are related to the rocks. You will also learn how landforms
influence drainage and the lives of people.

Rocks and Landforms

Activity 8.1
In groups, choose one of these landforms, i.e. a volcanic mountain or rift
valley, and:
1. explain how it was formed.
2. describe the nature of rocks making up the landform.
3. explain how the landform may affect drainage, climate, soils and
human activities in the area.
4. share what you have written down with the rest of the class.

Activity 8.2
As a whole class, conduct a debate on the motion: “There are more
problems than benefits in living on a volcanic mountain”.
In Activity 8.1, you have realised that the chosen landform is made up of
rock material. All landforms of the earth are made up of rocks. What do
you understand by a rock?
Rocks are of different types and sizes. In terms of size, they may range
from very tiny particles, such as sand grains, through small stones to very
large boulders. Every rock is made up of several minerals and if you break
it up and examine it scientifically, you can identify each mineral. Some of
the minerals found in the rocks are useful to people. You will learn more
about this in your Chemistry lessons in Term Three.

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Figure 8.1: Pictures of rocks

Activity 8.3
In pairs:
1. Copy the table below in your notebooks, study it and fill in the
missing information in the right hand column.
Mineral Uses
Iron E.g. Making iron sheets and hoes
Gold
Copper
Aluminium

Silver

Calcium

2. Swap the filled table with another pair, comment on each other’s
work and make the necessary corrections.
3. Think of how life in your community would be if there were no
minerals on earth.
When you read the above table, you realise that most of the things we use
in our daily lives are made out of minerals. Farm tools used to produce the
food we eat, domestic utensils such as saucepans, plates and cups,
detergents such as powder soap, and vehicles used for transport are all
made from minerals. Our country and many other countries around the
world also get large amounts of money through selling minerals and
mineral products. Generally, without minerals, all humankind would find
life very difficult. To understand this better, look at Figure 8.2.

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Figure 8.2: Some of the things made from minerals

Types of rocks
All rocks are not similar in colour, hardness, texture and ability to hold
water. This is because they were formed by different processes and under
different conditions. In geography, we divide rocks into three main types
depending on how they were formed.
The first main type of rock is formed when very hot molten rock from deep
inside the earth rises to the surface of the earth. Imagine rock material
similar to hot porridge boiling and rising through the solid rocks. When the
molten rock reaches the surface, it cools and forms a new rock called
igneous rock or fire-formed rock. You will learn more about this process
later in this chapter.
Igneous rocks formed on the surface of the earth are called extrusive
igneous rocks. Sometimes molten rock from the interior may fail to rise
up to the surface of the earth and instead cools inside the local rocks.
When this happens, intrusive igneous rocks are formed.

Activity 8.4
1. Carry out a library or internet search about the formation of
igneous rocks, their types and examples.
2. Draw diagrams to illustrate how each type is formed.
3. Construct a table to summarise examples of each type of igneous
rock.
4. Suggest ways in which igneous rocks may benefit people living in
areas where they are found and your country.

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The second main type of rock is formed when the old rocks of the earth
are broken down by weathering, or eroded by running water, wind or
moving ice. The smaller rock pieces transported are called sediments.
When sediments are deposited in other places they accumulate, harden
and form new rocks called sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks formed
this way are called mechanically-formed sedimentary rocks. Most
sedimentary rocks are of this type. Examples are sandstone, shale and
loess.

Activity 8.5
1. Carry out a library or internet search for diagrams showing the
formation of different types of sedimentary rocks.
2. Draw the diagrams in your notebook and make a brief description of
how each type is formed.
Some sedimentary rocks are formed when the remains of dead plants and
animals get deposited together in large amounts. These are said to be
organically-formed sedimentary rocks. Coal, coral limestone, marble and
peat are examples. Do you know that mineral oil or petroleum in the
Albert Rift Valley in western Uganda has been formed in this type of
sedimentary rock?

Figure 8.3: Coal, coral limestone; and oil deposits in Albert rift valley
Other sedimentary rocks are formed in very hot and dry areas
experiencing a lot of evaporation. For example, rock salt is a rock formed
when salty water evaporates and leaves behind salt crystals. When
crystals accumulate, they harden and form a hard rock. This is called a

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chemically-formed sedimentary rock. Other examples of chemically-

formed sedimentary rock are gypsum and dolomite.

