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Africa in the News

Age/Grade Level or Audience

Elementary, middle school, and high school journalism, language, social studies, and writing classes.

Description

Create an "Africa in the News" bulletin board.

Procedure

Have students comb the popular press for items about Africa. Group together stories on similar topics, such as these:

• The spread of AIDS
• Refugee relief efforts
• Nelson Mandela's speeches and public appearances
• Literature and music by African artists
• South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission testimony
• African cooking, fashion, and hair styles
• New markets for African products, for instance woven goods and foods
• Visits by world leaders and entertainers to Africa
• Attempts to rescue endangered African species, such as the elephant and mountain gorilla

Have students compare articles from different sources.

Sources

Time, Newsweek, Ebony, Jet, Emerge, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, USA Today, and other newspapers and magazines.

Alternative Applications

Have students submit letters to the editor, political cartoons and comic strips, columns, mock interviews, feature articles, fashion sketches, recipes, children's page quizzes and games, and editorials in response to news from Africa or the Caribbean.