Emergence of Complex States and… · SHS3 History

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: 3.2.1.LI.2 - Assess the factors leading to the emergence of earliest African states and kingdoms.

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Identify at least four earliest African states and kingdoms and locate them on an ancient African map.
Explain how environmental and geographical features such as water bodies, fertile land, and mineral deposits contributed to the emergence of earliest African states.
Assess the role of agriculture, trade, and leadership in the growth and expansion of earliest African kingdoms.
Evaluate the combined effect of multiple factors in the rise of a specific African state, using evidence from historical sources.
Present a group-based argument ranking the most influential factors that led to state formation in ancient Africa.

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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.2 - Assess the factors leading to the emergence of earliest African states and kingdoms.
Suggested placement: Semester 1, Week 6 (Week 6 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. 106

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

Enquiry Routes: How did earliest Africans control nature? How did the earliest humans transit from a nomadic to sedentary lifestyle? What were some of the earliest African states and kingdoms? What factors accounted for the growth and expansion of the earliest African kingdoms? How did earliest Africans advance in technology and agriculture?
Project-Based Learning:
- Using the Internet or standard textbooks, learners explore how the earliest human transitioned from nomadism to sedentary lifestyle in Africa?
- In pairs, learners discuss the effects of sedentary lifestyle on the earliest humans in Africa?
- Using an ancient African map, learners trace some earliest states and kingdoms in Africa.
- In small groups, learners create a chart/ mind map on environmental/ geographical features ( water bodies, landforms, fertile land, forest reserves, mineral deposits, etc.) that contributed to the emergence of earliest African states.
- Using scenarios from any African state/kingdom, learners create a multimedia presentation on how environmental features contributed to the rise and growth of that state/kingdom. E.g., presence of the Nile River, fertile soil, landforms, etc. helped the growth of the Ancient Egyptian kingdom.
Collaborative Learning:
- In a jigsaw activity, learners examine how agriculture complemented the growth of earliest states and kingdoms in Africa.
- In a mixed ability group, learners discuss how trading activities led to the growth and expansion of earliest African states and kingdoms.
Experiential Learning:
- In small groups, learners re-enact the role of great African leaders (women and men), in building earliest states and kingdoms.
- Learners watch documentaries or embark on Virtual Field Trip (VFT) to appreciate the role of artistic expressions and religion in the development of earliest African states and kingdoms.
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.2). The document marks these depth-of-knowledge levels for this indicator: Level 2 Skills of conceptual understanding; Level 3 Strategic reasoning; Level 4 Extended critical thinking and reasoning.