Activity 8.6
In groups:
1. Discuss and suggest areas in East Africa where each type of
sedimentary rock is likely to be found. Give reasons to support the
areas you have suggested in each case.
2. Explain how each type of sedimentary rock may affect human
activities in the area where it occurs.
The third main type of rock is formed when igneous or sedimentary rocks
get changed into new rocks. This change may take place when the areas
where these rocks are found experience too much heat or pressure. The
heat may come from molten rock which rises from the interior of the earth
at temperatures of 1,000 oC or even higher. The new rocks formed this way
are called metamorphic rocks. For example, marble is a metamorphic
rock formed when limestone or dolomite gets changed by heat or
pressure. While slate, used for making nice finishes on modern houses, is
formed from clay.

Figure 8.4: How metamorphic rocks are formed

Each type of rock influences the formation of landforms in a different way.
This is because each type has different characteristics, such as hardness
and the ability to absorb water.

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Activity 8.7
1. Copy the map in Figure 7.1 into your notebook and on it shade the
type of rock likely to be found in each relief region. Give reasons to
explain the distribution of rocks you have shown on the map.
2. Suggest which type of rock is:
i) hardest
ii) softest
3. How might the landforms in each region have been influenced by
the type of rock present?

Formation of landforms in East Africa

The landforms of the earth are of two major types. The first type is that of
landforms that are formed by the rocks themselves. These are called
structural landforms. The second type is made up of landforms formed
when some processes, such as erosion, work upon rocks and change them
into new landforms.

The forces which shape the earth into landforms

Activity 8.8
Using your knowledge about the relief regions of East Africa, in groups do
the following tasks:
1. Discuss how the rift valley and highlands of East Africa were
formed.
2. Suggest where the forces that led to the formation of those
landforms originated.
3. What could have caused those forces?
4. Write a report of what you have discussed and share it with other
groups through a class discussion.

You have probably suggested that the rift valley and some highlands were
formed as a result of faulting while other highlands were formed as a
result of volcanic eruptions. Also, you could have suggested that both
faulting and volcanic eruptions were caused by forces which originated in
the interior of the earth. What is not very easy to understand is what
caused those forces.

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To understand why earthquakes, faulting, volcanic eruptions and folding

take place, you need to learn about the nature of the earth.

Activity 8.9
In pairs or individually, use Figure 8.5 to do the following:
1. Count the plates shown on the map.
2. Make a list of all the tectonic plates.
3. What do the arrows at the boundaries of tectonic plates indicate?

Figure 8.5: Tectonic plates of the earth

We cannot get information about the interior of the earth by drilling or

mining. The deepest mine in the world is 4.0 km below the surface, and
from the surface to the centre of the earth it is more than 6,000 km. By
studying earthquakes geologists come up with information about the
interior of the earth.
Geologists believe that the solid outer layer of the earth, which is about
100 km, rests over a thicker layer of semi-molten rock. As you have learnt
in Activity 8.8, the outer layer is made up of solid rocks which can be acted
upon by different processes to form landforms. The landforms of East

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Africa are of two types namely, structural landforms and erosional

landforms.

Earthquakes and landforms formed by faulting

Have you ever felt an earthquake or heard of an area where it occurred?
An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage
of waves through the earth’s rocks. Such waves are called seismic waves.
Seismic waves are produced when some form of energy stored in the
earth’s crust is suddenly released within some limited region. Earthquakes
most commonly occur in areas with rocks having lines of weakness called
fault lines or simply faults.

Activity 8.10
Using your knowledge of the relief regions of East Africa:
1. Suggest areas in East Africa where earthquakes are most likely to
occur.
2. Explain why you think the areas which you have suggested are likely
to experience earthquakes.
3. Look at Figure 8.6 and explain how earthquakes affect people and
their property.

(a) (b)
Figure 8.6: Effects of the Kagera earthquake, September 2016

The energy released into the rocks of the earth can lead to large scale
cracking or fracturing up to the surface of the earth. When this happens,

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we say that faulting has taken place. For example, in Figure 8.5 (b), two
fault lines have developed in the road. What do you think is likely to
happen in the area if the ground is pulled apart along the fault lines?
In the same way, when the rocks of the earth experience faulting, there is
movement and displacement of land blocks along the fault lines. This
leads to the formation of rift valleys and Block Mountains or horsts.

