Carolyn C. Smith
An African Kingdom: Nok
Objectives
The Students will
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1. list some advantages of iron tools and weapons.
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2. identify the second largest continent of the world.
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3. identify the largest desert in the world.
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4. identify the Nok culture as the earliest known iron makers of West Africa.
Materials Needed
Map of Africa, student outline map of Africa, colored pencils
Vocabulary
desert, isolate, culture, savanna, barter, Sahara Desert, Niger River, Benue River, sub-Sahara, Nok, Nigeria
Brainstorming Questions:
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1. What do you think was the easiest way to travel about 2000 years ago?
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2. What is iron?
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3. What are some uses of iron?
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4. What would be some advantages of iron tools and weapons?
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5. How do you think a savanna region helped the African cultures of long ago?
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6. Would the same reasons apply today? Why or why not?
Procedures
Introduce the vocabulary to the students by pronouncing them and providing them with the meanings of these words. Make sure the students understand the prefix sub-means below or under. Use the map of Africa to point out that Africa is the second largest continent in the world. Have the students to locate the Sahara Desert and explain to them that it is the largest desert in the world. Proceed to find all of the other places listed under the heading vocabulary above. Allow the students to label these places on their desk outline map. By doing this they will be able to tell which section of Africa they are found. Go over the background information of the Nok culture found earlier in this unit. Show the students the illustration of the terra cotta, the baked clay figurine, and discuss it.
Related Activities
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1. Have the students to scan magazines and newspapers to find articles and pictures of Africa. Discuss how times have changed the ways of life of these people.
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2. Have the students to add to the African Culture Center by making drawings, modeling clay figures, or reports of a specified topic of Africa.