SOCIAL SCIENCES
GRADE 8
GEOGRAPHY
ACTIVITY BOOK
Term 2
TERM 2
CLIMATE REGIONS (FOCUS: SOUTH AFRICA AND WORLD)
CONCEPTS DEFINITIONS
Thermometer indicates the degree of heating and cooling of the air.
Temperature is an instrument to measure the maximum and minimum
daily temperatures.
Anemometer an instrument to measure wind speed
Humidity the amount of water vapour or moisture in the air.
Wind is moving air
Precipitation includes any form of water that fall on the earth, such as
rain, hail or snow.
Weather is the daily condition of the atmosphere at any given time.
Weather is observed over a small, local area for a short
period of time, such as 24hours.
Climate is the average weather conditions observed for a larger
area over a long period of time e.g. normally months or a
year.
Conduction the flow of heat through a substance like air or water.
Altitude the height above sea level
Windward the side from which the wind blows
Temperature range the difference between the average monthly temperatures
of the warmest and the coldest months.
Relief the shape of the land
Radiation heat from the sun
Latitude distance from the equator
Drought abnormally long periods of no rainfall
Atmosphere a layer of air that surrounds the earth’s surface
GEOGRAPHY WORKSHEETS:GR 8
UNIT 1: FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE
TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL
WORKSHEET: 1 DATE:____
1.1 What is the meaning of the following words?
1.Temperature
2. Rainfall
1.2 Mention the five factors that influence temperature and rainfall.
1.3 In your own words, write three sentences to explain how distance from equator/latitude
influences temperature of places.
WORKSHEET: 2 DATE:______
2.1 Complete the following sentences by using these words: quickly, warmer,
colder, slowly
2.1.1. Inland places have______________ winters than places closer to the sea.
2.1.2. Land heats up more_______________ than water.
2.1.3. Water cools down more_____________ than land.
2.2 Places near the sea are cooler in summer and warmer in winter than places
inland. Explain why?
WORKSHEET 3 DATE:________________
3.1 Explain the following words:
3.1.1 Altitude
3.1.2 Radiation
3.2 The statement that says “the higher you go the colder it becomes” is true.
Explain how altitude affects the temperature of an area.
WORKSHEET 4 DATE:_______________
4.1 What are ocean currents?
4.2 How do ocean currents affect temperature?
4.3 How do ocean currents affect rainfall?
4.4 Use figure 1 to help you answer the question below.
Figure 1: How relief influences temperature
Source: Solutions for all, page 33
4.4.1 Should people in South Africa build their houses facing north or south? Give
reasons for your answer.
WORKSHEET: 5 DATE:_____________
5.1 Rainfall can be caused by mountains, and that rainfall is called relief rainfall.
When moist air is blown from the sea onto the land, it can move up the mountain
slopes. When air rises it cools down and water vapour is formed. The water vapour
then condenses into water drops and later form clouds. The clouds will then cause
rain to fall on the side of the mountain that faces the sea. The side of the mountain
that gets most rain is called the windward side, and the side that gets the least
amount of rain is called the leeward side.
Use the information above to illustrate (make a drawing) how relief rainfall is formed.
Your illustration must show the sea, mountain, vegetation, clouds, raindrops,
windward side of the mountain, leeward side of the mountain.
UNIT 2: SOUTH AFRICA’S CLIMATE
WORKSHEET: 6 DATE:_______________
6.1 What is the meaning of climate?
6.2 Match the following Climate types in column A with their descriptions in column
B. Write appropriate letter next to the concept.
A: Type of
B: Description
climate
1 A There are no seasons and there is little difference
Mediterranean between the hottest and the coldest months
2 Tundra B Summers are hot with high rainfall. Winters are
cooler with no rain which causes the grass to die off
and turn brown
3 Equatorial C. Warm temperature and low rainfall in summer.
Cool temperature and heavy rainfall in winter
4 Savanna D Extremely cold winter with hardly any sunlight.
Summer temperatures go up to 100C
5 Monsoon E Found in south-east Asia and northern Australia.
High temperatures with high humidity
6.3 In which climate type does your province Free State fall? Give a reason for your
answer.
WORKSHEET: 7 DATE:__________
7.1 What is the kind of climate that is only experienced in the northern hermisphere?
7.2 Mention three kinds of climate that have two distinct seasons.
7.3 Match each of the following precipitation figures with the climate types in the
column below:
Precipitation figure Answer Climate type
1.2000 mm A.Tundra and desert climate
2.600 mm B.Tropical climate
3.250 mm C.Mediterranean climate
7.4 Name the main climates of:
7.4.1 Northern Europe
7.4.2 Southern Europe
7.5 Between which latitudes is the tundra climate?
WORKSHEET: 8 DATE:___________
8.1 Study figure 2 and 3 and answer the questions that follow.
Figure 2: Average monthly temperatures for Kimberly
Temp J F M A M J J A S O N D
Average 33 31 29 25 21 19 18 21 26 28 30 32
high 0C
Average 18 17 15 11 7 3 3 5 9 12 15 17
low 0C
Source: Platinum, page 39
Figure 3: Average monthly temperatures for Durban
Temp J F M A M J J A S O N D
Average 28 28 28 26 25 23 23 23 23 24 25 27
high 0C
Average 21 21 20 17 14 11 11 13 15 17 18 20
low 0C
Source: Platinum, page 39
8.1.1 Look at figure 2 and calculate the temperature range for Kimberly in January
and July.