Activity 8.11
In pairs or groups, study Figure 8.7 and do the following:
1. Copy the diagrams into your notebooks and give them
labels 1-3 to identify the stages in the formation of faulted
landforms.
2. Explain the process going on at each stage and how it affects the
land block.
3. On the diagram in stage 3, show the rift valley and Block
mountains.
4. Suggest how the rift valley and Block Mountains may affect the
lives of people in areas where they are found.

The processes which you have described in the previous activity are
similar to those that led to the formation of the East African Rift Valley and
the Ruwenzori Mountains. The steep walls on both sides of the rift valley
are called fault scarps or escarpments.

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Figure 8.7: Formation of landforms by faulting

Within the rift valley, another phase of faulting can take place. This is
called secondary faulting and it may lead to the formation of a secondary
depression. When the secondary depression gets filled with water, it
becomes a rift valley lake. See Figure 8.8.

Figure 8.8: A lake in a small graben

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Lake Albert in western Uganda and Lake Tanganyika are examples of such
lakes. Think of other examples of rift valley lakes in East Africa.

Vulcanicity
Activity 8.12
In groups,
1. Think of the volcanic features you know in Uganda, East Africa, and
other parts of the world.
2. Make a list those features.
3. Swap your list with another group and see the features you have in
common.
4. Discuss and agree on what is meant by vulcanicity and volcanicity.

Imagine you are cooking porridge in a closed pot or kettle. What do you
think will happen to the cooking porridge if you heat it at high
temperature? You have probably thought of the porridge trying to escape
by forcing the pot cover open or through the spout of the kettle.
In the same way, the solid layer of the earth on which we live rests upon a
porridge-like inner layer. The inner layer is made up of molten rock
material called magma. Apart from molten rock material, magma can also
contain ash, cinders, and gases. To understand this, look at Figure 8.9.

(a) (b)
Figure 8.9: Magma being pushed out of a volcano

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Magma exists in a molten state because of the extremely hot temperature

in the interior of the earth. When magma gets overheated, the pressure
inside the inner layer rises and forces the molten rock to rise like boiling
porridge. The cracks or openings through which magma is forced out of
the interior of the earth are called volcanic vents. The process by which
magma escapes from the interior of the earth is called a volcanic eruption.
When magma reaches the surface of the earth, it cools, becomes solid and
forms a rock called lava. All physical features formed from lava are called
volcanic features.

Features of a volcano
Activity 8.13
In pairs,
1. Carry out a library or internet search about the features of a volcano.
2. Copy Figure 8.9 (b) into your notebooks and using the information
you have got from the search, name the features labelled 1-6.
When volcanic eruptions occur, they do not lead to the formation of
volcanic mountains only but also create other landforms. Volcanic
eruptions also lead to the formation of lakes.

Activity 8.14
In groups,
1. Carry out a library or internet search on landforms resulting from
volcanic eruptions.
2. Make a list of the major landforms and draw diagrams to explain how
each landform is formed.
3. Find out the types of lakes formed due to volcanic eruption; and draw
diagrams to explain how each type is formed.
4. Suggest how the volcanic landforms and drainage features might be
useful to people.
5. Suggest the disadvantages associated with volcanic landforms and
lakes.

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Warping
In Chapter Seven, you learnt that much of East Africa is a plateau. What do
you understand by a plateau? The East African plateau has been affected
by many processes which have created depressions and hills. Some of the
large depressions have been filled with water to form lakes.

Activity 8.15
In groups,
1. Choose two people to hold a sheet of newspaper or a piece of cloth
by its corners.
2. Let them slowly lift the extreme ends of the paper or cloth as the rest
of you observe and note down what happens.
3. Write down what you have observed and draw a diagram to illustrate
your observation.
4. Share what you have written and the diagram you have drawn with
other groups through a whole class discussion.

What you have observed is called sagging. In the same way, when certain
parts of the East African plateau were acted upon by forces which
originated in the interior several million years ago and pushed the eastern
and western sides of the plateau upwards, the central part sagged in. That
process is called down warping. It led to the formation of very large
depressions. These depressions are now occupied by lakes.

Activity 8.16
In pairs,
1. Open the atlas and look at the map of East Africa showing physical
features.
2. Suggest lakes in East Africa which were formed as a result of down
warping. Give reasons to support your suggestion.
3. Draw a sketch map of East Africa showing the down warped lakes
and other drainage features connected to them.

