Challenging our perceptions of Africa. Lesson Objectives: - To discover why the way that we view the continent of Africa may be wrong. teacheraid2014.org.uk teacheraid2014.org.uk

What can you see?

Sometimes perceptions can be deceiving.

Level 4: I can use the knowledge that I have learned this lesson to describe what Africa is really like. Level 5: I can use what I have learned this lesson to explain why people’s perceptions of Africa maybe wrong. Level 6: I can use what I have learned and an atlas, to give reasons why Africa is different to what people perceive. What are we going to achieve?

Africa? On your piece of paper, write the word ‘Africa’ in the centre. Around it, I want you to write down what you think of when you think of Africa? KAGAN: Let’s share our ideas with the rest of the class. Everyone stick up your hand, and pair up. I will tell you who is A, and who is B. Then share your answers.

What African countries can you name? Remember: Africa is a continent, not a country.

The Countries of Africa Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo. Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Reunion, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe There are 47 countries in Africa. How did you do?

Find Africa in the Atlas’. If you were to walk east to west across Africa, would everything you see be the same? How many countries would you walk through? What differences would there be? What different human geography would you experience? What different physical geography would you experience? Human Geography: Physical Geography: Human Geography: Physical Geography: Anything that was created by people e.g. towns, cities, roads, ports, and houses. Things created by nature e.g. mountains, rivers, seas, and oceans etc.

Ebola?

Why do you think that we have these images of Africa? Watch the video at and read the lyrics to the song. Images from telegraph.co.uk

Do They Know It’s Christmas? As some of you may know, a song has been released called ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’. It is all about Africa. Read through the lyric sheet, and highlight any of the following things: (L3) What do you think are the good things about the lyrics? (L4) Why do you think the song was written? (L5) Is there anything that you think is maybe wrong with the lyrics?

“Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears” This map shows rainfall across the African continent. Source: Wikimedia Commons

“And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime” Images: Wikimedia Commons Algeria Libya South Africa Morocco Images: Wikimedia Commons

“Where nothing ever grows” South SudanSouth Africa Malawi Images: Wikimedia Commons

“No rain or rivers flow” Nile River, Uganda Fishing in the River Niger Victoria Falls Images: Wikimedia Commons

Write your own version of the song. You are now going to write your own version of the song. It doesn’t have to even be a song at all, it can be: a rap, a newspaper advert, or a poem. When you are writing your song, think about the following things: What is Africa actually like? Why would people want to visit Africa? What are the people like? How big is Africa? What are people’s perceptions of Africa wrong? Level 4: I can use the knowledge that I have learned this lesson to describe what Africa is really like. Level 5: I can use what I have learned this lesson to explain why people’s perceptions of Africa maybe wrong. Level 6: I can use what I have learned and an atlas to give reasons why Africa is different to what people perceive.

Africa? On your piece of paper, in purple pen: I want you to add anything that you have learnt this lesson. KAGAN: Let’s share our ideas with the rest of the class. Everyone stick up your hand, and pair up. I will tell you who is A, and who is B. Then share your answers. Plenary: Let’s do this again!