Georgia's Exploring Our World: Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southern and Eastern Asia © 2012

Chapter 4: Physical Geography of Southwest Asia

Web Activity Lesson Plans

Introduction
In this chapter, students learned about the physical features and climate regions of Southwest Asia. Large areas of desert and scarce water resources dictate settlement patterns as well as economic activities. Southwest Asia is home to large reserves of petroleum and some of the region's countries have become wealthy from selling oil. The OPEC Web site helps students learn more about the organization which oversees oil production in several areas of the world as well as the future of this natural resource.

Lesson Description
Students will visit the OPEC Web site and explore the Frequently Asked Questions pages about OPEC and the petroleum industry.

Instructional Objectives

1. The learner will be able to identify which countries comprise OPEC and its function in the world oil market.
2. The learner will be able to discuss the rise and fall of oil prices and the effects of each.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. Student answers may include: to coordinate and/or combine oil policies among the member countries; to decide how to keep the member countries' interests safe; to find ways to keep prices stable in international oil markets with the goal of stopping price fluctuations; to deliver steady supplies of oil to consuming nations at fair prices; to make sure those investing in the industry get a fair return on their investments
2. The majority of OPEC member countries are located in the Middle East. Sixty percent of the crude oil that is bought and sold internationally comes from OPEC member countries. That is why OPEC can have a strong influence on the oil market, especially if it produces more or less of its normal output.
3. Oil is a part of nearly every aspect of the world: industrialization, farming, plastics and petrochemicals. If oil prices are too high, goods and services become more expensive, fewer consumers buy, and that creates inflation. If oil prices are too low, consumers waste the resource by buying too much and investors will not put their money into the industry. Stable oil prices prevent an over-supply which causes suppliers to lose money and an under-supply which forces consumers to pay more for oil.
4. Students may suggest that people could reduce the amount they drive by instead walking, riding a bicycle, or taking public transportation; turn down the thermostat in the winter or consider alternative sources to heating oil; pack groceries in reusable shopping bags; recycle plastic bottles and containers, and so on.