Bingo: The US-Africa Connections Worksheet This activity is designed for middle school students who focus on finding peers who can answer ‘yes’ to many of the Bingo sheet questions, and then uncover how elements of their daily lives–food, music, language, games, etc.–are all connected to Africa and/or the African diaspora. It is an excellent way to ‘bring Africa home’ for most students.
Using Visuals to Teach about Africa Visuals are key for student learning—more important for learning about Africa than perhaps for any other region of the world. This resources includes two lessons plans for recognizing bias through photos and for highlighting similarities across cultures. Sample Student Work contains student work from the two lessons discussed above and demonstrates the value of approaching visuals in area studies in this manner.
Outreach Program Artifact Map The Outreach Program Artifact Map contains a catalogue of over 60 artifacts, that we currently hold (in our online library as well), from several regions of Africa including West Africa, Eastern/Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Teachers can use this resource to click on any artifact on the map (images included) and find a list of resources for the classroom about the artifact’s origins, background, and history.
Lesson Plans
Language as Evidence: Using Swahili to Understand East African History
World history teacher Eric Beckman created a resource-rich website for educators to teach about East African history and contemporary society through classroom study of the Swahili language. These lessons are useful for teaching about the Bantu migration, Indian Ocean trade network, imperialism, colonialism, and globalization. Includes multimedia resources and editable powerpoints and worksheets for classroom use.
Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali Reading Guide
This student reading guide features a timeline of the Empire of Mali, a character list from the reading, chapter by chapter comprehension questions, pulled quotations, and reading activities.
Multimedia Resources
Film Clips and Trailers
The Teaching Africa Library boasts a number of rentable, interactive, and educational films on Africa, two of which were produced by the Outreach Program. To view the entire catalog of available films, please clickhere.
Inside Africa(Grades 2-7 DVD)
The video below is a trailertoour filmInside Africa: Introducing the Continent and Its People, which introduces elementary and lower middle school-aged students to the diverse human and physical geographies of Africa. The final portion of the film follows the lives of children in three countries, depicting both the diversity and the universality of childhood experiences. The film is available for purchase on our websitehere.
What Do We Know About Africa?(Grades 7-12 DVD)
The video below is a trailertoour film What Do We Know AboutAfrica?,which serves as an excellent counter to common misconceptions about Africa. The film introduces students to the diversity in the histories, religions, cultures, and peoples of the African continent. The film is particularly suited for upper middle and high school students, as well as college students in introductory courses. It is available for purchase on our websitehere.
Languages of Africa Series
The Language of Africa series highlights a number of languages spoken around the continent and explores the personal and cultural connections each language has for its speaker. These abbreviated clips are an excellent way of introducing the multiculturalism and linguistic diversity found throughout the continent and provide students with an opportunity to think about the way their use of a specific language(s) carries with it historical and cultural connotations as well.
Afrikaans
In this particular video, Professor Zoliswa Mali provides an example of the Afrikaans language. Afrikaans is one of the official languages of South Africa and is the third most spoken language in the country. For more information on the Afrikaans language, please follow the linkhere.
(Portuguese) Creole
In this particular video, Professor Fallou Ngom provides an example of the Creole language. Creole is one of many languages spoken in Senegal, but examples of Creole can be found in numerous countries worldwide. For more information on the Creole language, please follow the linkhere.
Mandika
In this particular video, Professor Fallou Ngom provides an example of the Mandinka language. Mandika is the primary language of the Gambia but variations are spoken in Senegal and parts of Guinea-Bissau. For more information on theMandikalanguage, please follow the linkhere.
Sesotho
In this particular video, Professor Zoliswa Mali provides an example of the Sesotho language. Sesotho is one of the official languages of South Africa and is the national language of Lesotho. For more information on the Sesotho language, please follow the linkhere.
Xhosa
In this particular video, Professor Zoliswa Mali provides an example of the isiXhosa language. IsiXhosa (known as Xhosa in English) is one of the official languages of South Africa and is widely spoken throughout the country. For more information on the isiXhosa language, please follow the linkhere.
Zulu
In this particular video, Professor Zoliswa Mali provides an example of the Zulu language. Zulu is one of the official languages of South Africa and is the most widely spoken home language there. Zulu is also spoken in surrounding Southern Africa countries, such as Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland. For more information on the Zulu language, please follow the linkhere.