Matt Menier
Sandburg Middle School
Anoka, MN

Welcome to McMenyea’s

Africa Menu 

Africa is a large continent full of diverse cultures, interesting landforms, a fascinating past and numerous issues that continue to define and trouble the region today.  It would take our entire school year to address all the issues Africa currently faces but we only have a month.  You now have the opportunity to enrich your own learning by choosing the topics that have the most interest for you.  Think of this handout like a menu.  Just like ordering off a menu at a restaurant you get to decide which assignments you want to complete.  You must acquire enough points in the C level before you get to move to the B level, and so on.  I will be checking your progress on a regular basis to establish timelines and determine else needs to be done for you to gain the best grade during this unit.  You will have time to do much of this work in class, however homework will be required. Here’s the only choice you don’t have.  You do not get the choice to finish a level and then stop working if there is still time left for the unit.  Additionally, quality of work will factor into how many points you receive on an assignment, therefore just because you finish a task does not necessarily mean that you will earn full credit. 

*NOTE: Any additional points you acquire over the prerequisite points in a level will count towards your overall grade but you cannot use it to earn points on the next level

             REQUIREMENTS                    GRADING SCALE

      All papers must be double spaced, 12-point font.          D=     > 44

      Grammar will be checked so read through your             C=  45 – 69

      papers! Cite your research!  No cutting and pasting           B=                  70 - 89

      from web pages.  I will be checking them           A=     90+

      thoroughly!  

YOU MUST COMPLETE 45 POINTS FROM THE “C’ MENU BEFORE YOU CAN QUALIFY TO DO WORK FOR THE “A” OR “B” Points Possible Points Earned
  1. Africa On-line research (5 pts)
    
  1. Africa map work - label 21 countries/color by region (3 pts)
    
  1. Africa coordinate map (3 pts)
    
  1. Complete South Africa Packet (12 pts)
    
  1. Jr. Scholastic article – complete questions (3 pts)
    
  1. Africa Colonial Grid (7 pts)
    
  1. Africa Today Grid (7 pts)
    
  1. Intro to Africa worksheet (10 pts)
    
  1. Africa Mapping lab (10 pts)
    
  1. Africa Atlas activity (5 pts)
    
  1. “Lost Boys of Sudan” video notes (Venn Diagram) (2 pts)
    
  1. In class lectures – notes will be checked (2 pts)
    
  1. Create multiple links on your MySpace page for Darfur  (2 pts)
    
  1. Africa atlas activity (3 pts)
    
  1. Life expectancy graph (3 pts)
    
          Max of 55 from “C” menu                       TOTALS
   
 
 
 

******C MENU OF ASSIGNEMTS (APPETIZERS) ******

******B MENU OF ASSIGNEMTS (MAIN COURSE)****** 

    YOU MUST COMPLETE 25 POINTS FROM THE “B” MENU BEFORE YOU CAN QUALIFY TO DO WORK FOR THE “A”
Points Possible Points Earned
  1. Aswan Dam reading/worksheet (5 pts)
    
  1. Complete the life expectancy graph from the C menu, then interview your parent about what they hope to accomplish in the next 40 years of their lives.  This assignment deals with the life expectancy for average Africans.  You must show me a list of your questions before you conduct the interview. (7pts)
    
  1. Analyze a political cartoon that deals with an issue from Africa and describe what it means to you.  Cartoons can be found on www.cagle.com. This must be at least 2 paragraphs long (you may do up to 3 political cartoons) (5 pts each) up to 15 pts total.
    
  1. Write a song or poem that raises awareness for an issue of your choosing on Africa.  (10 pts)  (ex. Darfur, Rwanda, AIDS, poverty, desertification
    
  1. Write, and mail a letter to the United Nations or your congressman expressing your thoughts on how the United States should get involved in the Darfur situation.  You must include information from the Darfur packet (10 pts)
    
  1. Participate in a Socratic seminar on Africa with other class members (12 pts)
    
  1. Create a CD jewel case that represents Africa and choose songs that are appropriate to the theme you choose.  You must also justify why you have chosen the songs you have that best represent Africa (15 pts)
    
  1. Compare and contrast the AIDS epidemic with another current or historical epidemic.  (Ex: black plague in Europe, the influenza epidemic of 1918 in America).  This must be at least a one-paged typed paper (15 pts) Handout available
    
  1. Compare and contrast South Africa’s apartheid problem with current or past racism in the United States. This must be at least a one-paged typed paper.                                                                                      (15 pts)
    
  1. Research one of the following African leaders: Idi Amin, Nelson Mandela, or Momar Khadafi. Write ten interview questions for them and then answer the questions as you think they would reply.  The questions must deal with issues from their past and from the countries they have led. (15 pts)
    
  1. Create an authentic African meal/dish from a country in Africa.  Recipes and ideas can be found on: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/index_html.html and then write at least a 1-page paper on the region you created your recipe from.  The website will give you information for your resort.  This report will include an overview of the region, the people (their traditions, food, folklore, music) the animals and vegetation.  Then create a list of C.R.E.P.T for the region (15 pts)
    
  1. Student choice – present an idea of your own (potentially all 25 pts could come from your idea, if it is encompassing and challenging) (0-25 pts)
    
  1. Can Africa’s problems be solved by redrawing the borders of countries to align with the homelands of ethnic groups.  Choose 2 neighboring African countries and redraw their borders to align with their ethnicity.  Page 333 of Geo Alive! Book and justify your answers (10 pts)
    
     
    Max of 35 From “B” menu                    TOTALS
   
 
 
 

 

******A MENU OF ASSIGNEMTS (DESSERT)****** 

    YOU MUST COMPLETE 20 POINTS FROM THE “A” MENU TO QULIFIY TO EARN AN “A” FOR THIS UNIT ALL CHOICES ARE WORTH 20 POINTS
Points Possible Points Earned
    1. Alone or in a group, pick a charitable organization that benefits Africa and take action to raise money, inform others, and present your project to the class and/or the school body.  Tasks may include, but are not limited to: researching charitable organizations, making posters, setting up a booth at lunch, making morning announcements, creating a video to be shown during homebase (possibly using IMovie), etc.  You/your group will highlight an issue/issues that face Africa and raise awareness for others.  I will assist you in your project by providing resources, however you are in charge!
    
  1. Answer the following question in a 2-page paper.  “Which has had the greatest impact on the continent of Africa: violence or compassion?” You must justify your response and cite at least 3 sources of research.
    
  1. Answer the following scenario in a 2-page paper.  “You have just created a cure for AIDS, however you don’t have enough of the cure to help everyone.  Who do you decide to give the cure to and why?”  Then answer the second scenario “You have enough medicine to cure everyone of AIDS in Africa.  What would happen to the continent if AIDS was not a problem?  What would the benefits be?  Are there drawbacks?”
    
  1. Based on the number of issues the continent faces if you could choose one issue in Africa to solve, which would you choose and why?  You may choose how you would like to present your information (IMovie, PowerPoint, research paper, etc.). Justify your response and cite at least 3 sources of research. 
   
  1. Using the library or Internet, find 3 magazine, or journal articles on an issue in Africa.  Read the articles, cite them.  Write a 3-5 paragraph summary of each article in your own words.  Write at least 2 paragraphs stating your opinion for each article.
    
     
    Max of 20 From “A” menu                    TOTALS