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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Pygmies, pictures, and poetry

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/10/g68/geopygmies.html

A lesson plan for grade 7 English Language Arts and Social Studies

Provider: National Geographic


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In this Xpeditions lesson, students will use the photos and text resources from sites such as the National Geographic magazine feature “Africa MegaFlyover” to learn about the culture and lifestyle of the Pygmie people. This lesson combines literature with social studies and provides multiple opportunities for students to engage in independent practice.

Students will:

  • locate Gabon, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congo—where many Pygmy tribes live—on a map of Africa;
  • use pictures and printed material to learn about the lifestyle, culture, and physical characteristics of Pygmies; and
  • use this geographic material as the subject of written and visual art in poetry and collages.

Xpeditions provides links to helpful web resources, detailed instructions for activities, and suggestions for assessment and enrichment activities.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 7

  • Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives in response to personal, social, cultural, and historical issues.
    • Objective 1.02: Explore expressive materials that are read, heard, and viewed by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
      • summarizing the characteristics of expressive works.
      • determining the importance of literary effects on the reader/viewer/listener.
      • making connections between works, self and related topics.
      • comparing and/or contrasting information.
      • drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
      • determining the main idea and/or significance of events.
      • generating a learning log or journal.
      • maintaining an annotated list of works read/viewed.
      • creating an artistic interpretation that connects self and/or society to the selection.
      • constructing and presenting book/media reviews.
    • Objective 1.04: Reflect on learning experiences by:
      • analyzing personal learning growth and changes in perspective.
      • examining changes in self throughout the learning process.
      • determining how personal circumstances and background shape interaction with text.
  • Goal 2: The learner will synthesize and use information from a variety of sources.
    • Objective 2.01: Respond to informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
      • analyzing the characteristics of informational works.
      • summarizing information.
      • determining the importance of information.
      • making connections to related topics/information.
      • drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
      • generating questions.

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 7

  • Goal 3: The learner will analyze the impact of interactions between humans and their physical environments in Africa, Asia, and Australia.
    • Objective 3.01: Identify ways in which people of selected areas in Africa, Asia, and Australia have used, altered, and adapted to their environments in order to meet their needs and evaluate the impact of their actions on the development of cultures and regions.
    • Objective 3.02: Describe the environmental impact of regional activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and industrialization and evaluate their significance to the global community.
    • Objective 3.04: Describe how physical processes such as erosion, earthquakes, and volcanoes have resulted in physical patterns on the earth's surface and analyze the effects on human activities.
  • Goal 8: The learner will assess the influence and contributions of individuals and cultural groups in Africa, Asia, and Australia.
    • Objective 8.02: Describe the role of key groups such as Mongols, Arabs, and Bantu and evaluate their impact on historical and contemporary societies of Africa, Asia, and Australia.
    • Objective 8.03: Identify major discoveries, innovations, and inventions and assess their influence on societies past and present.
  • Goal 11: The learner will recognize the common characteristics of different cultures in Africa, Asia, and Australia.
    • Objective 11.01: Identify the concepts associated with culture such as language, religion, family, and ethnic identity, and analyze how they can link and separate societies.
    • Objective 11.02: Examine the basic needs and wants of all human beings and assess the influence of factors such as environment, values, and beliefs in creating different cultural responses.
    • Objective 11.03: Compare characteristics of political, economic, religious, and social institutions of selected cultures and evaluate their similarities and differences.
  • Goal 12: The learner will assess the influence of major religions, ethical beliefs, and values on cultures in Africa, Asia, and Australia.
    • Objective 12.02: Describe the relationship between and cultural values of selected societies of Africa, Asia, and Australia and their art, architecture, music, and literature, and assess their significance in contemporary culture.