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Activity of Integration
Imagine strong earth movements have occurred in Butinnindi village, in central
Uganda. Using diagrams to illustrate your ideas, explain any two effects these
earth movements might have on the landscape in the area. Suggest how those
effects on landscape might affect the way people in Butinnindi live; and the
problems which might arise from the change in the landscape.

Chapter Summary
In this chapter, you have learnt that:
1. all the landforms of the earth are made up of rocks.
2. every rock is made up of several minerals, some of which are useful to
us.
3. the rocks of the earth can be divided into three types depending on
how they were formed.
4. East Africa has different landforms because the region has been
affected by several physical processes, including earth movements.
5. structural landforms were formed by processes originating in the
movement of tectonic plates.
6. landforms have a strong influence on the drainage of an area.
7. rocks, landforms and drainage influence the way people live,
especially the economic and leisure activities they carry out.

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Chapter Nine
Climate and Natural Vegetation of East Africa

Key Words After reading this chapter and practising its activities,
you should be able to:
• Arid climate a) understand the characteristics of the climates of
• Diurnal range Uganda and the rest of East Africa and the factors
• Double maxima influencing them.
• Equatorial climate
b) understand through fieldwork the characteristics
• Leeward side
of the vegetation and how it is affected by the
• Montane climate
climates.
• Rain shadow
• Savanna climate c) draw graphs to show the different climates.
• Semi-arid climate d) draw a map showing the climates and vegetation
• Steppe of East Africa.
• Windward side e) recognise and describe a climate from a graph.
f) recognise and describe types of vegetation from
photographs.
g) understand through case studies how selected
climates and types of vegetation affect the way of
life of the people in those areas.

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Introduction
In this chapter, you are going to learn about the different types of climate
and natural vegetation in East Africa. You are going to learn how these two
are natural resources that need to be appreciated and sustainably used
for the benefit of the people of Uganda in all generations.

Activity 9.1
1. Explain what you understand by climate.
2. List any five climates you know.
3. Describe two of the climates listed above.
You have probably used words like hot, wet and dry to describe the two
climates. Describing climate means pointing out its main characteristics.
It is these characteristics that differentiate one climate from another. You
are going to learn about the characteristics of the main climates in East
Africa.

What are the Characteristics of the Main Types of

Climate?
Learning about the characteristics of climates will help you to understand
why each climate is different from other climates. This will enable you to
understand why there are many types of climate in East Africa.

Equatorial Climate
This climate is found in areas that lie between 5°N and 5°S of the Equator.
In East Africa, the Equatorial climate is experienced around the Lake
Victoria basin, including the islands within the lake. To understand this
better, do Activity 9.2.

Activity 9.2
In pairs or individually, study Figure 9.1 and do the following tasks:
1. Write down the months in which the highest amount of rainfall is
received at Entebbe.

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2. How many seasons of highest rainfall does Entebbe experience?

Why do you think the area experiences that number of seasons?
3. Is the relative humidity at Entebbe high or low? Give reasons to
support your answer.
4. Calculate the annual range of temperature for Entebbe. Is the
range high or low?
5. Calculate the total annual rainfall for Entebbe. Is the rainfall low,
moderate, or heavy?

Figure 9.1: An equatorial climate, Entebbe

The climate of Entebbe is similar to that of other areas within the Lake
Victoria region of East Africa. You have realised that areas with an
Equatorial climate receive two peaks of heavy rainfall. This is called
double maxima rainfall distribution. The climate of the Lake Victoria
region is called Modified Equatorial climate. That means that this region
receives heavier rainfall than other equatorial lands and does not have
any month without rainfall.

Mountain or Montane Climate

This type of climate is mainly found in the highlands, especially in the
mountains. Think of areas in East Africa which are likely to be having this

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type of climate. In these areas, temperatures are generally low and air
pressure decreases with altitude. Areas with the montane climate receive
mainly relief rainfall, which is heavier on the windward side. The leeward
side receives very little rainfall. Why do you think this is so? The condition
you have explained is called the rain shadow effect.
To understand the characteristics of Mountain climate, study Figure 9.2

Figure 9.2: A mountain type of climate

Activity 9.3
Study Figure 9.2 and do the following tasks:
1. Which months have the highest rainfall?
2. Which months have the lowest rainfall?
3. Describe rainfall distribution in Nairobi.
4. Which are the hottest months?
5. Which months have the lowest temperatures?
6. Calculate the total rainfall for Nairobi.

