Africa Project

1. Africa Project “I AM” Poem

2. Africa Project“I AM” Poem Directions: You are going to pick a key historical person from Africa and write an “I AM” poem about them. An “I AM” poem is a poem about a person, a group of people or even an inanimate object which uses the ideas of emotions and senses. You will pick one of the following key historical people of Africa: Sundiata, Mansa Musa, or Askia the Great. You will research facts about your person, using the text book. Then, using the sentence stems below, you will write a rough draft of your poem. Your poem should be based on the facts from your research. (It doesn’t have to rhyme.) You will write your final copy on a blank white piece of paper, and you will decorate your paper with pictures of African things. (You can use pictures from Ch. 6 of your textbook as a guide.)

3. Africa Project -- “I AM” Poem Sentence Stems: I am I wonder I hear I see I feel I am I think I touch I worry I fear I cry I remember I am I understand I say I dream I try I hope I am

4. Africa Project“I AM” Poem Sample Poem. Next is a sample poem written about Santa Claus. See how the writer used the sentence stems to write sentences the way that Santa Claus might have written them, based on common knowledge about Santa.

5. “I AM” Poem – Santa Claus Sample I am Santa Claus, Giver of Christmas gifts. I wonder who has been naughty and nice. I hear the jingle of sleigh bells as the reindeer fly swiftly from town to town. I see miles and miles of rooftops and chimneys before me. I feel the cold winter’s night air on my cheeks and nose. I am Santa Claus, Giver of Christmas gifts. I think that I am lucky to have a job that brings joy to so many people. I touch my enormous belly as I laugh. I worry about making it to every house before dawn, even though I make it every year. I fear that all children will stop believing in me. I cry when I think of all the naughty children who will not be receiving a gift this Christmas. I remember to eat the cookies and drink the milk left for me by kind-hearted children. I am Santa Claus, Giver of Christmas gifts. I understand that different countries have different names for me. I say “HO HO HO,’ because my job gives me such joy. I dream of a day when ALL the children of the world will be good, and there is no naughty list. I try to make sure that I get everyone what they ask for, but sometimes that is too hard. I hope my gifts will bring joy to millions of kids on Christmas morning. I am Santa Claus, Giver of Christmas gifts.

6. Africa Project“I AM” Poem Information on the Kings of Africa: Sundiata Holt, Ch. 6 Section 2, pp. 136-138, Ch. 6 Section 4, p. 149, pp. 152-153. Mansa Musa Holt, Ch. 6 Section 2, p. 136, and pp. 138-141. Askia the Great Holt, Ch. 6 Section 3, pp. 144-145.

7. Project due date_________ September 29th

8. “I AM” Poem Rubric

9. “I AM” PoemAfrica Project Standard 7.4 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the Sub-Saharan civilizations of Ghana and Mali in Medieval Africa, in terms of: 1. The geographic features of northwest Africa and their influence on the salt for gold trade. 2. The role of trans-Saharan caravan trade in the spread of Islamic Influence in the region. 3. The importance of oral and written tradition in Africa.

10. A 90 and UpAn “I AM” poem that receives an A should have the following characteristics: • High quality of work, in both content and presentation. • Poem is colorful and attractive, with lots of African decorations. • Poem should show evidence of historical research. • Information is very detailed and accurate, and specific to the African king chosen. • Student’s work demonstrates understanding of the material. • The student’s poem has extra touches. • Poem is done on unlined paper.

11. B 80 to 89An “I AM” poem that receives an B should have the following characteristics: • Satisfactory quality of work, in both content and presentation. • Poem is colorful and attractive, with African decorations and/or pictures. • Poem should show evidence of historical research. • Information is accurate, and specific to the African king chosen. • Student’s work demonstrates understanding of the material. • Poem is done on unlined paper.

12. C 70 to 79An “I AM” poem that receives an C should have the following characteristics: • Quality of work is lacking, in both content and presentation. • Poem is somewhat colorful and attractive, with some African decorations and/or pictures. • Poem should show at least some evidence of historical research. • Information is not very detailed, or contains inaccuracies; it is hard to tell which king the poem is about. • Student’s work doesn’t always demonstrate understanding of the material. • Poem is done on unlined paper.

13. D 55 to 69An “I AM” poem that receives an D should have the following characteristics: • There are missing requirements; the poem is somewhat incomplete. • Poor quality of work, in both content and presentation. • Poem is not colorful and attractive, little or no African decorations and/or pictures. • Information is not very detailed, missing, or contains inaccuracies; it reads as if it was done without historical research. • Student’s work doesn’t demonstrate understanding of the material. • Poem is done on lined paper.

14. F 54 and BelowAn “I AM” poem that receives an F should have the following characteristics: • Incomplete – Any “I AM” African Poem receiving an F will count as a missing assignment.