A Resource Guide To Teaching about Africa. ERIC Resource Guide.

N

6

Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC.

Practitioners; Teachers

African Culture; African Studies; Area Studies; Course Content; Curriculum Development; Curriculum Guides; Elementary Secondary Education; Foreign Countries; Geography; Global Education; Instructional Materials; Multicultural Education; Non Western Civilization; Reference Materials; Resource Materials; Social Studies; Teaching Guides; Teaching Methods; World History

People from African countries who visit the United States often are stunned by how little people know about African countries. Africa is a large continent more than 3 times the size of the continental United States, and it contains over 50 independent countries. One out of every three member states in the United Nations is an African country. One out of every 10 people in the world lives on the African continent. Increasingly, the United States has economic, political, and organizational ties to African countries. This ERIC Resource Guide provides suggestions and resources for teaching and learning about Africa. The lesson strategies cover confronting African myths and stereotypes; avoiding faulty generalizations; presenting a balanced view; limiting the scope of African study; and avoiding outdated materials. Methods for integrating the study of Africa into elementary and secondary school curricula through the disciplines of social studies (extends to United States history, sociology, and economics), language arts, French, art, music, science, and mathematics are noted. Resources for teaching about Africa include: Internet, bibliographies, museums, Peace Corps, guest speakers, embassies, teachers' travel experiences and "National Resource Centers" (organizations, designated by the U.S. Department of Education, offering a wide range of assistance and materials for teachers and students). Contains 31 references including 19 ERIC resources. (CB)

1998

ED416115