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The
Atlantic Slave Trade: We Are Family
| Subject: | Migration |
| Curriculum Area: | Social Studies; 10th grade |
| Instructional Objective: | Students will be able to compare and contrast similarities and differences among themselves as descendants of the African Diaspora. |
| Activities: | Discussion |
Procedure:
1. Ask for student volunteers who themselves or whose parents are from the Caribbean, South America, or North America.
2. Divide class into small groups. Each group should be as culturally varied as possible, with students from the identified areas in each group.
3. Each group is to select a recorder.
4. Within the group, students are to share with one another
(a) kinds of celebrations or festivals they have
(b) types of foods prepared for daily meals and special holidays, weddings, etc.
(c) family practices when a child is born
(d) family practices when a member dies; burial practices
(e) the way marriages occur and are celebrated
5. The teacher is to list on the chalkboard the information reported from each group. The cultural similarities and differences should be discussed. Emphasis should be placed on the similarities, reinforcing the "We Are Family" concept.
6. To broaden students' knowledge of family history, students are to interview parents, grandparents, and other family members to acquire additional information. Students should be shown how to categorize the information, prepare and outline the paper, and submit the project as a whole.
| Activity: | Ethnic Festival |
Students will plan an ethnic festival representing their cultural differences and celebrating their oneness.
Procedure:
1. Representative students from various ethnic groups will meet to discuss plans.
2. The student body and staff should be encouraged to bring in artifacts, costumes, flags, and any other distinguishing objects.
3. The music teacher should work with those students who wish to present cultural, vocal, or instrumental selections.
4. Parental input should be an integral part of this activity.
5. Student writers and photographers for the school's newsletter will report and record the activity.
6. Follow-up school wide activity: The PTA, principal or business representative of the community will offer a prize to the student who submits the best essay on the meaning of the concept "We Are Family" as exemplified by the ethnic festival.