SHS3 History · Semester 1 Week 7: Emergence of Complex States and Societies

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: 3.2.1.LI.3 - Analyse the key features of earliest African civilisations.

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Define civilisation and identify at least five general characteristics common to all civilisations.
Locate on a map of Africa the major earliest civilisations, including Egypt, Kerma/Kush, Nok, Axum, and the Bantu-speaking communities.
Analyse the key features of at least two earliest African civilisations in terms of political organisation, economic activities, social structure, religion, art, and technology.
Compare the common features shared among the earliest African civilisations and explain what made each one unique.
Create a chart or mind map summarising the key features of one major African civilisation, drawing on both primary and secondary sources.

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Curriculum details

Strand: States and Societies in Pre-Colonial Times (Strand 2)
Sub-strand: Emergence of Complex States and Societies (2.1)
Content standard: 3.2.1.CS.1 - Demonstrate understanding of African Pre-History from the Earliest Times to 500 BCE and appreciate the unique features of the complex African civilisations. 3.2.1.LO.1 Use relevant historical evidence to reconstruct the history of earliest human culture in Africa and compare the uniqueness of complex African civilisations, making inferences to developments in arts, technology, politics, economics, social life, intellectual advancements, and religion.
Indicator: 3.2.1.LI.3 - Analyse the key features of earliest African civilisations.
Suggested placement: Semester 1, Week 7 (Week 7 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Curriculum reference: NaCCA curriculum document, p. 107

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

Enquiry Routes: What is civilisation? What are some of the unique features of a civilisation? Which civilisations flourished in Africa? What were the common features among the earliest African civilisations?
Talk for Learning: Learners brainstorm the meaning of civilisation and explain its general characteristics, including advancement in political, economic, religious, social, intellectual and art and technological life.
Project-Based Learning: Using a case study, learners create a chart to show the characteristics of a civilisation in any of the major African kingdoms. (Egypt, West African Forest and Coast , East African Coast, Bantu)
Collaborative Learning: In mixed ability groups, learners explore historical sources to describe the achievements of any major African civilisation.
Experiential Learning:
- Learners watch animations or embark on a VFT about some major achievements of African civilisations and organise a seminar on how these achievements made Africa unique.
- In mixed-gender groups ( where applicable), learners use online mind mapping tools (e.g., Coggle) to summarise the uniqueness of African civilisations.
Teaching and Learning Resources:
- Primary sources (archaeological finds, old photographs)
- Secondary sources (textbooks, excerpts on the Evolution of Man, opinion papers, etc.)
- Documentaries on the Evolution of humankind
- VFTs on archaeological finds of human culture
- A resource person
- Tape/audio recorder
- Internet access
- Computer/ laptop/mobile phone, speaker-out devices.
- Stationery
- Globe/world map, old African Maps
- Ancient African Map
- Visuals on environmental features of Africa including different landforms, water bodies, etc.
- Documentary on the importance of the Nile River/Sahara Desert
- Documentary/ VFT on arts and religion in ancient Africa
- Primary sources (old photographs of Ancient African civilisation)
- Documentaries/ VFTs on Ancient Africa with technological and intellectual advancements.
- Videos on Egyptian civilisation
- Secondary sources (Textbooks, opinion papers)
- A chart on the characteristics of earliest civilisations in African.
- Stationery.
Assessment (3.2.1.AS.3). The document marks these depth-of-knowledge levels for this indicator: Level 3 Strategic reasoning; Level 4 Extended critical thinking and reasoning.