A Life Like MinePosted by: globaledadmin on Wednesday, March 3, 2010
A Life Like Mine tells the story of how children live around the world through four themes: survival, development, protection, participation. Excellent images and text suitable for upper elementary and middle school students. Truly has a global perspective. Includes many visuals and maps.
Is is published by UNICEF.
Abadja Rhythm – Drum Music of Ghana West AfricaPosted by: globaledadmin on Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Recommended because of its effort to present many musical instruments from Ghana. Students can create their own music rhythm by playing and muting the sounds of the musical instruments. Topics and materials included in this site are six music instruments from Ghana and an activity designed to help students play and create their own musical rhythms. Start by having students explore the sounds of various musical instruments.
Adinkra Cloth (PBS Kid’s Africa)Posted by: globaledadmin on
Recommended because it provides basic information about the Adinkra Cloth, a hand-printed fabric made in Ghana. Developed by the Ashanti people, Adinkra cloths were traditionally made for royalty to wear at religious ceremonies. This site teaches kids how to make their own Adinkra cloths and to tell a story or to express their thoughts or feelings though the decoration on the cloths with traditional Ashanti symbols. Great for elementary school kids.
AfricaPosted by: globaledadmin on Monday, February 8, 2010
Recommended because it provides a wealth of general information about Africa. From Algeria to Zimbabwe, the information and student activities provide an introduction to Africa’s rich cultural heritage. Each of the five geographic regions is explored along with African climate, vegetation, wildlife, literature, art and music. A good resource for introducing students in the early elementary grades to Africa.
Citation: Gillespie-Washington, Barbara Publisher: Teacher Created Materials: October 1, 1998
Africa: It’s Not A CountryPosted by: globaledadmin on Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Recommended because this online resource provides access to a variety of lesson plans specifically targeted for elementary grades. The site explores several different themes related to the study of Africa. Included under each theme are lesson plans created by pre-service teachers who seek to debunk the many myths and stereotypes surrounding the study of Africa. Many of the lesson plans are easy to follow and can be easily adapted to accommodate various learning situations. Start by visiting the African Stereotypes: Lets Be Fair section. The goal of these lessons are to help students recognize stereotypes as it relates to Africa. Be aware of the fact that the print on some pages may be difficult to read. Also many of the reference/resource links are not working.
African Story Magic (1992).Posted by: globaledadmin on Monday, February 8, 2010
Recommended because in this twenty-seven minute video, a seven year old steps from the streets of Los Angeles into the Africa of his ancestors. Storytellers share six stories of wisdom and courage. Appropriate for elementary students. Narrated by Brock Peters.
African TimelinesPosted by: globaledadmin on Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Recommended because this site provides a good overview of historical time periods in African History. The site is divided into five parts beginning with Ancient Africa and ending with Post-Independence Africa and Contemporary Trends. Embedded within each part are a plethora of links which provide additional resources and information about Africa’s rich and diverse history. Start by visiting the link titled Anti-Colonialism and Reconstruction . Here, visitors have access to a timeline concerning anti-colonial and reconstruction efforts on the continent. In addition, links to literature and film are available which can aide in the teaching of each historical period.
African VoicesPosted by: globaledadmin on
Recommended because African Voices is a permanent exhibition that examines the diversity and global influence of Africa’s peoples and cultures over time. Included are historical and contemporary objects from the Museum’s collections, as well as commissioned sculptures, textiles, and pottery. Video interactive and sound stations provide selections from contemporary interviews, literature, proverbs, prayers, folk tales, songs, and oral epics. Navigation of the site is easy. Click on any of the scrolling themes located at the far right of the page. Start by clicking on the theme titled “History”, which examines Africa’s desire to rid itself of its colonial rulers. Also, using a timeline format, click on “Colonialism” to highlight key events during the first half of the 20th century that led to the independence of many African nations from their European colonizers.
Akhet Egyptology (Texas)Posted by: globaledadmin on
Recommended because it offers interactive access to Egyptian history. Topics and materials include Akhenaten & Amarna, Tutankhamun, mummy masks, art of the afterlife, grave goods, tombs & temples, sculpture, mythology, clickable mummy, the king list, Scottish Egyptology, museums & collections, Akhet bookshop. Start by using the Clickable Mummy link. Click on different parts of the mummy to learn about mummification.
Anansi. Rabbit Ears. (?)Posted by: globaledadmin on Monday, February 8, 2010
Recommended because in this thirty minute video, Oscar-winner Denzel Washington narrates two hilarious stories from Jamaica where Anansi outsmarts the prideful snake. Reggae hit makers UB 40 provide the decidedly Jamaican score. An introductory animated segment shows the link between this Jamaican Anansi and his African origin. Appropriate for early elementary grades.
Global Education CentrePosted by: globaledadmin on Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Recommended because the Global Education Centre, a non-profit, non-government Australian organization committed to global education, has resource materials and web links for primary and secondary students. There are also professional development materials for teacher education found at this website. Be aware that the GEC is located in Australia and many resources mentioned are available only at its location site. Updated by Sara Adducchio 2012.
