Lesson Plan
Anti-Defamation League

Emojis and Me

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
A lesson features the work of O'Plérou Grebet, a graphic designer who created a collection of emojis to represent his life in West Africa. Scholars explore the history and purpose of emojis, then read and discuss an article about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Talking Goat

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read and analyze an African folktale. They read and discuss the folktale, analyze a map of Africa and Liberia, complete a worksheet, answer discussion questions, and analyze the patterns and analogies of the folktale.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Guide Through the Culture of the Blues

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the history of blues music and discover how it relates to the music of today. As a class, they listen to the drum songs of Africa and compare it to the use of drums in pop music today. Using the internet, they research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constructing a Timeline of African History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars create a timeline of African History. In groups, they research and describe eight different important periods in the country's history. They apply this information to compare and contrast them and how it has allowed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Power of Symbols in West African Art

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine and analyze symbols used in the Asante community of Ghana and look at the history of power struggles in West Africa. They discover how to express meaning and power as they create their own symbols and short...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancient Origins: The Role of Archaeology in Reconstructing the Past

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students read information about the ancient origins of art and archaeology with a focus on the Malian culture. In this art origins lesson, students read background information for the topic and compare ancient and contemporary objects....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examining What Sharing Really Means

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners read "The Senegalese Miracle". They discuss the amount of sharing the author finds in Africa. They examine the relationship the author has to the locals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

One Step at a Time

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate the customs and habits of other cultures by reading letters from a Peace Corps Volunteer.  In this global customs lesson, students discuss how analyzing a culture is similar to analyzing art, no two people see...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: African Banner Boxes

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students write creation stories and design stamps to use on banners accompany them. They discuss the use of stamps in African culture to take the place of words. Students use a handout of stamps and their own creations to create banners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Popular Music

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Pupils explore popular music of West Africa. In this musicians lesson plan, students complete listening tasks that challenge them to analyze the music of Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo, and Baaba Maal.
Lesson Plan
August House

The Clever Monkey Rides Again

For Teachers 1st - 2nd Standards
Use a West African folktale to practice several different skills in your first grade classroom. Learners read The Clever Monkey Rides Again and focus on rhyming words, reading comprehension, measurement, art, movement, and word...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Theatre: Oral Traditions

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate cultural traditions. In this multi-cultural lesson, students discuss various cultures and research their traditions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stone Passing Game with Calabash Song

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss games and their use around the world in many different cultures and how music and games are related. They discuss the rules of West African game then play a game from West Africa and review and learn the "Calabash" song...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Clever Monkey Rides Again

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students read and explore a West African folktale. In this folktale instructional activity, students read the book The Clever Monkey Rides Again and examine West African proverbs. There are several related multi-subject extensions on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Clever Monkey Rides Again

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore a West African folktale. In this folktale lesson, students read the book The Clever Monkey Rides Again and discuss the trickster characters from the tale. Students participate in a discussion about the folktale and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cultural Geography of Africa South of the Sahara "Kente Cloth"

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students read several articles about West African strip weaving of Kente cloth. They explore the cultural context in which strip weaving occurs. They answer four comprehension questions and compose a magazine article about strip weaving.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keeping the Past Alive

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students read about the oral histories of West Africa and complete related activities. In this oral histories instructional activity, students read about the importance of oral customs in African cultures. Students interview a family...
PPT
Curated OER

Diverse Societies in Africa

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Early African society was shaped by environment and geography. Define the life ways of early African societies with this informative presentation. Topics are basic and only touch lightly on the complex nature of the subject matter.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adinkra Cloth

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners explore traditional African culture, symbols and symbol making and printing, and create class adinkra cloth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examples of Cameroonian Clothing

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine aspects of culture in Cameroon. In this Cameroon lesson plan, students view a slide show featuring indigenous Cameroonian clothing and respond to discussion questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Medieval African Kingdoms

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the geography and political history of West Africa. They role-play as applicants to a company that transports customers to any historic time period. Working in teams, they create promotional products encouraging...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roots And Styles Of Black Music - Lesson 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify many genres of Black music. They identify Black music as a reflection of the culture. They study many historically influential Black music artists, producers, and other contributors.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural and Social Transformations Since 1865

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research cultural and social issues in the areas of Westward Expansion, Immigration, and Civil Rights. They use their research to create a PowerPoint electronic book to be used by other students.
PPT
Curated OER

How Has Colonialism Led to Multilingualism in Africa

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Prepare yourself for a top-notch presentation on colonialism in Africa! Discussed are the reasons for African multilingualism. Maps and a country-by-country look at various colonists that made their mark on the African continent are...