Africa

NAME: ____________________________

Grade Level(s): 2, 3 (you can select which grade level to focus upon)

Subject(s):

• Social Studies/Geography
• Add other subject areas that may be applicable (e.g., reading, science, technology)

Description: Students will be learning information about Africa within a month time period. The
unit will consist of the overall features of Africa: the countries, landforms, and animals. Toward
the end of the month, students will focus one to two weeks on Kenya. The learner will do various
art, technology, and research activities to help them focus on the concepts being studied. Through
the unit, the learner will be responsible for a country and an animal. The responsibility involves
finding facts and information on the item and then sharing this information with the class. Add
some information that applies to the technology-related activities.

Goal: Students will gain new information about Africa.

National/State Standards:

In a bulleted list, include the National OR State standards that articulate what your lesson is
meeting. Remember, there are standards by which teachers have to design lessons around to
ensure that students learn the same/appropriate material. You will only include the ones in which
your lesson is addressing (could be one standard or four). For National Standards look at the
following Web site: [http://www.education-world.com/standards/national/index.shtml] or at
[http://www.education-world.com/standards/national/toc/index.shtml] For state standards, look
at the following Web site: http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/Curriculum/index_1.htm

NETS –S Standards:

In a bulleted list, include the National Educational Technology Standards for Students by grade
level [http://cnets.iste.org/students/s_profiles.html] for your particular lesson. Only include those
performance criteria that applies to your lesson.

Objectives:

1. The learner will gather information about animals, snakes, and birds of Africa.
2. The learner will appreciate the importance of preservation and beauty of animals, snakes,
and birds of Africa.
3. Add other objective statements concerning the technology-related activities (use
ACTION verbs; avoid vague terms like “learn,” “understand,” “become familiar,” etc.
Materials:

• pieces of paper with African animals listed on them

• books of different animals
• pictures of African animals to color
• report sheets
• toy animals
• encyclopedias
• basket
• example of toilet paper roll
• include materials that pertain to your technology-related activities (e.g., computer with
Internet access, educational software title, specific Web sites, digital cameras, application
software like Word or PowerPoint, a data projector to display the computer screen to a
wall)

Procedures:

Activity One (notice that the first part include the Teacher’s procedures/actions and the second
part consists of Students’ procedures/tasks to complete the activity)

1. Prepare classroom environment for the activity and collect necessary materials for
students to use.
2. Develop instructional materials such as the report sheet to be handed to students.
3. Play the part of the movie "I can't wait to be king" by Lion King on a DVD player.
4. Gather the class at the reading rug.
5. Demonstrate to the class that they will pick an animal out of the basket. The animal that
they pick will be the animal that they have to find information about.
6. Demonstrate to the class how they will fill in their report.
7. Show class the material that they may use to help them locate information about their
animals.
8. Each student will pick an animal out of the basket.
9. The students may work with other students (only if they need to share the same book and
have the same animal).
10. The student will fill out the report sheet that the teacher distributes (5 facts relating to
their animals).
11. After the child has finished their report sheets, they will either draw or color a picture of
their animal.
12. Students will make a classroom presentation of the animal by discussing why they chose
their animals, explaining the 5 facts they collected, and show their drawings.
13. At the end of the period, show the class an example of a “toilet paper roll animal” that
they will make the following day.

Activity Two
In a bulleted list, explain the technology-based activity that will utilize two forms of technology
tools (e.g., MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Web page development, online games,
Inspiration/Kidspiration, Web tools, MS Publisher, digital cameras, and any other applications
you are familiar with). Explain both what the Teacher needs to do for the activity, and then what
the Students will do to accomplish and complete those tasks.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Activity One

1. The student will have to state 5 facts in front of the class individually or with another
student who did the same animal, explain why they chose that animal, and show their
artwork.
2. After the reports, ask the class which animal weighed the most? Which part of Africa do a
majority of the animals live? What type of food do the animals eat?
3. Collect the report sheets to see if each student completed the report accurately. This
activity will be worth thirty points total (20 points for the report and drawing, and 10 for
the presentation).

Activity Two

Explain the evaluation and assessment methods for the technology-related activity. Give
points or grading scale for this project.