Economic activities in Africa · SHS1 Social Studies

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: 1.6.1.LI.1 - Examine the origin and development of earliest domestic and external forms of trade in Africa

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Describe the nature of early domestic trade in pre-colonial Africa, including the barter system and the items commonly exchanged.
Explain how different forms of currency, such as cowries, gold dust, manillas and gold bars, developed to replace or supplement barter.
Analyse the reasons for the emergence and growth of the Trans-Saharan trade and its role as a major external trade route.
Evaluate the effects of the Trans-Saharan trade on African kingdoms and the factors that led to its eventual decline.
Discuss the legacies of early African trade for contemporary issues such as fair trade and economic justice.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Production, Exchange and Creativity (Strand 6)
Sub-strand: Economic activities in Africa (6.1)
Content standard: 1.6.1.CS.1 - Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of earliest domestic and external forms of trade in Africa 1.6.1.LO.1 Use historical sources to analyse earliest domestic and external forms of trade in Africa
Indicator: 1.6.1.LI.1 - Examine the origin and development of earliest domestic and external forms of trade in Africa
Suggested placement: Semester 2, Week 5 (Week 25 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.
Source document note: The official curriculum document has a fault in this entry, so the curriculum text above is transcribed exactly as printed:

content standard text - p.42: the content standard code is printed 1.6.1CS.1 without the required dot before CS; normalised to 1.6.1.CS.1 for import, the intended code being unambiguous
Curriculum reference: NaCCA curriculum document, p. 42

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

Talk for learning: In a think-pair share activity, learners discuss the nature of trade in pre-colonial Africa, e.g., the forms of exchanges (barter), adoption of different legal tenders, items of trade
Problem-based learning: Learners form hypothesis to examine domestic/internal trade and external/long-distance trade that existed in pre-colonial Africa
Cooperative learning: In a fishbowl activity, learners discuss the reasons for the emergence of the Trans- Saharan trade
Technology-enhanced learning:
- In mixed-ability groups, learners create multimedia presentations on the effects of the Trans-Saharan Trade on African kingdoms
- Learners research on the factors responsible for the decline of the Trans-Saharan Trade
Collaborative learning:
- In mixed-ability groups, learners discuss the legacies of early African trade on contemporary issues like fair trade and economic justice
- In small groups, learners develop charts showing advocacy skills to promote responsible and equitable trade practices
Teaching and Learning Resources:
- Pictures/documentaries showing the
- Pictures of different forms of early nature of trade in pre-colonial
- Africa
- currencies such as cowry, gold dust,
- Stationery gold bars, etc.
- Internet access
- Computer/Laptop, Projector
Assessment (1.6.1.AS.1). The document marks these depth-of-knowledge levels for this indicator: Level 2 Skills of conceptual understanding; Level 3 Strategic reasoning.