Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Making the Most of Culture Kits


If you're planning to use culture kits any time this term, it's not too early to start planning.

Carolina Navigators will soon be offering standards-based lesson plans with their culture kits. You can also borrow culture kits from the Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the African Studies Center. All are available without charge (postage both ways included) to North Carolina teachers.

Find programs lending culture kits to teachers, and learn more about making the most of them here.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Earthquake in Haiti

As global teachers, how should we respond to the earthquake in Haiti? Depending on students' ages, you can share information and support discussion at appropriate levels.

Very young students, with "tender hearts" (a phrase I heard used by a insightful principal) may need to know simply that there was a big disaster, people need help, and that help is on the way. Older students may be more curious about the challenging logistics of disaster relief. For all ages, this is an opportunity to learn yet again the truth that we're all one people, and that we can and must help one another.

And what about contributing for relief? If you choose to make contributions as a class, it's a good idea to begin by researching how those organizations with which you're already connected are involved in earthquake relief. The American Red Cross, UNICEF, and Heifer International all have launched relief projects for Haiti. Additional relief organizations appear here. In discussing your decisions, make clear to students that it's always important to check to see if the organization is established and dependable in delivering aid.

Take some time to explore how people from all over the world, with all kinds of talents and resources, are working together in response to the disaster. Point out the important part social media has played in getting information in and out of the earthquake zone. Who knows? You may be inspiring a future leader in humanitarian relief.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Legacy of Timbuktu


January brings a great opportunity to explore the history of West Africa. Come to Cameron Village Library in Raleigh, from January 23-29, and view the medieval manuscripts that made Timbuktu famous.

Read more about how you can deepen your understanding of West Africa and earn CEUs at no charge.

From the African Studies Center, UNC-Chapel Hill:

For centuries largely unknown by Europeans (and later Americans!), Timbuktu in present-day Mali was once a center of scholarship known throughout West Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East. From January 23-29, 2010, there will be an important exhibit on manuscripts from Timbuktu, "The Legacy of Timbuktu," at Cameron Village Regional Library in Raleigh. More Details on the Exhibit

In collaboration with this exhibit, the African Studies Center is providing professional development opportunities for North Carolina teachers.

On January 26, Barbara Anderson will introduce a documentary on Timbuktu and Renaissance-era Africa, entitled "Caravans of Gold." 7:00-8:30pm at the Cameron Village Library in Raleigh.

Teachers can earn up to 3 CEUs by participating in all or part of an online professional development opportunity on the Legacy of Timbuktu created by the African Studies Center. For details and materials click on "Distance Learning Teacher Training" at http://www.unc.edu/depts/africa/outreach/.

In January the Center will also make available a Learning Box in support of the exhibit, "Timbuktu and the Sudanic Kingdoms of West Africa." The box includes books, maps, pictures, a video, and music. Teachers may borrow this box, free of cost, with free shipping both directions, by contacting Stacey Sewall at sewall@email.unc.edu.

For more information, please contact Barbara Anderson or Stacey Sewall in the African Studies Center.


-- Barbara Shaw Anderson
Associate Director, African Studies Center
Lecturer, Department of African and Afro-American Studies
African Studies Center, CB#7582
3027 FedEx Global Education Center
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7582
(919) 962-1406 office
(919) 843-2102 fax
b_anderson@unc.edu
www.global.unc.edu/africa