Africa is a vast continent brimming with geographic and cultural diversity from its northernmost region to its southernmost shores. The second largest continent in the world in both landmass and population, it is an immense plateau laden with mountainous regions, coastal areas, desert, dense equatorial forest, savannahs, sahels, and oases. The Nile, the continent's longest river and the longest river in the world, flows from the north to southeastern Africa. Today, this massive continent is comprised of 53 independent countries and several other political units.
From region to region, its people and lifestyles are as diverse as the continent they occupy. Language, homes, lifestyles differ from country to country, township to township. A large number of Africa's indigenous inhabitants live in rural areas. For many, agriculture, raising livestock, trading and/or selling goods serves as a daily way of life. Today, African cities, townships, and countries are a blend of modernization and adherence to traditional lifestyles.
Rich in natural resources, Africa has coveted, invaluable mineral wealth, including generous deposits of gold, copper, diamonds, and petroleum. Its forests brim with trees that produce the most desired products, such as mahoganies. The land is conducive to the production of the most of the world's cocoa beans, cassava, and yams. Have your young learners research the wonders of each region of this diverse continent.
Cote d'Ivoire: An Up-Close Look
Words to Highlight
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Ivoirians
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Dioula
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canal
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cliffs
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lagoon
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seaport
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gulf
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savanna
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Coastal strip
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cocao
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cassava
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palm
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deforestation
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tropical forest
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compound
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villages
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yams
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seaport
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The Republique of Cote d'Ivoire, known in English as the Ivory Coast, is primarily an agrarian nation. Its terrain is flat and undulating. Its indigenous inhabitant, referred to as Ivoirians, speak over 60 different languages, Dioula being the most prevalently spoken. French, however, is the country's official language.
The Atlantic Ocean borders Cote d'Ivoire on its southern shore. Its east, west, and northern borders are surrounded by land. Ghana lies to the east, Burkina Faso to the northeast, Mali to the northwest, Guinea along its western border, and Liberia to its southwestern boundary. Its highest mountain is Mount Nimba, which is 5,784 feet above sea level. Cote d'Ivoire's chief products are bananas, cacao, cassava, coffee, corn, palm oil, pineapples, rice, timber, and yams.
Most Ivoirians are farmers who live in small village communities. Most families live in clusters of housing in rural and suburban areas. The eastern part of the country is a flat and sandy stretch of land. Lagoons are interspersed in this area. The western part of the coast consists of small, rocky cliffs. Inland one finds tropical forest. To the north, the forest undergoes change, becoming a savanna area.
The Badama, the Cavally, The Komoe, and the Sassandra rivers flow from a northward to southerly direction through the country. The Bandama is the longest river. Each river consists of strong-flowing rapids and falls, so travel along them is very often limited. The land, particularly along the coastal region is very humid and hot. Temperatures there vary from 76 to 83 degrees F. Temperatures in the rainforest areas vary from 57 to 103F. In the country's northern savanna region, temperatures rise to as high as 120 degrees. To the far north, the region is semi-arid.
Long ago, Cote D'Ivoire was known for its dense tropical forest. Today, that no longer holds true, for deforestation has impacted it dramatically. Deforestation occurred as a result of the wooded areas being cleared by the timber industry. Water pollution has impacted many of the country's waterways. The pollution has been caused by sewage and industrial and agricultural waste along the coastal areas.
Activity 1: Film -
The Beggar of Soutile
(26 minutes)
You are about to view a film that takes place in a Cote D'Ivoirian township. The story may appear to be very real because it actually takes place in the land we have recently learned about. The story, however, is fiction. Were you to travel to Cote D'Ivoire today, you would experience a blend of modern-day living and traditional lifestyles. This story depicts a time long, long ago. It is a folktale acted out by Ivoirian actors. We will observe the film, focusing in on the storyline that is being conveyed. We are also going to pretend that we are actually in this section of Cote D'Ivoire. Look closely at the setting. Make a mental note of all the landscapes and the noticeable ways of life.
Questions to Explore
Students will record their observations on a film observation form (see Attachment A). While viewing the film, students are asked to keep in mind the following:
What types geographic regions did you observe?
How might the landscape impact the way people traveled?
What type of community did you observe? Describe it.
Based on surrounding geography, how might its people have made a living?
Was deforestation evident in this film? If applicable, why might deforestation have such a terrible impact on the township?
What type of climate is depicted?
How did climate impact the way people dressed?
What language(s) were spoken throughout the film?
Activity 2: Story Map/Film
Students will complete a story map highlighting their basic understanding of the film. (See Attachment B.)
Senegal: An Up-Close Look
Words to Highlight
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Senegalese
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Wolof
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canal
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beach
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foothills
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plain
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semi-arid
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millet
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cassava
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rice
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groundnuts
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poultry
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kola nut
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compound
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villages
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bungalows
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yams
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tropical forest
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Senegal is a small country located on the northwestern coastline of Africa. Like many other African countries, it is a developing country with a blend of modern and traditional lifestyles. Its people refer to themselves as Senegalese. Many languages are spoken within the country: Wolof is widely spoken in many areas. French, however, is the country's official language.
