Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, Ontario
K2G-1V8
(613)727-4723 ext.5138
We love to play where we are! African toys and games
Grade 2/3
Provided by Ottawa Carleton Catholic School Board
Last updated: July 6, 2007
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Expedition Africa at (613)727-4723 ext. 5138 or email
Table of Contents
Summary of Lesson Plan 2
Relation to Ministry Guidelines & expected outcomes 3
OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES 3
Main Objective 3
Learning Outcomes 3
ACTIVITIES 4
ASSESSMENT 5
RESOURCES 5
RUBRIC 6
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7
Feedback Page 8
Summary of Lesson Plan
Students will learn that toys and games are a product of children’s environment. They will learn about the creation and utility of simple toys by creating their own rag and twine ball.
This lesson plan may identify specific resources to support certain activities. While the expedition team will attempt to gather all the required resources, we cannot guarantee that all photo, audio, video will be captured as listed.
Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
Relation to Ministry Guidelines & expected outcomes
Grade 2, Social Studies:
· (specific) describe some similarities and differences in the ways communities around the world meet their needs (e.g., with respect to food, clothing, shelter, recreation).
·
Grade 3, Social Studies:
· (specific) describe ways in which they and their families use the natural environment (e.g., playing in the park, growing food, drawing on nature for water and energy);
· (specific) compare the characteristics of their community to those of a different community (e.g., with respect to population density, services, recreation, modes of travel to isolated northern and First Nation communities).
OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Main Objective
Students will learn that toys and games are a product of children’s environment. They will learn about the creation and utility of simple toys by creating their own rag and twine ball.
Learning Outcomes
· Students will learn that toys and games are products of the cultural and physical environment
· Students will learn that many children in the world play with and enjoy simple, non-electronic toys and games
· students will learn how to assemble a rag and twine football/soccer ball
ACTIVITIES
Teacher Activity / Student ActivityIntroduction and activity
Make a Rag and Twine ball / · Display simple, different games on a table in a visible area in the classroom (e.g., cards, dominoes, Mancala, jump rope) Ask the students: who do you think created these games or other games you have played? What do you think helped them to create that game? Emphasize the importance of climate, geography and culture to the creation of, and playing with toys, e.g.: Would children in Nunavut play games with sand? Why do Canadian children play ice hockey?
· Show pictures of children in Africa playing games. Ask the students about what materials they think were used to make them?
· Explain to the students that children in Malawi, Africa have games that are made from their local resources. Show where Malawi is on the world map. Those who live near sandy areas make games by digging holes in the sand (using it as a game board) and use little rocks or seashells (using them as game pieces) to move around. They also like to play soccer (called 'football' in Africa) but many times there are no real soccer balls so they improvise by making a soccer ball out of rags bound by twine.
· It is now time for the students to create their own ball made from rags and string. Have each child pull out his or her rags and twine/string. Explain how they will be evaluated using a copy of the rubric.
· Have students work in teams of two. Have them cut their twine or string in one meter lengths.
· Demonstrate to the students crunching up a lot of rags and then covering the circumference of the scrunched rags with another rag. When the rags are ready to be bound have one student hold the ball while another takes the strip of string and starts twisting it around the ball.
· Pairs show and present on their toy project. Encourage children to think about how the ball was created from resources immediately present. / Students listen and then walk around and look at games on display
Students view and ask questions about photos. Locate Malawi on world map.
In pairs, with adult supervision, children assemble balls.
Students show off their balls and reflect on the activity, and the whole idea of creating toys and games from the immediate environment
Conclusion / · What other kind of games can we make from things in our house? Can you think of a game you have played at home that was made from things around your house? Next time you are playing a game think how you can play that game by improvising and using other items from around your house.
· NOTE: This would be a wonderful activity for a younger and older class, e.g., Reading Buddies.
EXTENSION: Bring the class-made balls out at recess or during physical activity time and play some football/soccer.
ASSESSMENT
· monitor, facilitate and assess student comprehension of the link between toys and games and the environment in which they are created.
· Using the rubric provided, assess the children’s efforts at cooperating and building the toy ball.
RESOURCES
Games (example: dominoes, jump-rope)
Rags and string or twine (ask students two days before this project to bring these supplies from home.)
Pictures of children in Africa playing games
Copies of rubric (provided)
http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-africa/aindex.htm
Background information on Canadian and international initiatives to promote play and development: www.righttoplay.com: athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play as a tool for the development of children and youth in the most disadvantaged areas of the world.
RUBRIC for “We love to play where we are: African toys and games”
Looks / Neat, no rags falling out, strings are tied tightly / Some rags coming out, strings are not very tight / Sloppy, strings are loose, rags are loose
Durability or Strength / Can be kicked and doesn't fall apart, will last a long time / Some what loose, will only last one game / Loose, is going to fall apart soon
From: http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-africa/aindex.htm
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-africa/aindex.htm
Feedback Page
Please provide us with your feedback on this lesson and/or its available resources. We welcome suggestions for improvements, additional methodologies, and/or new resources you may have found to support the lesson(s).
If you would like to submit your own lesson plan(s) or curriculum idea(s) please contact your school board representative listed at http://www.algonquincollege.com/africa
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Lesson Plan Title:
African Toys and Games Page 4 of 8