Peace Corps
Cuisine and Etiquette
Students identify the main food in the different cultures they have examined. In groups, they compare and contrast their expected table manners to the ones in Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia. Using this list of behaviors, they identify...
Curated OER
African Music
In this African music worksheet, students read about how family life, community music, and rhythms are part of the culture and music of Africa.
Curated OER
Folktale through African Art
Students study folktales and other stories from West Africa. By hearing and reading these stories they explore many new cultural and religious beliefs, such as spirits inhabiting nature and possessing special powers. Once the students...
Anti-Defamation League
Emojis and Me
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...
Curated OER
The Talking Goat
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.
Curated OER
A Guide Through the Culture of the Blues
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...
Curated OER
Constructing a Timeline of African History
Students 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 Africa to...
Curated OER
Power of Symbols in West African Art
Students 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 stories...
Curated OER
Ancient Origins: The Role of Archaeology in Reconstructing the Past
Students read information about the ancient origins of art and archaeology with a focus on the Malian culture. In this art origins lesson plan, students read background information for the topic and compare ancient and contemporary...
Curated OER
Examining What Sharing Really Means
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.
Curated OER
One Step at a Time
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 things...
Curated OER
Social Studies: African Banner Boxes
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...
Curated OER
African Popular Music
Students explore popular music of West Africa. In this musicians activity, students complete listening tasks that challenge them to analyze the music of Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo, and Baaba Maal.
August House
The Clever Monkey Rides Again
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 order.
Curated OER
Theatre: Oral Traditions
Young scholars investigate cultural traditions. In this multi-cultural lesson, students discuss various cultures and research their traditions.
Curated OER
The Gullah People of the Sea Islands
Eighth graders examine the lives of the Gullah-Geechee people. In this unique cultures lesson, 8th graders explore music, language, and slavery of the Gullah-Geechee people from the southern low-country in the United States. Students...
Curated OER
Stone Passing Game with Calabash Song
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...
Curated OER
The Clever Monkey Rides Again
Students read and explore a West African folktale. For 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...
Curated OER
The Clever Monkey Rides Again
Learners 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. Learners participate in a discussion about the folktale and...
Curated OER
The Cultural Geography of Africa South of the Sahara "Kente Cloth"
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.
Curated OER
Keeping the Past Alive
Students read about the oral histories of West Africa and complete related activities. In this oral histories lesson, students read about the importance of oral customs in African cultures. Students interview a family member about oral...
Curated OER
Diverse Societies in Africa
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.
Curated OER
Adinkra Cloth
Young scholars explore traditional African culture, symbols and symbol making and printing, and create class adinkra cloth.
Curated OER
Examples of Cameroonian Clothing
Students examine aspects of culture in Cameroon. In this Cameroon lesson, students view a slide show featuring indigenous Cameroonian clothing and respond to discussion questions.