Mali to Mecca: Mansa Musa Makes the Hajj

from SCORE H/SS!

http://rims.k12.ca.us/activity/Mali_to_mecca/

Description: In the fourteenth century, the African Empire of Mali was a glittering jewel of scientific, mathematical, architectural, cultural and artistic achievement. Ruling over this glorious center of learning and culture was the devoutly Muslim ruler Mansa Musa. In 1324 AD, Mansa Musa, fulfilled one of the five pillars of Islam by making the Hajj or holy pilgrimage to Mecca. Become a member of Mansa Musa's court and participate in this once-in-a-lifetime journey to the holy city of Mecca! Become councilors in Mansa Musa's court charged with preparing a report on the short- and long-term effects of this journey on the future of the Empire of Mali. Standard 7.4.4 and 7.4.5

Author: Alix Peshette, Chico H.S.

Lesson ID: 689

Medieval African Kingdoms - A Problem-Based Activity

from SCORE H/SS!

http://rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/medieval_african_kingdoms/

Description: You are applying for a new position with TimeWrinkle.com, a travel agency that can transport people to all corners of the world as well as to any era in the past. Time Wrinkle.com is looking for a team that can promote travel to the Medieval kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and Songhay. Will you be part of the winning team? Your mission is to develop a winning promotional campaign for one of the three kingdoms of ancient western Africa. You will use the resources listed on the materials page to discover all you can about these kingdoms. You will need to learn about all three kingdoms because you will be judging the materials created by the other groups, not only for appearance, but also for accuracy and completeness. Standard 7.4.0, 7.4.1, 7.4.2, 7.4.3, 7.4.4

Author: Jamie Boston, Emerson Junior High School

Lesson ID: 710

The Museum Project

from SCORE H/SS!

http://rims.k12.ca.us/activity/museumproj/

Description: Working in teams by region, you will create a Museum of African Art. Find art on the web and organize an exhibit for others to see and learn. Each object must be annotated as to its origin and significance so the museum so that visitors will come to understand more about African culture. Standards 7.4.3, 7.4.5, 10.4.3, 10.10.1, 10.10.2, and 10.10.3

Author: Carrie Zinn, San Luis Obispo High School

Lesson ID: 1053

To Timbuktu - A Journey with Ibn Battuta

from SCORE H/SS!

http://rims.k12.ca.us/activity/a_journey_battuta/

Description: Ibn Battuta (1304-1369) is to this day known as one of the great travelers of all time. His journeys covered the entire Moslem world of his day plus Ceylon, Byzantium, China, and southern Russia. The length of his travels is estimated to be 75,000 miles. His last trip was to West Africa, across the Sahara to the Kingdom of Mali in 1353. This journey lasted until 1355, when he returned to his home in Morocco to stay. The following sign has been spotted near the Moroccan home of Ibn Battuta: "Wanted: Four strong young travelers of good character to accompany the great Ibn Battuta from here to Timbuktu. Travelers will be expected to keep an account of their trip in the form of a journal which will include descriptions of the peoples, climate, and geography encountered as well as maps for others to follow. Be prepared for a journey of two years." Standards 7.4.4 and 7.4.5

Author: Karen Harness

Lesson ID: 1108

African Folktales Unit

http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/afolk/afolktg.html

Description: African proverbs provide insights into traditional African culture that will expand your study of the African ancient cultures of Ghana, Mali and Songhay. Standard 7.4.1 and 7.4.5

Author: Lynn Patterson, SCORE Language Arts Cyberguide

Lesson ID: 34

Deep in the Bush, Where People Rarely Go

http://www.phillipmartin.info/liberia/

Description: Former Peace Corps volunteer in west Africa, Phillip Martin has found that t is hard to get rid of preconceived stereotypes about Africa It was just as surprising to my friends in America that I saw no lions in West Africa as it was to my Liberian friends that I'd never seen a policeman shoot a criminal on the streets of America. These kinds of misconceptions can be clarified with the activities in this lesson which draw from West African folk tales. This lesson has multiple activities that address the curriculum for several grades and appeal to a wide grade range of students. Standards 7.4.5, 10.4.1, 10.10.1, 10.10.2, and 10.10.3

Author: Phillip Martin, International School

Lesson ID: 304

Ibn Battuta: The Greatest Traveler in the Middle Ages

http://www.crf-usa.org/bria/bria18_1.htm#Ibn

Description: In 1325, the year after Marco Polo's death, another young traveler, Ibn Battuta, embarked on a tour of Asia and Africa that lasted nearly 30 years. His travels took him throughout the Islamic world. In total, he traveled an astonishing 75,000 miles, much more than Marco Polo. When he finished his journeys, he dictated his story to a scribe. His travel book provides the best eyewitness account of the diverse Muslim cultures of the 14th century. For each of these cultures: China, Mali, India, Japan, Europe in the 14th century research and write a one-paragraph description for each of the following elements of their culture: Languages, Law and Government, Education, Warfare, Religion, Slavery, Treatment of Women, Architecture, Food, Transportation, Literature, and Art and Music. Create a chart describing each element and prepare a five-minute presentation to the class on the chart. Standards 7.4.3, 7.3.0, 7.5.0 and 7.6.0

Author: Constitutional Rights Foundaton

Lesson ID: 551

Stuck in Mali

http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/stuckmali/tindex.html

Description: Students become a team of time travelers on a secret mission to explore the empire of Mali. Their time machine has landed in the country of Mali on the continent of Africa during the year 1320. While they are in Mali they must blend into the community and gather information to bring home. Standards 7.4.1, 7.4.2 and 7.4.3

Author: Todd Brownell, JT Millard, Emily Wolff, Darren Di Battista, and Lorrie Binns, University of Richmond

Lesson ID: 1401

Sundiata, Mali's Lion King

http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2352/

Description: This ArtsEdge lesson introduces the legendary Malian king Sundiata Keita, known as the Lion King of Mali, by using elements of traditional Malian festivals. As students learn about Sundiata's thirteenth-century battle to liberate his people from an oppressive ruler, they will recreate the story in a masked festival that takes elements from two of the most important Malian ceremonies: the Dama and the Sirige. As students work in groups to design a Sundiata festival, they will create character masks based on animals whose qualities mimic the personalities of specific characters in the story. In preparation for this, students will research the behavior and habitat of the animals that on which their masks are based. Students will also explore archetypal patterns seen in myths about heroes such as Sundiata. Standard 7.4.1

Author: ArtsEdge: The Kennedy Center

Lesson ID: 1523

What is Currency? Lessons from Historic Africa

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/currency/start.html

Description: For more than four-hundred years, the Akan people of Ghana in West Africa used a currency based on tiny grains of gold called gold dust. This very desirable currency made the Akan a valued trading partner to North African traders who crossed the Sahara Desert by camel caravan and to seafaring Europeans who arrived on Africa's Atlantic Coast in ships laden with goods. The Akan were able to enrich their own lives by trading for goods with people of vastly different climates and cultures. Explore the historic role of gold dust in African trade. Standards 7.4.2, 7.4.3, and 7.4.4

Author: Smithsonian in the Classroom

Lesson ID: 1226