Maintains that students need certain basic data about Africa if they are to appreciate and understand developments there in the present and future. Suggests, with this objective in mind, some cognitive ideas that might be reasonably expected to be understood and retained by middle schoolers. (Author/DB)

This booklet proposes to approach the teaching of French from a multicultural perspective. The introductory section presents the reasons for recommending this orientation and the pedagogical advantages to be derived from it, emphasizing the fact that French serves as a link between several Francophone nations and their widely different cultures.…

This four-lesson unit, designed for use with high school students, examines economic development in Africa. Lesson 1, "What Is Development?" has students investigating terms such as development, third world, North, and South. In lesson 2, "Resources and Culture," students learn that people define resources based on their own…

This unit uses a case study of the Kingdom of the Kongo (Congo) to answer questions about the trans-Atlantic slave trade from an African perspective. The unit is appropriate for use in any study of the history of sub-Saharan Africa. Because it focuses on the African perspective of events surrounding the slave trade, it supports in-depth studies of…

The dynamism of Africa's role in world history, recent work in African economic history, the role of women, and the African colonial period are discussed. Various aspects of this history can be integrated easily into existing social studies courses. (RM)

These lessons were written by African social studies specialists for U.S. middle school students to stimulate interest in and develop a positive attitude toward Africans and their culture. Each lesson provides objectives, materials, teaching procedures, and is meant to be used as a textbook supplement. To promote understanding of young Africans,…

This document examines development efforts in Africa. While discussing issues in an African context, the document challenges students to consider a wider, global context. Africa, with its history of colonialism, its fragile soil, its expanding population, its struggle to provide people with the basic means of existence, illustrates very starkly…

Intended for use with grades six through nine, "Global Geography" is a series of ten 15-minute video programs that help students think their way through important issues and increase their understanding of world geography. The programs fit easily into normal classroom schedules and support the content of most existing course sequences.…

This interdisciplinary unit is designed as an introduction to West African culture for both teachers and students who have little background about Africa. The unit provides basic concepts and a conceptual framework for learning more about West Africa. The unit is divided into four sections with 18 lessons. Several lessons are in each section.…

A collection of reproducible black and white maps, charts, and graphs for classroom use profiles Africa today. Individual country maps were originally produced by the United Nations, U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. The material depicts the continent's (1) size, (2) population, (3) resources, (4) commodities, (5)…

This study relates especially to African names, but can apply to all names. It aims to help students develop a more perceptive way of looking at other people and to encourage students to learn from and about them. Part 1, "Background Information," introduces people and place names in Africa and discusses their interrelationships. Part 2,…

This lesson plan can be used in social studies, language arts, or library research. The instructional objective is for students to select a topic of study relating to Africa, write a thesis statement, collect information from media sources, and develop a conclusion. The teacher may assign the lesson for written or oral evaluation. The teacher…

The Water in Africa Project was realized over a 2-year period by a team of Peace Corps volunteers. As part of an expanded, detailed design, resources were collected from over 90 volunteers serving in African countries, photos and stories were prepared, and standards-based learning units were created for K-12 students. This unit, "Water…

Suggests ways in which the rich resources of African arts--literature, sculpture, music, dance, theater--can be made more accessible to elementary and secondary social studies classrooms. A bibliography of print and nonprint materials is also provided. (RM)

Compares the values of the Akan people of West Africa and African-American cultures and works of art that embody these values. Describes each artwork (Akan crown, African-American Head Wrap, Asafo Flags, and the Harriet Powers quilt) and provides questions and activities appropriate for middle school students. (CMK)