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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Ceramic Portrait Vessel

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers create a piece of art inspired by traditional African pieces.
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Lesson Plan
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Dick Blick Art Materials

“Gawu” — African-influenced Tapestry

For Teachers K - 12th
Here's a great way to combine environmental science with art. Kids use recycled materials to create their own Gawu, a tapestry made of discards. Although designed for special education classrooms, the activity is sure to engage all...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Mask

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students make masks. In this African art lesson, students review background information about African art and the use of masks. Students use geometric shapes and other designs to create their masks.
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

African American Music: Let’s Sing and Play Clapping Games

For Teachers K - 2nd
Two lessons focus on making a beat. Using popular African American music of its time, scholars listen and analyze the rhythm then recreate it with hands drums, and cups. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Art and Culture of the Afro-American

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Your high schoolers will examine the community in which they live and discuss with the class. Using the Internet, they identify the importance of African-American art and how it relates to the African-American culture. Individually, they...
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Braiding Rhythms: The Role of Bell Patterns in West African and Afro-Caribbean Music

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Africans transported to the Caribbean as part of the transatlantic slave trade brought with them a rich tradition of music and dance. Four lessons teach young musicians the rumba clave rhythm, cascara rhythm, and the 6/8 bell patterns...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Ecology and Art

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Explore Samburu culture as students examine art work by many artists and compare and contrast their styles. They view Kenyan images and find Kenya on the map. Students identify conflict in the animal world and draw animals and record in...
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Lesson Plan
August House

Anansi and the Tug o' War

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
Combine art, math, language arts, drama, and delicious Jell-o with a instructional activity based on the African folktale Anansi and the Tug o' War. Kids make predictions and discuss plot points of the story before joining in...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Kwanzaa Symbol Strips

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Research the African family holiday of Kwanzaa and find the symbols for the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Learners analyze the symbols and how they may relate to their own lives. They then create an original art following the designs of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Printing and Publishing

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Explore African literature and artwork in a multicultural literacy and art lesson. Begin with a read aloud of Tiger and the Big Wind: A Tale from Africa, and afterward, have kids retell the main events in the story. They identify and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Mask

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars research the importance of masks to the African culture.  In this African mask lesson, students design original masks using a variety of materials.  Young scholars use the template provided to create their masks.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Art of El Anasui: Creating a Mural with Discarded/Recycled Objects

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners create murals that feature recycled objects. In this West African art lesson, students examine artwork by El Anatsui and his commentary on social issues. Learners then create murals in the style of El Anatsui using discarded...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mosaic America: Patterns of Racism

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders use print and electronic resources to gather and analyze information on the political system in the United States. Using the Constitution, they identify and discuss instances of racism included in amendments and laws. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Masks of Africa

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Students explain the purpose of masks to various cultures in Africa. They recognize the conceptual patterns used to create African masks and illustrate their understanding by creating their own masks
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A New Deal for African Americans

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students consider how New Deal programs impacted African Americans. For this New Deal lesson, students collaborate to research Internet and print sources regarding selected New Deal programs and African Americans. Students write essays...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balance in Visual Art

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine works of art to develop an understanding of the importance of visual balance in works of art and nature. Students research artists and their artwork for examples of visual balance. High schoolers create works of...
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Lesson Plan
National Gallery of Canada

A Unity Wall Drawing

For Teachers K - 3rd
Build class community with an art project. Learners first examine and discuss works of art. They then contribute to a class mural by tracing their hands and decorating them in relation to their own cultures. The final mural incorporates...
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

The Vocal Blues: Created in the Deep South of the U.S.

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Bring the sounds of the deep South vocal blues to the classroom with a Smithsonian Folkways lesson. In preparation, scholars listen to and count the 12 bar blues patterns in several works and identify the I, II, IV, and V chords as well...
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Spirits Across the Ocean: Yoruban and Dahomean Cultures in the Caribbean Brought by the Slave Trade

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Much of Latin American music owes its origins to the slave trade. Peoples from the Yoruban and Dahomean cultures brought with them the distinctive rhythms, time signatures, and eighth note patterns that now characterize Caribbean music....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using the Patterns and Symbols of Mali Mud Cloth to Convey Identity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in relating the role of the arts in defining identity. They examine the community in West African society and how members of that community define their role. They view how artifacts, music and performance can...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adire Eleko Cloth Glue Patterns

For Teachers 1st
First graders are introduced to the art form of African Adire Eleko cloth - painted patterned textiles. They use paper, glue and paint to imitate the technique and create similar patterns on paper.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kuba African Cloth

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students identify four different African cloth design styles and associate them with the cultures examined in this lesson plan. The lesson plan also includes a creative project where each student creates their own cloth design.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Migration - An African-American Adventure During WWI

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the push/pull factors that influenced the South to North migration.  In this African-American migration lesson, 6th graders read an article and answer comprehension questions. Students write a letter to the government.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Talking Goat

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read and analyze an African folktale. They read and discuss the folktale, analyze a map of Africa and Liberia, complete a worksheet, answer discussion questions, and analyze the patterns and analogies of the folktale.