Explores folktales from China, Africa, and Russia suggesting ways to utilize them in the social studies classroom as a means to teaching children about other cultures. Warns that when using folktales it is important to explain that the folktales do not bear a one-to-one relationship with present-day societies. (CMK)

Focuses on a way of teaching that explores the connection between historical and cultural content in works of art, linking the present and past through reCognizing (understanding a previously known thing differently or viewing an unknown thing in multiple ways). Provides an example of reCognition using the Kwanzaa Playground in Columbus (Ohio).…

Describes how dance was incorporated into African and Native American cultural study units. Notes that when dance was used, children's participation level was high and they showed evidence of integrating new knowledge into current information. Provides suggestions for educators to teach dance to students through increasing body awareness,…

Born in Jamaica in 1805, Mary Seacole (nee Grant), was the daughter of a Black Creole boarding house owner and a Scottish Army officer. Like many Creole doctress women, Seacole was taught African herbal medicine arts from her mother. In addition to understanding traditional herbal medicine, she gleaned an understanding of Western medicine from the…

Parent involvement may have implications for student achievement (Epstein, 1986; Hoover-Dempsey, Bassler, & Brisse, 1987; Lopez, Scribner, & Mahitivanichcha, 2001). Today African-American parents are frequently criticized for not being involved enough in their students' education (Dearing, Kreider, Simpkins, & Weiss, 2006). African-American parent…

Objective: To describe the dietary behaviors of black women who enrolled in the SisterTalk weight control study. Design: Baseline data collected via telephone survey and in-person screening. Setting: Boston, Massachusetts and surrounding areas. Participants: 461 black women completed the baseline assessments. Main Outcome Measures: Measured height…

This thesaurus identifies nearly 4,000 subject heading terms that pertain specifically to the 41 countries that make up Africa south of the Sahara. The process of identifying these terms began with a search through the "Library of Congress Subject Headings," followed by searches of other subject heading materials and bibliographic…

This unit, designed for use in both history and English classes, uses excerpts from novels as a way to view Nigerian culture and history through the eyes of its people. The literature used comes primarily from the work of two of Nigeria's important novelists: Chinua Achebe and Buchi Emecheta. Both offer views from the Igbo culture of southeast…

This unit is designed to introduce upper elementary and middle school students to the traditional cultures of the people of Southern Africa, particularly the Swazi. Information on housing and family life covers family structure, marriage customs, respect for ancestors, male and female roles, employment, eating customs, and handicrafts. An overview…

Patterns found in African art can be used in activities related to geometric concepts. (SD)

This publication, which provides information about the African-American celebration known as Kwanzaa, was designed to support the Portland (Oregon) Public School District's goal of increasing students' understanding and appreciation of the history, culture, and contributions of different geocultural groups. The document is comprised of the…

The attempt by many urban school districts to develop African curricula creates a dilemma, because it usually places an African-centered program in a multicultural curriculum that is centered in the European-American educational tradition. Currently, some elements of an African and African-centered curriculum may be found in the multicultural…

The wide variety of religious practices in Africa can be bewildering to outsiders. Although most of the world's religions have been introduced to Africa, this handbook focuses upon three categories of religious belief: traditional African religions, Christianity, and Islam. The book is arranged in three parts. Part 1, "Background…

A federally-funded project had as its goal the development of six videotaped instructional modules and a teacher's guide to be used in college French classes, especially in black colleges and universities. The core material consisted of television programs from French-speaking Gabon, Cameroon, and the Ivory Coast. Initially, 45 Howard University…

Summaries and recommendations of a conference to ascertain the research and curriculum needs for focusing on cultural heritage education in Africa are presented. Specific presentations, which are summarized in this report, centered on the place of the cultural heritage in the school curriculum, cultural resources and themes worthy of inclusion in…