Theme
The African Influence in America and in the Caribbean Islands and Study of the African Artistic Expression
Objective
With this lesson I intend to make the students aware of the great influence that the African people left in our lives. Using a clear and simple manner, I will explain how the African heritage is very visible in our physical features, skin color, music, musical instruments, and even superstitions.
Activities
Students will
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study new vocabulary words
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read passages
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make comments
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describe pictures
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play drums
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compare pictures of people from Africa (taken from book) with pictures of people from North America and the Caribbean Islands taken from newspapers
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write a short story on their own or describing their favorite things
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Materials
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blackboard with new vocabulary words
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dittos with reading passages
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dittos with pictures of Africa
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pictures of white men (pioneers)
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newspapers
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records with Latin music (salsa)
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paper and pencil
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film of Africa if available
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Procedure
The teacher will ask the students to read the words from the board, writing them down and looking for the meanings in the dictionary. The teacher will distribute the dittos with the passages to the students, explaining that after having studied Africa, African costumes, slavery, and how Africans came to America, we will now look for the things that we inherited from them—the great influences in our costumes and tastes, especially the music and dance. (A model reading is recommended.)
After the students read the passage, the teacher will provide opportunity for discussion by asking:
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Can you name some of the artistic expressions of the African people?
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2.
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Can you name some of the occasions when the African people dance? Can you name some occasions when we dance? (birthdays, weddings, Christmas, and other religion festivities.) Are we celebrating more or less the same festivities?
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3.
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What kinds of instruments do the African peoples use? Do we use these instruments also?
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Let us look at our skin: do we look like the people who came from England? (Review and show pictures of the Pilgrims and first pioneers.) Ask the students to describe these pictures: color of the skin, hair, complexion, etc.—Show the students the pictures of the children of Africa. Compare the pictures with the features of the students. Ask the students: What do you think? Do we look like them?
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