Lesson Plan
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Lesson Plan: Musical Myths

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Create musical myths in this West African tales lesson. Middle schoolers read myths from African Myths and Legends as well as West African Trickster Tales. They note when music could be used to enhance the tales, and then write their own...
Lesson Plan
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Dance: Discovering the Culture of Gullah

For Teachers 5th - 7th
It's wonderful to see a lesson that incorporates art, movement, and writing. These three forms of creative expression are explored as learners dance to music from the Gullah people of West Africa. They analyze several paintings, listen...
Lesson Plan
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The Clever Monkey Rides Again

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students read and explore a West African folktale. In this folktale lesson, students read the book The Clever Monkey Rides Again and examine West African proverbs. There are several related multi-subject extensions on this lesson which...
Lesson Plan
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The Royal Art of Benin

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate how the king of Benin used brass plaques to project an image of power to the people of Benin. They locate Benin on a map, explore various websites, and create a paper wall plaque that conveys symbols of power.
Lesson Plan
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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
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Senufo Painting

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create a Senufo painting in the same style as the Fakaha tribespeople from West Africa. They listen to a teacher-led lecture on Senufo painting, develop a sketch of an animal and masked figures, and draw their figures on burlap.
Lesson Plan
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Examples of Justice Systems and Practices in Western Africa

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore African belief systems. For this West African lesson, 10th graders research these belief systems. Students create a wooden figure that represents these beliefs.  
Lesson Plan
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Sundiata, Mali’s Lion King

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the history of Mali. In this African cultures lesson, students research the impact of Sundiata Keita as king of Mali, recognize the significance of historical Malian festivals, and create character masks to be worn...
Lesson Plan
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Granary Door Dogon, Mali

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore a creation myth. In this visual arts lesson plan, students discuss the Dogon creation myth and the design and make refrigerator magnets in the style of Dogan granary doors. The design of the magnets should include linear...
Lesson Plan
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Anansi Goes to Lunch

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read the story Anansi Goes to Lunch and complete language arts activities connected to the story. In this language arts lesson plan, 2nd graders complete activities including discussion, reading, writing, drawing, and role...
Lesson Plan
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The Family Quilt

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the artwork of Faith Ringgold. They create their own quilt pattern on fabric and piece them together to create a class quilt. They compare their similarities with one another.
Lesson Plan
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Gullah Contributions to South Carolina History

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners research the Gullah people and their impact on South Carolina. For this South Carolina history lesson, students study, locate, and color the region of Africa the Gullah people came from. Learners listen to Gullah music and watch...
Unit Plan
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Traveling the Silk Road: A Multimedia Approach

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students transfer what they have learned about China into an electronic project. In this collaborative project, students take what they have learned from their textbooks and synthesize the information in order to create an electronic...
Lesson Plan
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Transforming Anansi Folktales Into Storyboards

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students work in small groups to illustrate a story board of a folktale. They develop the meaning of a trickster as a humor device in folktales by listening to several about Leprechauns and the Coyote of Native American tales. They then...
Lesson Plan
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Kente Cloth

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students attempt to research the history of using the kente cloth for its cultural purposes. They comment in discussion about the highly visual appeal of the cloths while going through the process of creating their own. The importance of...
Lesson Plan
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Animal Invasion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research and illustrate the natural habitats and evolution of giraffes and other animals imported into ancient Rome. They draw a map of Europe, North Africa, and West Asia and draw the animals from each region in their...
Lesson Plan
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Gotta Be Me

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students create model societies. In this social identity lesson, students conduct research so that they can plan and present model societies to their classmates. The societies must include information regarding how their society will...