Asia’s River Map Handout

Directions: On the map provided, you will see seven numbered river locations. Write the correct river name next to each number. Use the list of river names below to help you.

Rivers to Label:

• Ob
• Yellow (Huang He)
• Yangtze (Chang Jiang)
• Ganges
• Indus
• Tigris
• Euphrates

1. ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
2. ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
3. ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
4. ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
5. ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
6. ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
7. ____________________________________________________
   
   
   

River Fact Cards: Asia

Directions: Cut out each card. In your group, read about your river, discuss the facts, and be ready to share one with the class.

Ob River
Location: Western Siberia, Russia
• Approximately 3,650 km long, making it one of Russia’s longest rivers.

• Flows north into the Arctic Ocean, creating a large delta.

• Local communities use it for transportation, fishing, and hydroelectric power.

Yellow River (Huang He)
Location: Northern China
• Called the “Yellow” River because of the yellow silt it carries.

• At about 5,464 km, it’s the second-longest river in China.

• Known as the cradle of Chinese civilization for its fertile plains.

Yangtze River (Chang Jiang)
Location: Central China
• At roughly 6,300 km, it’s the longest river in Asia.

• Important for shipping and transportation across China.

• Home to the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric power station.

Ganges River
Location: Northern India & Bangladesh
• Approximately 2,525 km long, ending in the Bay of Bengal.

• Sacred river in Hinduism; millions bathe in it each year.

• Provides water for farming, drinking, and fishing along its banks.

Indus River
Location: China, India & Pakistan
• About 3,180 km long, flowing southwest to the Arabian Sea.

• Cradle of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization.
• Essential for irrigation and farming in Pakistan’s plains.

Tigris River
Location: Turkey, Syria & Iraq
• Around 1,850 km long, flowing southeast to join the Euphrates.

• Forms the eastern boundary of the Fertile Crescent.
• Vital for agriculture and settlements in ancient Mesopotamia.

Euphrates River
Location: Turkey, Syria & Iraq
• At about 2,800 km, it’s the longest river in Western Asia.

• Joins the Tigris to form the Shatt al-Arab waterway.

• Supported the rise of early civilizations in Mesopotamia.

Asia’s Rivers Matching Activity Sheet

Directions: Use your Asia’s River Map Handout to find each river’s location number (1–7). Write the correct location number next to each river name. Then, in the space provided, write one fact you learned about that river.

1. Ob River (Location number: ________)
   Write one fact:
   ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Yellow River (Huang He) (Location number: ________)
   Write one fact:
   ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) (Location number: ________)
   Write one fact:
   ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Ganges River (Location number: ________)
   Write one fact:
   ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Indus River (Location number: ________)
   Write one fact:
   ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Tigris River (Location number: ________)
   Write one fact:
   ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Euphrates River (Location number: ________)
   Write one fact:
   ____________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   

Asia’s Rivers Answer Key

This answer key provides the correct river–number matches for the map handout and sample responses for the matching activity, along with the reasoning steps used to arrive at each answer.

1. Map Labeling (Asia’s River Map Handout)

Correct Number–River Matches:

1. Ob River
2. Yellow River (Huang He)
3. Yangtze River (Chang Jiang)
4. Ganges River
5. Indus River
6. Tigris River
7. Euphrates River

Reasoning Steps:

• Locate each numbered point on the blank Asia map and compare its geographic position to the known course of each river.
• Number 1 sits in western Siberia flowing north → Ob River.
• Number 2 runs through northern China across the Loess Plateau → Yellow River.
• Number 3 traverses central China eastward to the East China Sea → Yangtze River.
• Number 4 begins in the Himalayas and flows southeast into the Bay of Bengal → Ganges River.
• Number 5 flows southwest from the Tibetan Plateau toward the Arabian Sea → Indus River.
• Number 6 runs southeast through Iraq to meet another river → Tigris River.
• Number 7 parallels the Tigris before joining it near the Persian Gulf → Euphrates River.

2. Matching Activity (Asia’s Rivers Matching Activity Sheet)

For each river, write the correct location number (1–7) and one fact learned. Sample answers are provided below.

1. Ob River
   • Location number: 1
   • Sample fact: Flows north into the Arctic Ocean, creating a large delta used for fishing and transportation.
2. Yellow River (Huang He)
   • Location number: 2
   • Sample fact: Called the “Yellow” River because it carries yellow silt that fertilizes China’s plains.
3. Yangtze River (Chang Jiang)
   • Location number: 3
   • Sample fact: At about 6,300 km long, it’s the longest river in Asia and home to the Three Gorges Dam.
4. Ganges River
   • Location number: 4
   • Sample fact: Considered sacred in Hinduism, millions of people bathe in its waters each year.
5. Indus River
   • Location number: 5
   • Sample fact: Site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and vital for irrigation in Pakistan.
6. Tigris River
   • Location number: 6
   • Sample fact: Forms the eastern edge of the Fertile Crescent and supported early Mesopotamian settlements.
7. Euphrates River
   • Location number: 7
   • Sample fact: Joins with the Tigris to form the Shatt al-Arab waterway and helped ancient civilizations thrive.

Scoring Guide:

• Full credit for correct location number and a relevant fact drawn from the lesson’s fact cards.
• Partial credit if only one component (number or fact) is correct.

End of Answer Key.

River Brainstorm Warm-Up

Time: 5 minutes

Purpose: Activate prior knowledge about rivers and get students thinking about why waterways matter.

1. List Rivers You Know

Write the names of three rivers you’ve heard of (anywhere in the world).

2. Why Are Rivers Important?

Think about people, plants, and animals. Write two reasons why rivers matter to us and the environment.

3. Share With a Partner

Turn to your neighbor and compare your lists. Be ready to share one river name and one importance reason with the whole class.

After sharing, we’ll transition to our focus on seven mighty rivers in Asia!

Exit Ticket: River Reflection

Time: 3 minutes
Directions: Reflect on today’s lesson about Asia’s seven mighty rivers.

1. One new thing I learned today:

1. One question I still have:

Please hand in your exit ticket as you leave the classroom.