Curriculum Units

Teacher Grants

The Institute offers a cash grant for K-12 teachers, which is open to teachers from all subject areas, including but not limited to: social studies, foreign languages, language arts, math, and science. The $1,000 grant is given to develop a curriculum unit focusing on Africa, whether the subject is history, current issues, culture, or science. New York State teachers at any school outside of New York City or Westchester County are eligible to apply. Funds will be disbursed as professional service fees (teacher compensation) for time and materials required to research and develop a curriculum unit on Africa. For more specific details, download the 2006 application form or contact the Institute at (607) 255-5499 or by e-mail at asb18@is.cornell.edu.

Curriculum Units

Africa: Pre-Imperial Civilization to Post-Imperial Conflict

Susan Chudy, ninth and tenth grade global geography and history teacher, Orchard Park High School. Details the strengths of pre-imperial African societies; guides students through the scramble for Africa, the Berlin Conference, and the independence movements; and encourages learners to consider the lasting effects of the colonial legacy on Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan.
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Kingdoms of Africa

Kelly Horrocks, sixth grade social studies teacher, DeWitt Middle School. Fills the gap in the New York State sixth grade curriculum for great African cultures of the past. The unit gives an overview of four important civilizations in Africa: Nubia (Kush), Ghana, Mali, and Songhay. Ms. Horrocks designed an interactive PowerPoint presentation which accompanies the unit. There is also useful material for teachers incorporating Africa in the third grade curriculum to provide historic foundations for the study of modern Africa.
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Download PowerPoint presentation

African Leaders: A Curriculum Unit for the Third Grade

June Locke, former librarian, Belle Sherman Elementary School. Provides numerous resources for teachers on famous people from a range of countries, fields of achievement, and time periods, as well as sample teaching activities for using the resources in the elementary classroom. The core materials have been carefully selected for the third grade audience. Extension materials for fourth and fifth grades are also included.
Download Curriculum in pdf format