Africa Units

             Why do we study history? In many ways we know who we are by knowing where we come from. I do not know many names of my ancestors but I do know that they come from Scotland, Ireland, England and Germany. I don't really know the specifics of why they came. Before the Revolutionary War most people came for religious freedom, to escape economic hardship and find a new start in life. That is when my relatives came to America. I don't know who they were but I know they were hardy people who took risks to do what they believed right. Then they pressed on across the plains as trappers and pioneers. They can be characterized by the words determined, persevering, committed, entrepreneurial, earnest and tenacious. In many ways that tells me who I am, what I'm made of and what is within me to do and be.
             My son's were African-born. I want them to hear these same things about the people they come from in Ethiopia and the greater continent of Africa. It would be wrong of me to teach them only about the tragedy of slavery in relation to African and African-American history. The history of African-American people starts long before slavery. It starts with a people who were determined, persevering, committed, entrepreneurial, earnest and tenacious. A great people. The first people. A proud people. So, we study Africa more in depth at every era.
             Another reason I decided to home school was to give my kids a broader view of history. In traditional school settings history mainly covers Europe and The US. It briefly touches on Native peoples and South America and Asia. And even more briefly touches on Africa, mainly the slave trade and exploration by Europeans. Why? Well, I have some pretty good ideas and it is not ok with me.
            If we are to be a world community of diverse yet understanding people who value other cultures and people different than ourselves then we should probably try to have some level of understanding for them. When we know where others come from we understand them more. When we understand them more we see how alike we are and appreciate how amazing the differences are too. So, why not study what makes Africa great or what makes China unique, etc? I wonder if the level of discrimination would be less if we really studied the history of other countries like we study our own. This is especially true as American culture is a mix of so many cultures and so many that are non- European get mostly ignored in history lessons. Let's understand one another by knowing and respecting a broader range of history. In our home school, when we study history and literature (including scientific discovery) we give attention to every people group and continent. I try hard to find materials that are not from a Western perspective. This is very hard. It is the hardest when it comes to Africa. We study Africa every year, like every other world region. So, I have had to create units for each era of history in Africa and I am guessing I am going to need to do that for the African-American perspective in modern history as well. I am thankful there are experienced voices to lean on in creating units for my sons. This is why I am posting my units here. So you can use them too. 

I will post our units as I create them. One a year for four years. They will follow the four year history cycle. Please use them in your home school, home or classroom. Please give credit where credit is due. You may LINK to this site to share my units, but please respect the time and effort I have put into compiling these and do not cut and paste them onto any other page or for distribution.


 Resources worth checking out: Africa Centre   (not a misspelling).       

Ancient Africa Unit
http://wayfarerfamilyfieldtrips.blogspot.com/2016/03/ancient-africa-unit.html

Africa In the Middle Ages Unit
http://wayfarerfamilyfieldtrips.blogspot.com/2016/03/africa-in-middle-ages.html