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7. Copy the graph into your notebook.

Semi-arid and Arid Climate

Figure 9.3: Semi-arid climate, Wajir, Kenya

Activity 9.4
In groups, study Figure 9.3 and do the following:
1. Copy the figure into your notebooks.
2. Find out the months with the heaviest rainfall.
3. Which months have the lowest rainfall?
4. Describe the characteristics of the climate of the area
represented by Figure 9.3.
5. Suggest the likely economic activities carried out by the
people living in the area represented by the graph. Give
reasons for each activity you suggest.
This type of climate is found in northern and north-eastern Kenya, e.g. the
Chalbi Desert, Karamoja in north-eastern Uganda, Nyiri desert in southern
Kenya, in central Tanzania and in north-eastern parts of Tanzania, e.g. the
Masai steppe. It is also experienced in the Ankole-Masaka corridor in
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Uganda. Areas in the Western Rift Valley region around Lake George and
Lake Edward also experience a semi-desert climate.

Tropical or Savannah Climate

This type of climate covers the greatest part of East Africa. It is found next
to the equatorial region, both north and south of the equator. It may not
differ much from the equatorial climate. Generally, Savannah lands
receive less rainfall than places in the Equatorial climate region. Also, they
have well marked rainy and dry seasons. You can understand the other
characteristics of the Savannah climate by studying Figure 9.4.

Figure 9.4: Tropical climate, Songea, Tanzania

The Coastal Tropical Climate

This type of climate is experienced in the coastal region of East Africa in
places like Malindi, Mombasa, Tanga and Dar es Salaam. The climate is
modified by the Southeast Trade Winds and the sea. The rainfall is heavy
and well distributed throughout the year and ranges between 1,000 mm
and 1,800 mm. The area experiences high temperatures throughout the
year. Why do you think temperatures are hot in this region? Figure 9.5 is a
climate graph of Mombasa, an area with a coastal tropical climate.

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Figure 9.5: A typical coastal tropical climate, Mombasa, Kenya

What Factors Influence Climate in East Africa?

In Chapter Five, you learnt about the revolution of the earth while in
Chapter Seven you learnt about the relief of East Africa. Now you are going
to learn how these and other factors affect the climate of East Africa,
including that of your home area.

Activity 9.5
In pairs or groups, use your knowledge of the movements of the earth to
do the following tasks:
1. When is the sun overhead at the equator?
2. Explain what happens in the region close to the equator when
the sun is overhead at the equator.
3. Why does the region close to the equator receive two peaks of
rainfall?
4. When is the sun overhead at the Tropic of Cancer?

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5. When do areas close to the Tropic of Cancer receive rain and

why?
6. When is the sun overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn?
7. When do areas close to the Tropic of Capricorn receive rainfall
and why?
8. Share what you have written through a whole class discussion.

The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

The overhead sun causes much heating of the ground. This in turn causes
a low pressure zone which attracts winds from high pressure zones. The
low pressure zone within the tropics in which the winds from the northern
and southern hemispheres meet is called the Inter Tropical Convergence
Zone (ITCZ). The ITCZ keeps on moving following the position of the
overhead sun. Warm air rises, which leads to conventional rainfall. The
conventional rains in most cases are stormy, so this region is referred to as
the thunderstorm zone. The seasonal rainfall pattern in most parts of
East Africa is caused by the ITCZ.

Height
Another important factor influencing the climate of East Africa is height of
land above sea level. It is also called altitude. Imagine you are flying in a
balloon with a thermometer in your hand. The thermometer reading will
drop as you rise higher. This is illustrated in Figure 9.6.

Figure 9.6: How altitude affects temperature

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This means that temperature decreases with a rise in height. This is

because air is thin, dry and dust free at high altitudes. Such air cannot
absorb and keep much heat. This implies that altitude influences
temperature and climate.

Latitude
The areas within the tropics, 231/2 0N and S of the equator receive the most
heat because the sun is overhead in these areas all year round. East Africa
lies astride the equator 40N to 120S. The region experiences a Tropical-
Equatorial climate with constant heat and conventional rainfall. Figure 9.6
shows the influence of latitude on the climate of East Africa.