H-AfrTeach (LISTSERV)Posted by: globaledadmin on
Recommended because it is the best electronic discussion group for teachers interested in teaching about Africa. It is a discussion group for teachers at all levels, P-16. Teachers have access to a number of African scholars who are more than willing to provide ideas for improving how Africa is taught in the classroom. To subscribe, send an email to firstname.lastname@example.org. Leave the subject area blank and in the message area write: sub h-afrteach. Be aware of the fact that discussions were not posted during much of 2004, but are back on track as of Jan 2005.
Harambee Schools KenyaPosted by: globaledadmin on
Recommended because it is one of several charity organizations that work with rural Kenyan communities to improve educational standards and opportunities. Strength(s) of the site – loads quickly and is easy to navigate. Start by visiting the link titled The Schools . Visitors can read about the schools that comprise Harambee Schools in Kenya. Also available are news stories about education in Kenya.
How Anansi Obtained the Sky God’s Stories (1991).Posted by: globaledadmin on Monday, February 8, 2010
Recommended because in this trickster tale from West Africa, Anansi the Spider sets out to retrieve all the stories of the world from Nyame, the Sky God. It is one of the many African tales about Anansi, a spider-trickster in the African oral storytelling tradition. It is an explanatory tale which recounts the genesis of stories.This is a picture book.
Citation: Washington, Donna. Children’s Press.
Kondombe: The Nigerian Pop Music Scene (1988).Posted by: globaledadmin on
Recommended because this video is a lively documentary of Nigerian popular music, featuring artists such as Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Sonny Okosun, in performance and in their communities. Appropriate for upper elementary grades to adults.
Maneno Magazine for KidsPosted by: globaledadmin on Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Recommended because it is an online resource from Kenya for young students. ica. Strength(s) of site — provides fun, educational activities, and seeks to expose young learners to an African – Kenyan perspective. Maneno Magazine for Kids . Maneno is a superior, children’s magazine targeting African children aged between 6 – 14 years old. It is a full color 40-page smorgasbord of informative and educational stories, comics and interactive activities designed to captivate & entertain its target readers, releasing them from the fear of their own curiosity. The content is strongly African though contemporary recognizing global relevance.(Description of magazine provided by website). Be aware of the fact that this site can be accessed in English and French. It was formerly linked to a Kids Only section of Africa Online.
Oxfam Cool Planet for TeachersPosted by: globaledadmin on
Recommended because it aims to bring the global dimension into the classroom, including concepts of global citizenship. With reference to Africa Start by going to the on the line project , which looks at daily life, food, dance, sports, and other issues from the perspectives of kids in Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana , Algeria, and Mali. Visuals are excellent and the text geared to elementary school children. Through the Ghana link, there is a link to a cocoa site and game “Chokky bikkies” (chocolate biscuits)which teaches children about the gains from production and trade of chocolate. For slightly older children, go to
the coffee chain game , which looks at how the coffee trade affects Ugandans who grow it. Be aware of the fact that this is geared to teachers and students in the British Isles, so some terms (“chokky bikkies”) may need some getting used to. Many sections are also available in French.
Peace Corps World Wide SchoolsPosted by: globaledadmin on
Recommended because this site seeks to match students in U.S. classrooms with Peace Corp volunteers around the world. A major goal of the Peace Corp World Wise Schools is to promote the development of cross-cultural relationships between student, teachers and Peace Corp volunteers. Start by clicking on Programs for Educators to learn more about the Peace Corps’ programs as it relates to cross-cultural learning. In addition, the site has information about lesson plans, videos, and activities appropriate for grades 3-12. Updated by Sara Adducchio 2012.
Web Sites for Teachers (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)Posted by: globaledadmin on
Recommended because this site is an extension of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Center for International Education for Educators of K-16. It provides excellent links to online resources, especially the Teaching Resource Guides. Relevant information is included for global education, sustainability, conflict, security, and cultural understanding. Updated by Sara Adducchio 2012.
What is Currency – History of Currency in Africa.Posted by: globaledadmin on
Recommended because this online resource is one of few sites available that explores currency from Africa. The lessons explore the monetary system of the Akan. These lessons aim to help students explore the historical role of gold-dust in African trade as well as help them understand the basic idea of currency and give new significance to the nickels, dimes, and quarters in their own pockets. Appropriate for grades 3-8. Be aware of the fact that many of the resource links are not working.
Wonders of the African WorldPosted by: globaledadmin on Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Recommended because this website explores the great African civilizations of Nubia, the Great Zimbabwe, Timbuktu, Ethiopia, the Swahili Coast, and the Kingdoms of Dahomey and the Ashanti. The website was constructed by Henry Louis Gates, a Harvard historian, to parallel his PBS/BBC video series exploring these themes. The site works to illuminate the achievements of Africans in these civilizations, and to debunk earlier historical bias or oversight of them. Gates examines this history and the questions it raises from an African-American perspective, in such sections as What Africa Means to Me . Start by reading through the home page and the Wonders page to get a general overview and click on the site map of Africa. Specific to Ghana, go to the Slave Kingdoms . Be sure to visit the sections for kids and classroom for lesson plans.