Explore Our World: Africa - Unit Study Wrap-up - Eva Varga

Where did the summer go?  I completely forgot to summarize our activities each week during our unit study Explore Our World : AFRICA.  We were actively engaged in a variety of learning activities but as the summer progressed, other obligations began to conflict with our plans and my neighbor and I were not able to get together as often.  Not surprisingly, I also neglected to take many photos!

Week 3 :: Western Africa

• Key Points – Region more diverse ecologically than Northern Africa.  Many European nations had colonies in this area.  The cultures are more settled (as opposed to nomadic) and thereby agricultural cultures dominate.
• Read aloud Why Mosquitoes Buzz in Peoples Ears by Verna Aardema and created a crayon resist of a savannah animal
• Did a comparison (Venn diagram) of Little Red Hen by JP Miller and Talking Vegetables by Won-Ldy Paye & Margaret Lippert
• Discussed the meaning of onomatopoeia
• Sampled cassava chips
• Began a mini-book of African animals
• Played several games of Mancala
• Enjoyed listening to music from Western Africa with African Playground CD.

Week 4 :: Western Africa, cont.

• Key Points – Slavery was once prominent here –> huge impact on economy –> formerly rich region now poor.  Masks are a key component/feature in festivals and ceremonies.
• Read aloud In the Rainfield by Ann Grifalconi, Mrs Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile by Won-Ldy Paye, Talk Talk, Why the Sky is Far Away and Anansi and the Talking Melon
• Painted an animal in Naïve style of Ghana and read aloud Man Who Painted the Sky (illustrated in a similar style)
• Began a mini-book of African style homes
• Cooked Benne Cakes (a recipe from the Malinke) and sampled dates and chocolate from West Africa
• Enjoyed listening to music from Western Africa with African Playground CD. 
• Watched a Schlessinger media video on Ancient Africa.

Weeks 5 & 6 :: Eastern Africa

• Key Points – Animal / Wildlife Reserves prominent in Eastern Africa.  Water is a valued resource for life.  Differences and similarities among daily use of water in Africa and in the United States.  Mt. Kilamanjaro.  Lake Victoria – source of the Nile River.  Madagasgar has unique (endemic).
• Did a water comparison study.
• Read aloud Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, Trouble, The Good Lion, Young Mouse and the Elephant, The Lonely Lioness, Rain Makes a Monkey of Lion, We All Want a Safari, Count Your Way Through Kenya and Kenya A-Z
• Enjoyed listening to music from Western Africa with African Playground CD. 
• Created beaded bracelets inspired by Maasai.

Week 7 :: Central Africa

• Key Points – Ethiopia considered the cradle of civility, so many fossils, etc.  Birthplace of coffee.  Region is dominated by rainforest.  All countries are former colonies of European countries.
• Played a thumb piano or mbira on PBS Kids.
• Read aloud The Elephant’s Wrestling Match
• The kids wrote their own African fable.
  

Week 8 :: Southern Africa

• Key Points – Apartheid.  Nelson Mandela.  Desmond Tutu.
• Read aloud Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, A Child’s Day in a South African City, Marriage of the Rain Goddess, Count Your Way Through Zimbabwe, The Girl Who Spun Gold
• Put together lapbooks with all the mini-books we had begun