(a) (b)
Figure 9.7: Influence of latitude on climate in East Africa

Activity 9.6
1. Copy the figure into your exercise book.
2. Explain what is taking place in the diagrams above.

Relief
Relief influences the formation and distribution of rainfall in East Africa.
Rain is formed when warm, moist air blows over a mountain. The warm,
moist air condenses, and forms clouds and rainfall. The side of the
mountain from which the prevailing winds blow receives heavy rainfall.
This is called the windward side. The side to which the winds move after

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dropping rainfall receives little or no rainfall. This is called the leeward

side. The leeward side is said to be in the rain shadow. Figure 9.8 below
shows how relief influences rainfall.

Figure 9.8: Influence of relief on rainfall

Activity 9.7
In your notebook:
1. Make notes on how the highland regions in East Africa influence
rainfall formation and distribution.
2. Copy the figure above.

Distance from the Sea

In East Africa, the Indian Ocean has a great effect on rainfall and
temperature. Coastal areas, for example Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, are
wetter than inland areas. Clouds form when warm air from inland areas
meets cool air from the sea.

Rotation of the Earth

If the earth were not rotating, winds would move straight from one pole to
the other. This is not the case, however. As the earth rotates on its axis, its

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speed is highest at the equator. This causes the winds blowing from the
poles southwards and northwards to change their direction as they cross
the equator. When this happens, we say that the winds have been
deflected. Winds in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to the right
while those in the Southern Hemisphere are deflected to the left. This
means that the deflected winds are forced to cause rainfall in a different
area. For example, in December, the southeast shores of Lake Victoria are
warmer and wetter because the winds are deflected to the area. See
Figure 9.9.

Figure 9.9: Effects of deflected winds on climate

The Alignment of the Coast

In East Africa, the Kenyan coast lies parallel to the Northeast Trade Winds
because the coast bends inwards. The islands of Pemba and Zanzibar lie
in opposition to the wind direction, so they receive relief rainfall, while the
coast of Kenya remains dry between October and December. Figure 9.10
shows the straight alignment of the East African coast.

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Figure 9.10: Alignment of the East African coastline

Activity 9.8
In your notebook:
1. Copy the figure above.
2. On the map, mark the Southeast and the Northwest Trade Winds.
3. Explain why the coastal areas of East Africa receive little rainfall.
4. Read the summary below and copy it.

Activity 9.9
In groups, do the following:
1. Move around the local area.

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2. Observe the type of vegetation in the area.

3. List the types of vegetation observed.
4. Write down the characteristics of the different types of
vegetation.
5. Identify the climate in the local area.
6. Discuss how climate affects each type of vegetation.
7. Write a group report with diagrams of the type of vegetation
observed and present it to the class.
8. Discuss the dangers of overuse of vegetation.
9. Copy the table below and fill it in.

Types of Vegetation in East Africa

Country Types of vegetation Characteristics of
vegetation
Tanzania
Uganda
Kenya
Figure 9.11: Types and characteristics of vegetation in East Africa

How climate and vegetation types affect people’s ways of life

Activity 9.10
In pairs or individually, read the extract below and do the tasks that
follow:
The climate of Kalangala district is generally moist and humid all year
round. The area has small seasonal variations of temperature, humidity
and wind throughout the year. The dry season is experienced between
December and March, and again in June–July. The two periods have
frequent thunderstorms.
The climate is characterised by high annual rainfall amounts that are well
distributed. The mean annual rainfall received ranges from 1,125 to 2,250
mm.

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The annual rainfall is highest over the open lake and there is a marked
gradient drop of 50 mm per 1.6 km landward. The windward shores of the
lake shores exposed to the moist air are wetter than the lee shores, which
are sheltered from the moist winds. The rainfall maxima are associated
with the onset of the southeast (SE) or northeast (NE) Monsoon winds.
The vegetation in Kalangala district is predominantly characterised by
medium altitude moist evergreen forests. This vegetation occurs at
altitudes ranging from 600 to 1,550 m. It forms closed stands rising 30 to
45 metres high, with abundant lianas. Grasses are generally absent or are
broad-leaved and fire-sensitive.

