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Year 8 - Geography

Resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo: What are its opportunities and challenges?

Unit Summary

This unit teaches pupils about the physical and human geography of the DRC and how natural resources bring both opportunities and challenges. Pupils will also learn about the Congo rainforest and how conservation efforts are trying to protect this important biome.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe the DRC's natural resources and their role in the global economy.

Key Notes

  • The DRC has abundant natural resources, including coltan, diamonds, and copper.
  • In the DRC, most mining occurs in the east and southeast of the country.
  • The natural resources of the DRC are essential for global industries, including technology and energy.
  • Many of the DRC's natural resources are owned by companies in other countries.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • natural resources: natural resources are those that come from Earth without human influence and can be used for human needs
  • mining: mining is the process of digging into the ground to remove natural resources
  • economy: the economy is the way money in a particular area is made and spent

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • That all natural resources are found deep underground and so need to be mined to extract them.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.

The DRC has abundant natural resources, including coltan, diamonds, and copper. In the DRC, most mining occurs in the east and southeast of the country.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'natural resources'

natural resources are those that come from Earth without human influence and can be used for human needs.

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: That all natural resources are found deep underground and so need to be mined to extract them. Correction: Some natural resources are found deep underground, like ores of some metals and fossil fuels. Others are not found underground, for example the rainforest trees that are used for timber or as a source of rubber, or water sources like lakes.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 Geography guide library.