Lesson Plan | Active Learning | African Kingdoms: Kush, Axum, and Ghana

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan aims to establish the specific objectives that will guide classroom activities and discussions. Through these objectives, students will be able to substantiate their prior knowledge about the Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana, applying a critical and comparative approach to better understand the political and commercial dynamics of these civilizations. Furthermore, the focus on critical analysis skills aims to prepare students to evaluate historical sources and build well-founded arguments on the topic.

Main Objectives:

1. Enable students to understand the formation of African kingdoms during antiquity and the medieval period, highlighting the political and commercial elements that influenced their development.

2. Develop critical analysis skills in students so they can evaluate how the Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana interacted with each other and with other regions of the world, influencing and being influenced by these relationships.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage active participation of students in debates and group activities to promote collaborative learning.
2. Stimulate students' historical curiosity by encouraging them to explore primary and secondary sources on the topic.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students and consolidate the knowledge acquired at home, using problem situations to stimulate reflection and practical application of the concepts studied. Additionally, the contextualization aims to establish a direct link between the past and the present, showing the relevance of the Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana in terms of intercultural and economic relations, which helps to awaken students' interest and to understand the importance of the topic.

Problem-Based Situations

1. How did the Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana manage to maintain and expand their political and economic power amid distinct geographical and cultural contexts?

2. Explain how trans-Saharan and maritime trade routes influenced the interactions between these kingdoms and other civilizations, such as the Roman Empire and India.

Contextualization

The Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana not only represent important centers of power in Africa but also acted as crucial links in trade networks that connected the African continent with other regions of the world. For example, the city of Axum was one of the first kingdoms to adopt Christianity, which influenced not only its culture but also its trade relations with the Mediterranean. The Kingdom of Ghana, on the other hand, was famous for its control over the gold routes, which were extremely valued in global trade at the time.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

The Development phase is designed to allow students to apply the knowledge acquired about the Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana in an interactive and engaging way. Through practical and simulation activities, students can explore and deepen their understanding of the political and commercial dynamics of these kingdoms while developing research, presentation, and critical thinking skills. This approach not only strengthens learning but also encourages creativity and teamwork.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - The Conclave of Kingdoms: A Political-Commercial Conference

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop research, presentation, and negotiation skills, as well as deepen knowledge about the political and commercial relationships of the Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people, representing each of the studied kingdoms. They will prepare and present political and commercial proposals that reflect the historical practices and interests of their respective kingdoms, considering interactions with other kingdoms and cultures.

- Instructions:

• Form groups, each representing one of the kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana.

• Each group should research and discuss the main policies and commercial practices of their kingdom based on the studied sources.

• Prepare a presentation that includes a historical summary of the kingdom, its main trade routes, and proposals for alliances or negotiations with other kingdoms or civilizations.

• Present to the class, followed by a debate where the other groups can question and negotiate the proposed proposals.

Activity 2 - Maps and Routes: Rebuilding Trade Networks

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Learn to use cartographic sources and visually reconstruct ancient trade relationships, strengthening the understanding of the impact of trade routes on the history of African kingdoms.

- Description: In this activity, students will use historical maps and other sources to reconstruct and visualize the trade routes of the Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana, identifying the most important products and the regions with which they interacted.

- Instructions:

• Distribute maps and historical sources on the trade routes of Africa in ancient times.

• Each group should identify on the map the routes of the kingdoms assigned to them, marking the main points.

• Research and discuss the most important products that were traded along these routes.

• Prepare a visual report that includes the marked map and information about the products and trade relations of the kingdoms.

Activity 3 - Diplomacy and Culture: The Festival of Kingdoms

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Promote the understanding of the cultural and diplomatic relationships of African kingdoms and foster creativity and teamwork.

- Description: Students will organize a fictional festival that represents the culture, traditions, and products of the Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana. This festival will serve as a platform to demonstrate their cultural and diplomatic interactions.

- Instructions:

• Groups must plan and organize a festival that represents cultural, political, and commercial aspects of their kingdom.

• Each group chooses what elements they want to include, such as traditional dances, exhibitions of artifacts, religious rituals, among others.

• During the festival, groups must interact and demonstrate how their kingdoms would engage in a diplomatic and cultural context.

• Evaluate the festival based on creativity, historical fidelity, and the ability of interaction between the kingdoms.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate students' learning, allowing them to reflect and articulate the knowledge acquired through practical activities. The group discussion helps reinforce the understanding of the concepts studied, allowing students to verbalize and share their discoveries and perspectives. Additionally, by hearing the contributions of their peers, students can gain new perspectives and insights, further enriching their learning.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, gather all students for a group discussion. Start the discussion with a brief introduction, explaining that the goal is to share what each group learned and discuss the different perspectives and approaches of each presentation. Suggest that each group summarize the most important points discussed and the conclusions reached during the activities. Encourage all students to actively participate, asking questions and expressing their opinions on the topics addressed.

Key Questions

1. What were the main discoveries your group made about the political and commercial relationships of the Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana?

2. How did the activities conducted today help to better understand the dynamics of these kingdoms in antiquity and the medieval period?

3. In what ways do the commercial and political practices of these kingdoms still influence or reflect in contemporary Africa?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning, ensuring that students have well-established key concepts and can relate them not only to other history lessons but also to the contemporary world. This moment of reflection helps students to perceive the historical relevance and continuity of the political and commercial practices of the studied kingdoms, preparing them for future discussions and applications of knowledge.

Summary

In this final stage, a summary of the main aspects discussed about the Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana will be made, recalling their political and commercial dynamics, as well as their cultural and diplomatic influences. Students will have the opportunity to recap the trade routes, prominent products, and strategic alliances.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson was structured to connect theory and practice, allowing students not only to absorb information but also to apply it in interactive activities. Through simulations and discussions, students were able to see how historical theories manifest in concrete commercial and political practices, facilitating understanding and retention of the content.

Closing

The Kingdoms of Kush, Axum, and Ghana are not only an important part of African history but also show how regional and international interactions shape societies and cultures. Understanding these kingdoms helps to clarify many of the challenges and opportunities that Africa faces today in its global relations and internal development.