Activator & Student Context

As an activator, put the following words up on the board or display this online slide:

Then, ask your students the following questions, getting student responses between questions.

What do these words have in common?
What continent and/or region of the world do you think these words are associated with?
What historical time period do these key words refer to?

After activating their curiosity, if they have not already correctly identified it, explain to students that these key words represent the story of three powerful successive kingdoms in West Africa from approximately 500 -1500. Provide the students with the student context handout and allow them time to read and ask any questions they may have.

Teacher Tip-If students express surprise, use explicit teaching to point out that these themes are usually not associated with Africa in the curriculum and that this(ese) lesson(s) will teach them to be experts in this silenced aspect of history.

If they have prior knowledge of it you may also want to make a connection to the greater knowledge of the Silk Road than of the Gold Road. You could also ask students to consider why they did not know and discuss the socialization influences in shaping their world view of Africa, which is an excellent self-awareness task about recognizing bias in media, policy, academia, K-12 curriculum, among other areas.