Figure 9.12: Tropical rainforest

The lakeside consists of dense and impenetrable forests with numerous

shrubs on the ground. There are also small to medium sized evergreen
tree species with roots extending to as high as 3.6 m up the main stem.
The district is richly endowed with tropical high forest resources covering
221.5 km2. The predominant forest cover in the district comprises tropical
high forest species. Most of the forest is filled with primates such as
monkeys and other species of wildlife, including the sitatunga antelopes
and exotic bird species. The Ssese islands are truly a bird watchers’
paradise.

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There are a variety of fruits on the island. These include mangoes,

bananas, papaya, watermelons, pineapples and jackfruit. Timber and fuel
constitute the major commercial benefits of forests for the residents. As a
result of these two commercial uses, the forest resources are heavily
exploited.
Agriculture is the second major economic activity in the district. There are
two main farming activities in Kalangala district, i.e. livestock rearing and
food and cash crop production. Robusta is the main cash crop grown. The
food crops comprise mainly bananas, sweet potatoes, beans and a variety
of vegetables. The bananas are generally stunted and produce under-
sized bunches. Robusta coffee trees grow well around homesteads. The
yield of the coffee trees is not as high as on the mainland.
(Adapted from: Kalangala District, State of the Environment Report, 2005)
1. In about three sentences, summarise the climate of Kalangala
district.
2. Explain why the windward side of the lake shore gets more rainfall
than the leeward side.
3. List the economic activities carried out in Kalangala district.
4. Describe the characteristics of the forests in Kalangala district.
5. Basing on the natural resources mentioned in the extract, suggest
other likely economic activities carried out in Kalangala that are
not mentioned in the extract.
6. Imagine you live in this district. What economic activities would
you carry out and why?
7. If you were living in this area, what types of clothes would you
wear and why?

Drawing a Climate Graph

Climate figures are always shown in a table, as you can see in Figure 9.13.
This information can also be shown on a bar graph. When you look at the
graph, you are able to understand the information more easily than when
it is in a table. From the graph we can describe the climate of an area. You
are going to draw a climate graph using the information in Figure 9.13.

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Activity 9.11
Study the table in Figure 9.13 and do the activity that follows.
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temp 21 21 21 22 22 21 21 21 21 21 21 21
(0 C)
Rainfall
155 176 243 357 288 80 49 69 99 165 211 209
(mm)
Figure 9.13: Climatic statistics for Bukoba, Tanzania

1. Copy the table into your exercise book.

2. Draw a graph to represent the climate of Bukoba.
3. Which is the hottest month in the year?
4. Which is the wettest month at Bukoba?
5. Calculate the total annual rainfall for Bukoba.
6. Describe the rainfall distribution at Bukoba.
7. Explain the relationship between temperature and rainfall
distribution at Bukoba.

Activity 9.13
1. Using the internet or other sources, make notes on the different
vegetation types of East Africa.
2. Draw a map of East Africa showing the vegetation types.
3. Explain the ways of life of people living in each vegetation zone.

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What are the Factors that Affect the Climates of East

Africa?
The differences in the climatic patterns you have given above are due to a
number of factors. These factors are mainly physical in nature. In some
regions human activities are increasingly playing a role. These factors
include relief/altitude, water bodies, the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone
(ITCZ), latitudes, the location of the earth, coastal alignment, vegetation
cover, the distance from the sea, wind masses and human activities.

Activity 9.14
In pairs or groups:
1. Conduct library research and make notes about factors influencing
the climate of East Africa.
2. Present your report to the class through discussion.

Activity of Integration
Climatic statistics for station Y
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Rainfall 8 25 76 132 175 150 178 180 140 112 145 36
(mm)
Temperature 26 27 26 26 24 24 23 23 24 24 25 24
(oC)

Study the table above and do the following tasks:

1. Calculate:
i) the total annual rainfall for station Y.
ii) the mean annual temperature for station Y.
2. Draw a suitable graph to represent the climate of station Y.
3. Using the graph you have drawn, describe the climate of station Y.
4. Suggest the type of vegetation found in the region where station Y is
located. Give reasons to support your suggestion.
5. Draw a map of East Africa and on it shade the likely regions where
station Y is located.
6. If you were given a chance to settle in the area where station Y is
found, what kind of economic activities would you carry out? Give
reasons to support the choice of each activity you suggest.

