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The Empire of Mali- The Twang of a Bow - Extra History
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): africa (166)
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 (166), 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 (166), 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 (166), comics and cartoons (55), vocabulary (241)
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 (327)
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 (107), 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 (135), literacy (123), maps (223), south america (77), vocabulary (241)
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 (29), south america (77), STEM (304), timelines (58)
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 (166)
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 (166)
In the Classroom
Students can create a book using Book Creator reviewed here. Students can use MyLens reviewed here to create a timeline of Sundiata's life and accomplishments. Finally, students can use Google Drawings reviewed here to compare and contrast Sundiata to another emperor.Ancient Classic Maya Music - MexicoLore
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46), musical instruments (54)
In the Classroom
Students can research and identify different Maya musical instruments (drums, whistles, ocarinas, rattles). They can listen to recordings of similar instruments and discuss their sounds and possible uses. Students can make simple versions of Maya-style instruments using household materials (clay whistles, bottle maracas). Students can also explore how traditional Maya music has influenced modern music in Mexico and Central America. They can also research contemporary Maya communities still using ancient instruments and present their findings through a short slideshow using Google Slides reviewed here, a video using moovly reviewed here, or a poster. Working in small groups, students can create a short musical performance inspired by Maya music. They can use simple percussion instruments, vocals, or even body percussion to replicate rhythmic patterns that might have been used in Maya ceremonies.Ancient Egypt and the Nile River Valley - Khan Academy
Grades
6 to 10tag(s): asia (121), egypt (59), myths and legends (41), pyramids (24), religions (107)
In the Classroom
Have your students take on the role of a pharaoh, making decisions about governing Egypt. Present students with real-life challenges (ex., a famine, a rebellion, or a need for a new pyramid) and have them decide how to respond. Students can create a map of Ancient Egypt, labeling key locations such as the Nile River, pyramids, temples, and major cities. Then, they can annotate the map briefly to explain how geography influenced Egyptian civilization. A digital map can be made using Google My Maps reviewed here or MapHubs reviewed here. Create a class language similar to hieroglyphics, and have students or the teacher write messages to each other. Have students explore Egyptian myths and gods, then create their own to write a story or skit about them.Writings of Ancient Maya - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
4 to 8This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Provide students with a chart of Mayan glyphs and their meanings. Then, give them a short "coded" message using real Mayan glyphs and challenge them to decode it. Doing this introduces them to the complexity of the Mayan writing system in a fun, interactive way. Hide "glyphs" around the classroom or school and have students work in teams to "excavate" and analyze their findings. They must hypothesize what the symbols might mean based on context clues and prior knowledge, like real archaeologists decoding ancient texts. In small groups or individually, students can create a mini "Maya codex" by folding paper in accordion style and illustrating a short story using glyphs and pictures. They can write a key to explain their symbols, like archaeologists do when deciphering ancient texts!The History of Ancient Egypt - Smithsonian Channel
Grades
4 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): asia (121), egypt (59), myths and legends (41), pyramids (24)
In the Classroom
After watching videos about pharaohs, students can imagine they are rulers of Ancient Egypt. They can write a journal entry or speech describing their daily life, responsibilities, and accomplishments. They can even present it in character, wearing a paper pharaoh's crown! Turn learning into a fun trivia game. Use key facts from the videos to create a Quizizz, reviewed here or Baamboozle, reviewed here, where students can test their knowledge in teams. Add bonus challenges like "act out a scene" or "draw a mystery object" for extra fun. Students can participate in a "choose your own adventure" activity where they must make decisions as an ancient Egyptian (ex., choosing a job, where to live, what to trade). Students can explain and compare their choices to what they learned in the videos. Students can work in groups to create a short skit about a historical event or daily life in Ancient Egypt. They can act as scribes, merchants, builders, or even gods and goddesses, bringing history to life through performance.Ancient Egypt Map Lesson Pack - Twinkl
Grades
3 to 7tag(s): asia (121), egypt (59), map skills (64), maps (223)
In the Classroom
Give students a blank map of Ancient Egypt and have them label key locations like the Nile River, Giza, Thebes, Memphis, the Red Sea, and the Sahara Desert. Add a challenge by having them color-code fertile land, deserts, and water sources to understand Egypt's geography. Students role-play as Egyptian traders or travelers journeying along the Nile. They will use a map to plan their route, deciding where to stop for food, trade, or religious ceremonies. They can write a travel diary entry describing their experiences. Make the travel diary online using a tool like WriteReader, reviewed here or Book Creator, reviewed here. Cut out sections of an Ancient Egypt map and mix them up. Have students work in groups to reassemble the map, identifying key landmarks as they put it together. Using clay, paper mache, or even a digital tool such as CoSpaces, reviewed here, students create a 3D model of Ancient Egypt, highlighting the Nile River, major cities, and famous landmarks.What Life Was Like As An Incan - Nutty Productions
Grades
5 to 8tag(s): south america (77)
In the Classroom
Students can write a story about what they learned in the video by creating a simple blog post using Telegra.ph reviewed here. This site does not require any registration. Students can also ToonyTool, reviewed here to create single-frame cartoons about the video.Andean Music, the Music of the Incas - Discover Peru
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): musical instruments (54), south america (77)
In the Classroom
Students can recreate the musical instruments used by the Incan civilization. Students can find Incan music to listen to and compare and contrast with another civilization using Figma reviewed here. Students can record the music on Acast reviewed here to deconstruct the instruments and match them to the sounds in the songs.Native Knowledge 360: The Meaning of Innovation - Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Grades
5 to 8tag(s): inquiry (30), south america (77)