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Ancient Africa - Mali Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Dive into the fascinating world of the Mali Empire with your class! Take a peek at each resource's "Classroom Use" section for creative ideas on weaving these materials into your lessons. Your students will love exploring this ancient civilization together!Inca Empire Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Share these resources with your students to learn about the Inca Empire. Share a link to this collection on your school web page and in your school newsletter (or email). Find resources to incorporate into your lessons.Maya Civilization Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Dive into the fascinating world of the Maya with your class! This collection has some fantastic resources perfect for your cooperative learning groups. Take a peek at each resource's "Classroom Use" section for creative ideas on weaving these materials into your lessons. Your students will love exploring this ancient civilization together!Kingdom of Kush Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Don't miss the chance to share this collection link on your school website and in your next newsletter. Your fellow teachers and parents will appreciate having access to these materials! Browse through to find perfect additions to your upcoming lessons--there's something here for every teaching style!Mali Facts for Kids - Twinkl Educational Publishing
Grades
3 to 5This site includes advertising.
tag(s): africa (170), cultures (211), deserts (17), flags (20), maps (224)
In the Classroom
Introduce students to the role of griots (storytellers) in Mali's culture and have students create and perform their own short oral stories or folktales. Set up a classroom "market" inspired by Mali's traditional markets. Assign students different roles (vendors, buyers, traders) with items like gold, salt, and textiles. Have them locate and label Mali, its capital (Bamako), major rivers (Niger River), and neighboring countries on a map. Consider using MapHubs reviewed here or Google My Maps reviewed here.Mali Empire - Loren Klein
Grades
5 to 8This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Display images of ancient civilizations' artifacts (ex., coins, pottery, statues). Have students predict their use and significance, then research and present findings. Students can work in small groups to compare religious beliefs, deities, and practices of two civilizations (ex., Mesopotamian vs. Egyptian) and create a Venn diagram on paper or using Venn Diagram Creator reviewed here. Students can map trade routes using Google My Maps reviewed here or ePubEditor reviewed here.Mali Empire History - Cool Kid Facts
Grades
2 to 7This site includes advertising.
tag(s): africa (170), archeology (30), cultures (211), maps (224), medieval (33)
In the Classroom
Set up different learning stations representing subjects studied in Timbuktu (astronomy, medicine, math). Students can rotate through the stations, completing mini-activities related to each subject. Students can research and build 3D models of Mali's famous structures, such as the Great Mosque of Djenne, using materials like clay, cardboard, or digital tools like Delightex (formerly CoSpaces) reviewed here or Tinkercad reviewed here. Have students compare the Mali Empire to another historical empire, such as the Roman Empire or the Incas, using a Venn diagram on paper or Venn Diagram Creator reviewed here, focusing on government, trade, culture, and legacy.Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhay: Cluster Web Activity - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): africa (170), cultures (211), politics (118), worksheets (71)
In the Classroom
Divide students into groups representing different West African empires. Give each group specific trade goods (gold, salt, ivory, etc.) and have them negotiate and "trade" with each other, simulating the trans-Saharan trade routes. Students can create annotated maps showing the locations of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay, major trade routes, and key cities like Timbuktu and Gao. Have them use MapHub reviewed here or ePubEditor reviewed here and add visuals and summaries to their maps. Assign students to research and compare the leadership styles of Sundiata Keita, Mansa Musa, and Sunni Ali. They can present their findings through a podcast-style discussion using Adobe Podcast, reviewed here or Buzzsprout reviewed here.The Empire of Mali- The Twang of a Bow - Extra History
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): africa (170)
In the Classroom
Have students explore Mali's contributions to art, music, and storytelling, researching griots, traditional instruments, or historical sites like Timbuktu. They can present their findings through skits, posters, or mini-documentaries using moovly reviewed here or Animoto reviewed here. Students can participate in a Mali trade simulation, where they role-play merchants, kings, and traders exchanging goods (gold, salt, textiles) and negotiating taxes, highlighting the importance of trade in Mali's success. Students can illustrate a comic strip using Free Comic Strip Maker reviewed here or Write Comics reviewed here retelling key events from Sundiata's journey, emphasizing major turning points like his exile, rise to power, and victory over Soumaoro Kante.Dance: Sundiata- Mali's Lion King - YPS Arts Department
Grades
6 to 8tag(s): africa (170), african american (119), dance (33)
In the Classroom
Have your students mimic movements inspired by animals (like lions or birds) and warriors to connect with the themes of Sundiata's journey. Students can create a short poem or spoken-word piece about Sundiata's journey and perform it alongside interpretive dance movements. Students can research and compare traditional West African dance styles (such as Mandinka dance) with other global storytelling dances. They can present their findings through a short report or poster using Canva Edu reviewed here.Mali Lesson Plans - Virginia Department of Education
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): africa (170), creative writing (125), journals (16)
In the Classroom
Students can create a travel journal to record responses to lessons on paper or using Imagine Forest, reviewed here or Sway, reviewed here. Have students participate in a suitcase packing activity to prepare for an imaginary journey to Mali by choosing items they may need on the trip. Create a list of items they may pack and have them discuss their choices. Students can illustrate key moments from the Epic of Sundiata using a storyboard format. They can either draw by hand or use digital tools such as Google Drawings, reviewed here to represent important events, such as Sundiata's early struggles, his rise to power, and the establishment of the Mali Empire. Have students participate in a trade simulation to understand the economic power of the Mali Empire. They can role-play as merchants trading gold, salt, and other goods along the trans-Saharan trade routes.Lion King vs. Sundiata, Lion King of Mali - Engaging Everything
Grades
5 to 9This site includes advertising.
