Lesson 2: Day 2 - The Art of Africa

Google Doc of This Lesson

Activity 1: Moments in African History 

Overview: Students will engage in a shared reading of The Art of Africa: A Resource for Educators (Clarke & Arkenberg, 2006) to explore Africa as the cradle of humanity and recognize the complexity and value of precolonial African societies.

Time: 25 minutes

Format: Whole Group 

Objective: Students will be able to identify and discuss key moments in African history that demonstrate Africa’s role as the origin of humanity and the developments of its precolonial civilizations.

• Project The Art of Africa_A Resource for Educators (Clarke & Arkenberg, 2006).pdf

• • Share the link to the document so students can follow along OR

  • Provide physical copies of the cover page along with p. 10-18; one for each student.

• Show students the maps of Africa on p. 11

• Tell them that you will read the next few pages aloud together.

• Begin reading aloud. Invite student volunteers to read portions of the text.

• • Pause occasionally to ask clarifying questions like:

  • • After reading the first paragraph on p. 13:

    • • In what ways does viewing Africa as the “cradle of humanity” disrupt Western narratives about civilization and progress?

    • After reading the first paragraph on p. 17: 

    • • How do examples like the Nok sculptures, Great Zimbabwe, or the city of Jenne-jeno demonstrate the complexity of precolonial African societies?

    • After reading the third paragraph on p. 18:

    • • To what extent can indigenous African cultural systems—art, spiritual practices, social organization—be seen as global knowledge contributions?

Activity 2: Creating a Timeline of African History

Overview: In this partner activity, students will reread “Introduction to Africa” (pp. 10–18) from The Art of Africa_A Resource for Educators (Clarke & Arkenberg, 2006).pdf to identify key historical moments and cultural developments. Using these details, they will create a visual timeline that highlights Africa’s role as the cradle of humanity and examines the global significance of indigenous African knowledge systems. 

Time: 25 minutes

Format: Partners

Objective: SWBAT analyze and sequence events by creating a timeline that highlights Africa’s historical and cultural contributions to global civilization.

• Project the African History Timeline template.

• • Invite students to make their own copy: African History Timeline- Make a copy

• Explain to students that they will work with a partner to create a timeline highlighting key moments in precolonial African history.

• Tell them they will visualize Africa’s role as the cradle of humanity and its rich cultural achievements before colonization.

• Instruct students to highlight key historical events, civilizations, and innovations related to:

• • The origins of humanity

  • Early civilizations

  • Technological/cultural innovations

  • Trade networks and global connections

• Circulate the room to encourage discussion and support pairs in identifying significant details.