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Chapter Summary
In this chapter, you have learnt:
1. that East Africa has several climates because the region has different
relief features, water bodies, and winds blowing across the region.
2. the different types of vegetation in East Africa and their
characteristics.
3. how the different climates and vegetation types of East Africa are
distributed and related.
4. that people’s way of life is largely influenced by climate and partly by
vegetation.
5. how the apparent movement of the sun and the movement of the
ITCZ affect temperature, wind movement and distribution of rainfall
in East Africa.

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Glossary
Centimetre – A measure of distance in the metric system. A centimetre
(cm) is slightly less than half an inch.
Climate – The pattern of weather that a place has over a period of years.
Temperature and precipitation are the two most important elements of
weather that are used to describe climate.
Compass rose – A small line drawing on a map, used to show directions.
Coral – A type of limestone rock substance made up of the skeletons of a
certain type of tiny sea animals.
Equator – A line drawn on maps and globes, that runs round the earth
exactly halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole. It is labelled
0o latitude. In Uganda, the equator is well marked on the surface of the
earth in several places like at Kayabwe, Kikorongo and on Equator Island
in Lake Victoria, Entebbe Municipality.
Environment – All the natural and human features surrounding us.
Vegetation, water bodies, soil, gardens, buildings and lawns are our
environment.
Hail – Precipitation in the form of pieces of snow. It falls as stones called
hailstones.
Hemisphere – The name given to any half of the earth.
Humid – Damp or wet. Humidity is the measure of the amount of water
vapour in the air at any given time.
Key – A device on a map which is used to tell what real things or places the
symbols on the map stand for or represent.
Landform – A natural feature of the earth’s surface. A hill, valley or
mountain is a landform.
Landmark – Something or an object which is easily recognisable in an
area.
Latitude – Distance, measured in degrees, north or south of the equator.
Lines of latitude are used to locate places on the earth.

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Longitude – Distance, measured in degrees, east or west of the Prime

Meridian. Lines of longitude are used to locate places on earth. All lines of
longitude pass through the North Pole and the South Pole.
Meridian – Another name for a line of longitude.
Mineral – A natural substance found in the earth, that is neither plant nor
animal.
Mountain – A part of the earth’s surface that rises sharply from the land
around it. A mountain has a wide base and narrows to a peak.
North Pole – The northernmost place in the world. The North Pole is
located in the Arctic Ocean.
Orbit –An oval shaped path followed by a planet as it moves around the
sun. The earth revolves around the sun following its orbit.
Plateau – A large, high, nearly level area that is raised above the
surrounding land. Much of Uganda is a plateau.
Precipitation – Moisture that falls from the atmosphere on to the surface
of the earth in the form of rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog or mist.
Prime Meridian – A line of longitude that passes through the Royal
Observatory in Greenwich, England. It is also known as the Greenwich
Meridian. It is the 0o line of longitude, from which distances east or west
are measured in degrees.
Questionnaire – A written list of questions used to collect information
about people and their activities during fieldwork study. It is usually given
to the person to read and fill in the relevant answers.
Revolution – One complete turn of the earth around the sun. It usually
takes the earth 365¼ days to complete its revolution.
Rotation –The movement of the earth that involves spinning on its axis.
The earth takes 24 hours to complete one rotation.
Scale – The relationship between the real size of features or objects and
the size used to represent the same features or objects on a map or
model. Also, the numbered line drawn on maps, which shows this
relationship.
Sleet – Rain falling as frozen water.

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South Pole – The southernmost place in the world. The South Pole is
located in the continent of Antarctica.
Symbol – Something that stands for, represents or suggests something
else.
Temperature – The amount of heat or cold as measured on a given scale,
such as the Celsius or Centigrade scale. It tells how hot or how cold
something is.
Tropic of Cancer – A line of latitude that runs round the earth at 23½o
north of the equator.
Tropic of Capricorn – A line of latitude that runs round the earth at 23½o
south of the equator..
Valley – A long, low area, usually found between hills or mountains or
along a river.
Volcano – An opening in the earth, out of which smoke, other gases, ashes
and molten rock may pour from time to time.
Weather – The condition of the air surrounding the earth at a certain time,
in terms of precipitation, temperature and other elements.
Weather station – The place where the conditions which determine the
weather of an area are monitored and recorded.

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 National Curriculum
Development Centre,
P.O. Box 7002, Kampala.
www.ncdc.go.ug