Students explore the range of people and cultural traditions in West and Central Africa, including festivals, religious celebrations, treatment of death, and tourism. Students select a location and describe why they would want to visit it.
Students explore the range of people and cultural traditions in West and Central Africa, including festivals, religious celebrations, treatment of death, and tourism. Students select a location and describe why they would want to visit it.
Students read an introduction to the societies and cultures of West and Central Africa and view an image of a Wodaabe dance in Niger. They then read The men competing for love in the deserts of Chad to learn about the Wodaabe Gerewol ceremony and respond on a discussion wall about what they found most interesting or surprising in the photographs.
Teacher MovesIntroduce the experience focus and objective. Facilitate a class discussion of students’ wall responses, highlighting how Wodaabe gender roles differ from common expectations and how cultural standards of beauty shape people’s lives, including both positive and negative effects. Organize students into small groups and assign each group one of the specified countries for the next scene before unlocking it.
In small groups, students investigate the society and culture of their assigned West or Central African country, focusing on aspects such as food, daily life, and holidays. They create a report that includes written information and several images, using either the discussion wall or an online presentation tool (such as Prezi, a timeline creator, a slide presentation, or similar). Groups then present their reports to the class and explain what they learned about their country’s people and culture.
Teacher MovesSupport groups as they research and develop their reports, guiding them to include clear cultural details and visuals. During presentations, encourage students to ask and answer questions about each country to deepen understanding of similarities and differences across the region. When presentations are complete, transition students to working individually for the remainder of the experience and unlock the next scene.
Students watch Destination: West and Central Africa to extend their understanding of cultural diversity in the region. Drawing on the video and earlier activities, they post to a discussion wall a general statement about the culture of West and Central Africa and support it with specific evidence from the experience.
Teacher MovesPrompt students to synthesize information from the lesson and ensure their wall posts include both a clear generalization and concrete examples. Review responses, identify strong or insightful entries, and share one or more with the class to spark discussion about the variety and diversity of cultures in West and Central Africa before unlocking the next scene.
Students choose a specific place in West or Central Africa that they would like to visit. They describe the location, explain why they want to go there, and may include a photo in their discussion wall post. After posting, they read classmates’ entries and respond to at least two with a question or a positive comment.
Teacher MovesEncourage students to connect their chosen destinations to cultural features they have studied, such as festivals, daily life, or religious practices. Monitor the discussion wall to ensure students provide thoughtful descriptions and engage respectfully and constructively with peers’ posts, then unlock the final scene when the activity is complete.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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