tag(s): africa (170), comics and cartoons (55), vocabulary (242)
In the Classroom
Have students make the comic on a device using ToonyTool reviewed here or Write Comics reviewed here. Students can compare Sundiata and The Lion King using a Venn diagram on paper or using Venn Diagram Creator reviewed here, analyzing historical elements versus fictional adaptations. Before introducing Sundiata, have students match The Lion King characters (Mufasa, Simba, Scar, etc.) with their Sundiata counterparts based on descriptions. Then, reveal the actual connections and discuss.Early American Civilizations: Myths, Pyramids, and Kings - Texas Education Agency
Grades
4 to 6tag(s): grammar (138), pyramids (24), south america (77), spelling (98), writing (325)
In the Classroom
Using materials like sugar cubes, marshmallows, or LEGO bricks, students work in teams to construct a model pyramid while discussing its purpose and significance in early civilizations. Students can also use CoSpaces reviewed here or Tinkercad reviewed here to create digital 3D models. Create a Venn diagram on paper or using Venn Diagram Creator reviewed here to compare the leadership of early American civilizations (ex., kings, priests) to modern government systems. Students can craft their own myths inspired by elements of early American civilizations. They can illustrate their stories and share them with the class. Consider using Imagine Forest reviewed here or Google Slides reviewed here to make books to share with the class and families online.Mayas - Aztecs - Incas - Wendy Conklin
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): architecture (84), religions (112), south america (77)
In the Classroom
Transform your classroom into a bustling market! Assign students roles as Maya, Aztec, or Inca merchants selling goods like cacao, maize, textiles, or gold. Have them barter and trade based on their civilization's economy. Students can analyze Maya glyphs or Inca quipu (knotted cords used for record-keeping). They can try writing their names in glyphs or creating a simple quipu with yarn. Students can research and retell a myth from one of the three civilizations. They can write a short script, perform, or illustrate a comic strip using Free Comic Strip Maker reviewed here. Students could also record a podcast episode using Buzzsprout reviewed here. Students can build Maya pyramids (with sugar cubes), Aztec chinampas (floating gardens using sponges & water trays), or Inca terraces (stacked cardboard "mountains") to explore their engineering feats.Early American Civilizations- Maya, Aztec, and Inca - Core Knowledge
Grades
4 to 6tag(s): critical thinking (136), literacy (123), maps (224), south america (77), vocabulary (242)
In the Classroom
Make a Mystery Box by placing pictures or replicas of Maya, Aztec, and Inca artifacts (ex., a quipu, a pyramid, a codex) in a box. Have students pull an item, describe it, and infer its use before reading about it in the text. Students create a visual comparison such as a Venn diagram, poster, or digital infographic using Venn Diagram Creator reviewed here or Canva Edu, reviewed here showing similarities and differences between the Maya, Aztec, and Inca. They can list areas like government, religion, architecture, and daily life. Students can write a first-person journal entry as a Maya scribe, an Aztec warrior, or an Incan messenger, describing a day in their life while incorporating factual details from the reader.Ghosts of Machu Picchu - PBS NOVA
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): archeology (30), south america (77), STEM (306), timelines (57)
In the Classroom
Have students explore the website's visuals, articles, and videos to "virtually visit" Machu Picchu. Then, in small groups, students can create a travel brochure or digital slideshow highlighting key features, historical significance, and unanswered mysteries. These projects can be completed online using Canva Edu reviewed here or Google Slides reviewed here. After learning about Machu Picchu's sophisticated stone construction and drainage system, students can design and test their own miniature stone wall models using clay, Legos, or sugar cubes, mimicking Incan building techniques. Students can compare Machu Picchu's engineering, society, and daily life to another ancient civilization (ex., Mesopotamia, Egypt, Rome) and present their findings through a Venn diagram on paper or online using Venn Diagram Creator reviewed here.Mayan Crystal - Gen-Z Media
Grades
3 to 7tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46), mysteries (24), myths and legends (41)
In the Classroom
Have students research a Mayan myth or legend and turn it into a short comic strip. They can illustrate their own interpretation of the story or retell a scene from Mayan Crystal in comic form. The comic strip could also be made online using ToonyTool reviewed here or Canva Comic Strip Templates reviewed here. Since Mayan Crystal features immersive soundscapes, challenge your students to create their own sound effects for a short scene using everyday objects. They can record sounds or perform them live in small groups. Ask students to write a new ending or an extra scene for Mayan Crystal. How would they change the story if a key event had played out differently? Assign students different characters from the podcast and have them act out a key scene or participate in a mock interview as their character.Rise and Fall of the Mali Empire - BioGreat TV
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Students can use Google Keep, reviewed here to take notes about the video. Students can use Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here to create a timeline about the Mali Empire. Students can also research more about the leaders shared in the video.Mali: Elementary Lesson Plans - Virginia Department of Education
Grades
3 to 8tag(s): africa (170)
In the Classroom
Students can complete the lessons using the lesson plans provided. Students can use Book Creator reviewed here as a tool in writing about their life in the Mali Empire or to Market to Market. Students can use Figma reviewed here to create a cause-and-effect diagram outlining the formation and fall of the Mali Empire.Biography: Sundiata Keita of Mali - Ducksters
Grades
3 to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): africa (170)