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
Check out my Hub page for more information about our Africa Unit Study
One comment
Phyllis
October 2, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Very cool and thorough study of Africa. I am going to have to bookmark this for later use!
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