Instructional activities for African Empires:  two days.

 

Day 1: Ghana and stories…

 

  1. Define Griot
  2. Explain that African tribes existed and thrived in western Africa and use Ghana as an example.
  3. Discuss the history of Ghana (named after the nation’s war chief)
    1. Where – West Africa Between the Niger and Senegal
    2. The rivers supported trade (Ghana controlled the trade)
    3. Ghana had superior iron spears that allowed them to control tribes with only stone, bone, and wood.
    4. Muslim warriors attacked Ghana because they had different religious beliefs.
    5. Ghana remained a weakened civilization and broke up into many tribes.
    6. Many of these tribes explained nature and entertained each other with stories.

 

  1. Present the African stories to groups of two or three.  Require that the group select a  reader and an artist (if it is a group of three there can be two readers and one artist).  The group has 15 minutes to prepare.  The artist will draw a quick picture on the white board and the reader will read the story (assure that the reader projects their voice and reads with … gusto).
  2. Allow the groups to volunteer to present their story (choose as many as there is time.  Have them turn in their picture on a piece of paper with the artist and readers names.
  3. end of day 1.

 

Day 2: Sundiata and Griots

 

  1. Review the definition of a Griot
  2. Tell the factual story of the Warrior Sundiata
    1. sickly boy with twelve brothers
    2. all of the brothers are killed but Sundiata (he is considered harmless)
    3. Sundiata recovers and became Mansa (king) of Mali.
  1. Explain that the information was gleaned from Griots that told the story as a legend.
  2. Read (or paraphrase the Legend of Sundiata)
  3. Have the students write a paragraph describing what Sundiata achieved and how.
  4. end of day 2