Smithsonian Institution
Braiding Rhythms: The Role of Bell Patterns in West African and Afro-Caribbean Music
Africans transported to the Caribbean as part of the transatlantic slave trade brought with them a rich tradition of music and dance. Four lessons teach young musicians the rumba clave rhythm, cascara rhythm, and the 6/8 bell patterns...
Curated OER
Songs of Fela Kuti – Nigeria
Students explore the music of Fela Kuti. In this music lesson, students listen to the fusion protest music of Fela Kuti of Nigeria. Students reflect on Kuti's music and message.
Curated OER
Music in Other Cultures
High schoolers examine the musical concepts of timbre, melody, and rhythm. They listen to and identify characteristics of music from other cultures.
Curated OER
Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-OGBO : Sharing Life in an African Village
Students read OGBO: Sharing Life in an African Village by Ifcoma Onyefulu. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of Nigerian culture. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social...
Curated OER
Introduction to African Culture Through Music & Dance
Students explore various elements in West African Culture through the medium of a traditional music and dance from Ghana. They take an imaginary tour of a village dance-drumming event in West Africa.
Curated OER
How Are Boundaries Made, Kept, Broken?
Learners perform raps and analyze issues among the rich and poor. They explore how countries are labeled as "third world" and "first world." They create a dialectical journal and examine the country of Nigeria through the reading of...
Curated OER
The Beat of the Blues
This lesson focuses on how students can learn basic blues percussion patterns by considering the polyrhythms of African drumming and investigating how and why such drums were banned during slavery. Students will listen to several blues...
Curated OER
Artist Unknown
Students examine how Lennie Gardner's process of discovery about his bronze mask parallels a personal discovery process. They receive an introduction to the art, history, and religion of Benin
ProCon
Social Media
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter—are they good for society? Pupils prepare for a class debate in which they voice their opinions on the issue. They read the main pro and con arguments, explore others' opinions, view videos, and discover the...
Curated OER
Self Esteem
Students consider the innate goodness of all people and the role self esteem plays in making decisions. They participate in a group role play about drug use and self esteem and answer discussion questions about the characters.
Curated OER
Home And Hobbies
In this ESL worksheet, students interview their classmates about where they are from and what their hobbies are. Students fill out a chart to help organize their information.
Curated OER
Africa
In this reading comprehension learning exercise, students read that passage titled Africa and then answer the 11 questions about what they read.
Curated OER
Keeping the Past Alive
Students read about the oral histories of West Africa and complete related activities. In this oral histories lesson plan, students read about the importance of oral customs in African cultures. Students interview a family member about...
Curated OER
Olympics
Students participate in Olympic events. In this Olympic Games activity, students research information about countries involved in the Olympic Games and prepare to participate in a closing ceremony for their school Olympics.