Continent of Africa

Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institute
Washington, D.C.

Instructional Unit: The Continent of Africa: African groups, home and music.

Curriculum Unit:
Grade 5
General

Objectives:
1. Students will be able to identify at least two differing beats or rhythms in each tape they listen to in the classroom and imitate the rhythm with their won instrument.
2. Students will be able to identify which instruments are made from gourds as they look at the examples of instruments on display.
3. Students will be able to identify specific music patterns to be used with possible tribal celebrations as they listen.
4. Students will be able to identify the five geographical areas as they look at a large map of Africa.
5. Students will be able to tell how the poor tribes of Africa use the substances around them to construct their homes, make toys, tools, etc..
6. Students will be able to name at least three main groups of tribes after viewing the display cases.

Pre-Visit Activities:
1. Class will study a map of Africa becoming familiar with the five major land areas, the types of people who live there, major rivers, explorers, and natural resources.
2. Class will study some of the history of Africa, including migration of families from Europe into Africa and 20th century changes in government.
3. A filmstrip will be shown on Modern Africa and/or slides as appropriate.
4. Students will participate in class discussions and games reviewing the information learned.

On-Site Activities:
1. Classroom presentation on African music by museum docents.
2. Museum docents will show musical instruments from Africa, explain what they are made from and show how to play them.
3. Students will have the opportunity to play instruments as they try to imitate particular rhythms in the tapes they will listen to.
4. Museum docents will take the students on the African Hall and explain the cases which contain particular tribes and explain their costumes, masks, housing, tribal ceremonies, etc.

Follow-Up Activities:
1. Class discussion on points of interest, filling out materials provided by the museum, and doing a crossword puzzle related to what they've seen.
2. Evaluation will be done verbally between the teacher and the docents before leaving the museum, primarily dealing with student participation and interest following trip objectives.

Appendices: none.

Bibliography: none

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