The country itself is a plain. Along its coastal areas are sandy beaches. To its southern region lies tropical forest; forest areas decrease towards the northern region. Rolling foothills are found in both locations. The average temperature in the region ranges between 71 to 84 degrees.
Senegal's chief products are peanuts, millet, cassava, cotton, poultry, rice, and vegetables. Its people are primarily farmers. The processing of peanuts into oil is one of its chief industries. The fishing industry is also prevalent in this region.
A large number of Senegalese people live in rural village communities. Many homes are mud-slabbed and covered with thatched-roofs. These homes, often situated in clustered fashion and surrounded by a wall or fence, are known as compounds. Others live in modern-type apartment buildings or bungalows.
Activity 1: Film -
The Greedy Child
(26 minutes)
You are about to view a film that takes place in a township of Senegal, West Africa. The story may appear to be very real because it actually takes place in the land we have recently learned about. The story, however, is fiction. Were you to travel to Senegal today, you would experience a blend of modern-day living and traditional lifestyles. This story depicts a time long, long ago. It is a folktale acted out by Senegalese actors. We will observe the film, focusing in on the storyline that is being conveyed. We are also going to pretend that we are actually in this section of Senegal. Look closely at the setting. Make a mental note of all the landscapes and the noticeable ways of life.
Students will record their observations on a film observation form (see Attachment A). While viewing the film, students asked to keep an eye out for the following:
What types geographic regions did you observe?
How might the landscape impact the way people traveled?
What type of community did you observe? Describe it.
Based on surrounding geography, how might its people have made a living?
Was deforestation evident in this portion of Africa? Explain.
What type of climate is depicted?
How did climate impact the way people dressed?
What language(s) were spoken throughout the film?
Activity 2: Story Map/Film
Students will complete a story map highlighting their basic understanding of the film. (See Attachment B.)
Burkina Faso: An Up-Close Look
Words to Highlight
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Mande
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Gurunsi
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Lobi
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Bobo
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Senufu
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Fulana
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Tuareg
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nomadic
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grassland
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savannah
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swamp
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valley
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plateau
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hills
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yiri
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sorghum
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millet
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corn
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arid
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fonio
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shea nuts
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groundnuts
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cotton
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cattle
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raising
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A developing nation, Burkina Faso is an inland plateau. It is a landlocked country: to the north is Mali, to its southwestern region lies Cote d'Ivoire, to the south, Ghana, and to the western region, Niger. Burkina Faso is primarily dry and rocky. Its soil is quite thin and does not sufficiently absorb and retain water. Wooded grasslands (savannahs) cover most of the country. Many of its people refer to themselves by ethnic and linguistic groupings, e.g., the Mande, Mossi, Bobo, Gurunsi, and Lobi. Many people who reside in this country work as farmers. Farmers live in the central and eastern portions of the country.
Burkina Faso is a semi-arid land. Thirty to forty-five inches of rain per year constitutes the country's average rainfall. Because of this, the land is not conducive to expansive agricultural. Farmland found in this country is located near river valleys. This land is used to raise corn, millet, rice, sorghum and fonio, a crabgrass-like plant with seeds that are used as cereal. Cotton, peanuts, and shea nuts do well in this region. Cattle raising, however, is the most important source of work and income for many of Burkina Faso's inhabitants.
Burkina Faso's people reside in different types of homes depending upon the area in which they reside. The Bobo, found quite often in the southwestern region, live in large villages in castle-like dwellings. Their houses are often made of hand-made clay brick walls and straw roofs. The Gurunsi tend to live in more modernized, urban settings in the northwestern area near the city of Koudougou. The Mossi, an agrarian people, tend to live in small groups of mud-brick dwellings known as yiris. The Mossi primarily dwell in the eastern and central portions of the country. Because of land conditions, climate, and the need to find work, many inhabitants of Burkina Faso are nomadic.
Activity 1: Film -
The Drop of Milk
(26 minutes)
You are about to view a film that takes place in two very different parts of the world. The story begins somewhere in Burkina Faso, West Africa. It later shifts to a countryside in southern France. At this time, we will pay very close attention to our storytelling adventure in Burkina Faso. The story may appear to be very real because it actually takes place in the lands we are studying. The story, however, is fiction. Were you to travel to Burkina Faso today, you would experience a blend of modern-day living and traditional lifestyles. This story depicts a time long ago. It is a folktale acted out by actors who come from the countries of both of the noted countries. We will observe the film, focusing in on the storyline that is being conveyed. We are also going to pretend that we are actually in this section of Burkina Faso. Look closely at the setting. Make a mental note of all the landscapes and the noticeable ways of life between the two depicted countries.
Students will record their observations on a film observation form (see Attachment A). While viewing the film, students are asked to keep in mind the following:
What types geographic regions did you observe?
How might the landscape impact the way people traveled?
What type of community did you observe? Describe it.
Based on the terrain you observed, why might people in Burkina Faso be nomadic?
Explain?
Based on the geography of Burkina Faso, how might its people have made a living?
What type of climate is depicted?
How did climate impact the way people dressed?
What language(s) were spoken throughout the film?
Look at the landscape in Burkina Faso. Think of the landscape filmed in the French countryside. How do they differ? How are they similar?
Activity 2: Story Map/Film
Students will complete a story map highlighting their basic understanding of the film. (See Attachment B.)