8.1.2 Look at figure 3 and calculate the temperature range for Durban in January and
July.
8.1.3 Name the city that has the biggest temperature range in both summer and
winter.
8.1.4 Explain how distance from the sea affect rainfall for Kimberly and Durban.
WORKSHEET: 9 DATE:___________
9.1 Study figure 4 climate graphs and answer questions that follow.
NB. Each graph covers two types of information. Line graphs represent
temperature and bar graph represent rainfall.
Figure 4: Climate graphs
Source: Spot On, page 29
9.1.1 In which month does Durban receive the most rainfall? _______________
9.1.2 What is the coldest month in Mahikeng? ___________________________
9.1.3 Which town receives the highest rainfall? __________________________
9.1.4 What is the average temperature of George? _______________________
9.1.5 What is the average rainfall of Johannesburg? ______________________
9.1.6 Which town receives its rainfall evenly spread throughout the year? _______
9.2 Study the following extract and answer the question that follows
Source: Spot on, page 30
Use the description of Mahikeng above as an example to describe the climate of
George as represented in the graph above.
UNIT 3: CLIMATE AROUND THE WORLD
WORKHEET: 10 DATE:_____________
10.1 Match the description in COLUMN A with the term in COLUMN B:
COLUMN A COLUMN B
10.1.1 The height above sea-level A Precipitation
10.1.2 The difference between the highest and lowest B Aspect
temperature
10.1.3 Any form of water falling from the atmosphere C Temperature range
10.1.4 Moist wind pushed up a mountain, condenses and D Altitude
rain can fall
10.1.5 The direction in which a mountain or valley slope E Relief rain
faces
10.1.1 _______
10.1.2 _______
10.1.3 _______
10.1.4 _______
10.1.5 _______
WORKSHEET: 11 DATE:__________
11.1 Complete the following statements about the South African climate:
11.1.1 The temperature and rainfall in the east coast is mainly influenced
by____________________
11.1.2 The Great Escarpment ranges in height from 1 500m in the South-
Western Cape to about 3 500m in the_____________ mountains.
11.1.3 A plateau is a ___________ consisting of a relatively flat terrain.
11.1.4 The lowlands of South Africa consist of (mention four) ____________,
_____________, __________________, ____________________.
11.1.5 The difference in average annual temperature between Durban and Port
Nolloth is 60C. Explain why.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
WORKSHEET 12: DATE:_______
Study figure 5 below and answer the following questions:
Figure: 5 CLIMATE VS WEATHER
Google
Images
12.1 Distinguish between the following concepts:
12.1.1 Weather is ____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
12.1.2 Climate is ____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
12.2 Weather is made up of several elements.
Name the FOUR most important elements of weather illustrated below:
[Google images]
12.2.1 ________________________________
12.2.2 ________________________________
12.2.3 ________________________________
12.2.4 ________________________________
WORKSHEET: 13 DATE:_____________
Use the words in the box to complete the sentences below.
Anemometer Rain gauge Degrees Celsius (0C)
Wind direction Humidity
Thermometer
13.1 An instrument used to measure precipitation is_______________
13.2 ________________ is used to measure the speed of the wind.
13.3 ___________________ is a unit used to measure temperature
13.4 The amount of water vapor in the air is called________________
13.5 ______________ refers to where the wind is blowing from.
WORKSHEET: 14 (PRACTICAL EXERCISE) DATE:____________
Weather information provides the highest and lowest temperature of a places over a
24-hour period. Precipitation includes all forms of water that come out of the air. Use
this table to collect weather for your area over a period of 5 days.
Name of your place:
Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday:
Date Date Date Date Date
Low Low Low Low Low
temperature: temperature: temperature: temperature: temperature:
High High High High High
temperature: temperature: temperature: temperature: temperature
Precipitation Precipitation Precipitation Precipitation Precipitation
type: type: type: type: type:
WORKSHEET: 15 DATE:__________________
Study the climatic regions of South Africa in the map below and answer questions.
Source: Today page 39
15.1 Name the ocean currents influencing the climate of Durban and Port
Nolloth respectively.
15.1.1 Durban - __________________________________________
15.1.2 Port Nolloth - _______________________________________
15.2 Indicate in which climatic region the two places are situated.
15.2.1 Durban - __________________________________________
15.2.2 Port Nolloth - _______________________________________
15.2 Study the climate graph of Johannesburg (top horizontal line is for maximum
temperature and bottom line is for minimum temperature)
1 694,m
(Google images)
15.2.1 During which season does Johannesburg receive most of its rainfall?
_________________________________________
15.2.2 Indicate the average rainfall in Johannesburg per annum.
_________________________
15.2.3 What is the altitude of Johannesburg?
__________________________
15.3 In a short paragraph discuss the Mediterranean region in which Cape Town is
situated. In your answer refer to the rainfall season, winds, mountains,
summers and winters and the temperature range.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
