1. Word Wall
1.1. Sahara - Largest Desert in the World
1.2. Islam - The major cultural and religious influence in North Africa
1.3. Commodity - an agricultural or mining product that can be sold
1.4. Sahel - a strip of dry grasslands on the southern border of the Sahara; also known as "the shore of the desert"
1.5. Plantation -a usually large group of plants and especially trees under cultivation, settlement in a new country or region
1.6. Colonization - Physical process whereby the colonizer takes over another place, putting its own government in charge and either moving its own people into the place or bringing in indentured outsiders to gain control of the people and the land
1.7. Savannah - a large flat area of land covered with grass and very few trees, which is found in hot countries
1.8. Grasslands - a large open area of country covered with grass, typically used for grazing
1.9. Galimoto - A toy vehicle
1.10. Famine - An enormous shortage of food over a wide area of living. People starve during famines
1.11. Poverty - Being very poor. Having little or no money.
1.12. Djembe- African drum used for music during tradition dances. It is played by hand and now used somewhat commonly in the United States. Click on arrow for video.
1.13. Safari- a trip to see animals in their natural habitats or their homes.
2. Maps
2.1. Go to the following website and complete the labeling map quiz on the website. Record your score and try again, seeing if you can beat your score next time. http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-games/africa-map-game.php
2.2. For More advanced students, complete this online map-labeling game instead http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/africa.html
2.3. Have students click on the paperclip icon under the map and select the file titled "Africa". They should then study the map and the names of countries. Advanced students can look for their own maps with the names of capitals on them as well.
2.4. Then have students click on the same paperclip icon, and this time select "Africa_Blank". They should then practice filling in the blank black and white map with country names (and capitals for advanced students).
2.5. Students should then pick on country and find a map of it online. They can then look up different aspects of the country, and label the map accordingly, such as with individual states, land uses, average climates, vegetations, etc.
3. Projects
3.1. Write an "I Am" poem in the voice of a person living in Africa
3.2. Write a letter to someone in the classroom describing what it is like to live in Africa based upon what you learned.
3.3. Research and write a paper on a question about Africa
3.4. Paint a picture of something related to African culture or geography
3.5. Make a poster about Africa
3.6. Create a Website
3.7. Make a Venn Diagram using African culture and your culture
3.8. Write a double-entry journal using the textbook
3.9. Make a timeline of African History
3.10. Complete a webquest
4. Text Set
4.1. Fiction
4.1.1. "Africa is Not a Country" By: Margy Burns Knight
4.1.1.1. Very detailed children's book about the culture, diversity, daily life, and environments in Africa.
4.1.2. "Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry" By: Ashley Bryan
4.1.2.1. Wonderfully made collection of short poems written by African American authors with bright pictures to accompany each poem.
4.1.3. "Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book" By: Muriel Feelings
4.1.3.1. An alphabet book that highlights in language and illustrations words and cultural practices of individuals who speak Swahili.
4.1.4. "Growing Up In Africa" By: Les and Genny Nuckolls
4.1.4.1. A novel about two girls whose father takes a job at a university in Africa. The book is full of their adventures and the things they learned while growing up in Africa.
4.1.5. "African Folk Tales (Dover Children's Thrift Classics)" By: Hugh Vernon-Jackson
4.1.5.1. A collection of 18 stories that have been handed down for generations among the African tribal cultures. Features 19 lively illustrations.
4.1.6. "Galimoto" By Karen Lynn Williams and Catherine Stock.
4.1.6.1. A young Malawi boy goes to great lengths to collect enough wire to make a galimoto, a toy vehicle.
4.2. Non-Fiction
4.2.1. "Africa (Rookie Read-About Geography)" By: Allan Fowler
4.2.1.1. Part of a series for emergent readers, "Africa (Rookie Read-About Geography)" highlights cities, waterways, nations, habitats, and other aspects of African geography.
4.2.2. "Look What Came From Africa" By: Miles Harvey
4.2.2.1. A book that introduces its readers to the music, art, dances, foods and culture of Africa.
4.2.3. "A Glorious Age in Africa: The Story of 3 Greet African Empires" By: Daniel Chu
4.2.3.1. "A Glorious Age in Africa" reveals the magnificent history and heritage of Africa, and destroys the myth that Africa is a continent with no history. The story reveals African civilization during the 8th-16th century era, highlighting the rise of three subsequent Sudanese empires.
4.2.4. "Beatrice’s Goat" By Page McBrier and Lori Lohstoeter
4.2.4.1. A true story about a young girl from a Ugandan village who longs to go to school. When Beatrice’s family receives a goat, Beatrice begins earning money and eventually earns enough to pay for school.
5. Content Area Textbook
5.1. Use modeling to teach students how to take notes from the Textbook.
5.2. Have student read the textbook with a partner or by themselves while taking notes.
5.3. Students break up into 5 groups. Each group picks a region of Africa (East, North, West, Central, and Southern) each student in the group will read through that sections of the textbook. The students while reading will discover and write down the unique aspects of their region. They will then collaborate with their group about what they have read and will take notes on what they have talked about in their groups. When they are finished they will share the information they found with rest of the class.
5.4. Have each student make a study guide about topics discussed and information from the book. Then as a class point out important things that each student thinks they should know from the lessons.
6. Technology
6.1. Complete a webquest about Africa that can be used for exploring the internet.
6.1.1. View websites about Africa, including http://allafrica.com/ and http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/af.htm
6.2. Use Glogster to make a poster highlighting important aspects of African life and culture.
6.2.1. In addition to making a poster, choose to use Prezi, Animoto, or Storyboard to present information about Africa.