Pen Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 especially history, social, culture, politics, geography. We would especially like to find some DVDs--we have seen some good videos on animals of Africa, such as hosted by David Attenborough, but not found any on history and other aspects. Is there a good book at the Middle- High School level? Is there a world history book that has excellent parts on Africa? Or websites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Are you just looking to do a themed unit or a whole semester? If all you want is a few weeks I wouldn't think a textbook would work, to much info to pick through. A good book IMO for the history is Oxford's The African and Middle Eastern World (from The medieval and Early Modern World series). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 This is not really what you asked for, but maybe it's helpful-- We had the goal in second grade to study something about Africa every Friday. I put a giant, homemade map of Africa up on our wall--it was 7 sheets of paper x 7 sheets of paper, printed out from this site. We had a lot of fun with it, even though we didn't complete our study. Our map wall: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Miscellaneous ideas; NO personal experience with most of these. BEST of luck in finding what works best for your family! Warmest regards, Lori D. GENERAL RESOURCES - Exploring Africa! African Studies Center -- 30 modules spread over 5 units: Unit 1 = Why Study Africa Unit 2 = geography, history, culture/society, economies, politis/gov't Unit 3 = literature, art, music, religion Unit 4 = regional perspectives Unit 5 = individual nations (Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Congo, KEnya, South Africa, Zimbabwe) - PBS: Africa! -- 8 part Nature series, available on DVD; link is for gr. 6-8 go-along lesson plans - PBS Kids website: Africa For Kids (gr. K-6) - PBS companion website: Wonders of the African World -- multi-DVD set on sale at Amazon thru Sept. 13! - Ed Tech Teacher: Best of History: Africa Web Sites -- list of links and resources for teaching - Mr. Donn's website: Africa (many topics; gr. 5-8) GEOGRAPHY - Shepperd Software Geography games: Africa (free, online) - Evan Moore: Africa Geography Unit (gr. 4-6) POLITICS - World Today (Brun) -- non-fiction book, more at a high school level, and covers all areas of the world… BUT... it does have short (1-2 page) articles on different African nations / regions, and explains the political turmoils and why they arose CULTURE (games, foods, folktales) - Games Around World (free online book) - games - Ghana - games - Zambia - games - Zimbabwe - African folktales and fables (online) - North African recipes - East African recipes - West African recipes - Southern Africa recipes - Madagascar recipes HISTORY - Kids Discover magazine: "African Kingdoms" - Metropolis: Ancient African Town -- non-fiction book - Glorious Age in Africa -- non-fiction book North Africa - Nile Valley timeline - Mr. Donn's website: Ancient Egypt links - Mr. Donn's website: Ancient Kush (Nubia) links East Africa / Horm - Ethiopian timeline Central Africa - Mr. Donn's website: Ancient Songhay Kingdom - Mr. Donn's website: Ancient Benin Kingdom - Central African timeline West Africa - Mr. Donn's website: ancient Ghana links - Mr. Donn's website: ancient Mali links - Mali/Ghana timeline Southern Africa - South African timeline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 High school level, I would say Africa by John Reader is probably the best book I know and a high school student could definitely tackle it. It's a wonderful book that brings together a lot of different elements about African history and culture. You could excerpt and pick and choose parts - it's a very long book. A middle school student at a high reading level could read a chapter or two. Each chapter reads almost like an individual article. There are lots of good fiction books for learning about Africa as well... There are especially a lot of good picture books, but at the middle school level there are several gems like Journey to Joberg and The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm (which is not historical fiction but rather science fiction but focused on Africa in a really insightful way). And, of course, at the high school level there's even more. As a general introduction to Africa for the upper elementary (and into middle school) level, we found this book surprisingly useful. It's a projects books, but it has a succinct text about a wide variety of topics. I could list more books if you like, but don't know of any great videos though I'm sure there's something out there. Hopefully someone else knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Miscellaneous ideas; no personal experience with most of these. BEST of luck in finding what works best for your family! Warmest regards, Lori D. GENERAL RESOURCES - Exploring Africa! African Studies Center -- 30 modules spread over 5 units: Unit 1 = Why Study Africa Unit 2 = geography, history, culture/society, economies, politis/gov't Unit 3 = literature, art, music, religion Unit 4 = regional perspectives Unit 5 = individual nations (Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Congo, KEnya, South Africa, Zimbabwe) - PBS: Africa! -- 8 part series; gr. 6-8 go-along lesson plans (language arts & social studies) - PBS Kids website: Africa For Kids (gr. K-6) - PBS companion website: Wonders of the African World - Ed Tech Teacher: Best of History: Africa Web Sites -- list of links and resources for teaching - Evan Moore: Africa Geography Unit (gr. 4-6) - Mr. Donn's website: Africa (many topics; gr. 5-8) - Shepperd Software Geography games: Africa (free, online) CULTURE (games, foods, folktales) - Games Around World (free online book) - games - Ghana - games - Zambia - games - Zimbabwe - African folktales and fables (online) - North African recipes - East African recipes - West African recipes - Southern Africa recipes - Madagascar recipes HISTORY - Kids Discover magazine: "African Kingdoms" - Metropolis: Ancient African Town -- non-fiction book - Glorious Age in Africa -- non-fiction book North Africa - Nile Valley timeline - Mr. Donn's website: Ancient Egypt links - Mr. Donn's website: Ancient Kush (Nubia) links East Africa / Horm - Ethiopian timeline Central Africa - Mr. Donn's website: Ancient Songhay Kingdom - Mr. Donn's website: Ancient Benin Kingdom - Central African timeline West Africa - Mr. Donn's website: ancient Ghana links - Mr. Donn's website: ancient Mali links - Mali/Ghana timeline Southern Africa - South African timeline LoriD. if you would just do that for the rest of the continents, then I would be set for the rest of the year for DC's World Geography, LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 In addition to what you use academically, it's fun to have Pete's Pond on though the night and day. You never know what animal you'll see. They have cameras set up at a watering hole in Botswana: http://www.ustream.tv/petespond. Plus if the computer's in your classroom it's fun to work to the sounds of an African insect symphony!! Until it drives you mad of course. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 You might enjoy Lost Kingdoms of Africa. A warning about Wonders of the African World: Henry Louis Gates has his own heavy-handed editorializing and sees everything through the lens of the African American experience. Some things he says are a bit ... annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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