How Were Griots Important in the History of West Africa?

Some of what we know about the civilizations of West Africa comes to us from stories and information passed down by griots, or storytellers. The griot was an important part of West African civilizations. 

What can be learned from a Modern Day Griot?

Historian Career Task
You have been hired by a textbook company to create a diagram showing the layout of the capital city of Ghana during the medieval period.  Your diagram should show the location of different structures and places in the city. You should use clear symbols and a key to help the student viewer to understand the information presented.  Also use labeling when helpful.

Oral Tradition and Storytelling in Ghana

Some people and events in a legend might be unverifiable. However, a legend can still contain historical facts that can be used to piece together an account of the past. As you read "The Legend of Ouagadou-Bida," look for examples of people, events, and places that could be verified. In particular, look for possible evidence that could be used in your diagram of the city of Ghana.

"The City of Ghana" by Al-Bakri
Now you will read and analyze a primary source by Al-Bakri. Remember, in order to determine a source's reliability, you must consider:

• Sourcing: What do we know about the author that would make him or her an accurate source of information?
• Bias: Is the author using the language of opinion or mostly presenting facts?
• Corroboration: Are there other documents that corroborate the evidence in this document? Do other documents contradict this source?

The Salt-Gold Trade in Ghana

Ghana Review

Although the kingdom of Ghana produced neither salt nor gold, its location in the center of the trade route made it an excellent trading location for people from the north and south. The leaders of Ghana profited from the trade by charging a tax from the salt and gold traders.

Today you will learn more about the salt-gold trade and how it was carried out. Please open and complete The Salt-Gold Trade document in your Social Studies folder.
Quick Ghana Review

Mining for Salt
Salt mining continues in the Sahara Desert today. How is the salt excavated? What are the challenges of salt mining and trading? Please respond in the comment box below.



Use Google slides to create a presentation that educates the viewer about how salt and gold were traded using the "silent barter" process. Be sure to answer these questions in your presentation.

Slide One:  "Silent Barter in Medieval Ghana"
                

Slide Two: Where did the salt come from? Why was salt so valuable? 


Slide Three: Where did the gold come from? Why did people want gold?


Slide Four: Where did the salt and gold traders meet to conduct their trade? What did the Kingdom of Ghana provide for the traders?


Slide Five: What were the specific procedures for trading?


Slide Six: How did Ghana benefit from the trade?


Be sure to use images on each slide that assist the view and support the information presented.

Usa imagenes en cada parte de su presentacion.

The Tale of Genji

Write a Romantic Scene Set in Feudal Japan

One of the world's first novels was written during Japan's Golden Age.
The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu tells the story of handsome Prince Genji and his many love interests.

Write your own historical fiction romantic scene between Genji and his love interest. Your scene should include dialogue and other narrative techniques.


Your scene should have an accurate historical and geographical setting that is described with sensory detail. You can select from one of the following:




You can review narrative techniques here:

Haiku Poetry

What is a Haiku?
View the short video to experience five haiku poems by the father of haiku, Matsuo Basho. As you read the poems, you will notice Basho's use of juxtaposition, or contrast.

What is being juxtaposed, or contrasted, in each poem?


1. Conduct a quick search to find out how to write a haiku.
2. Search for: Haiku by Basho. Read at least ten different haiku poems by Basho. Find one you like. Copy and paste that Haiku by Basho in the Google classroom stream.

3.  Compose your own original haiku. Publish it on the wall below.

Created with Padlet

Historian Career Task: Samurai Presentations

Today you will present and view the Samurai presentations. Your audience will be providing you with feedback on your presentation skills.  

Be Prepared:

1. View the evaluation form below.

2. Watch the short video on good and bad presentations.  Share with your partner three "don'ts" of a good presentation.



3. Go over each slide, one-by-one, to do any final edits or revisions.

4. Take 15 minutes to practice presenting in your group. Remember, you should not just be reading from the slides. 

Evaluation Form:

View the summary of results.  Write a statistic about our presentation skills on the Padlet Wall. What does the data tell us about our presentation skills? 

Historian Career Task: Research Presentation for Movie Production

Samurai in the Movies

Akira Kurosawa is considered to be one of the best and most influential filmmakers ever. One of his most famous films is The Seven Samurai. This film has been translated into many languages and is loved by people from all over the world.



Historian Career Task:

A Hollywood production company plans to make new samurai movie. It will be historical fiction, meaning the movie should be realistic and incorporate historical facts about the samurai.

You have been hired to research the samurai and create a presentation for the:

• Screenwriter;
• Costume Designers;
• Set Designers.

The goal is to make the movie historically accurate.

1. View the slide presentation to get an overview of your task.
2. You will be working with a partner on this task: red-blue
                                                                                  yellow-green.



Red and Yellow Only: Please make a copy of the presentation. Share the copy "can edit" with your partner.

Religion in Medieval Japan

Buddhism and Shintoism in Medieval Japan

The Japanese Creation Story

As we learned earlier, Buddhism traveled to Japan from Korea.

 But the Japanese people already had their own native religion: 
Shintoism. Although Buddhism became widely adopted, the Japanese people still held on to their Shinto beliefs and practices as well. 

Shinto Gate

1.As you view the two short videos, take notes on the Religion Chart. 

2. Research three additional facts about religion in Japan. 
Shintoism
Buddhism


3. Create a Google drawing that educates your viewer about ONE of the two religions. (Pick either Buddhism or Shintoism.) Be sure to use words and images to show:
Three main beliefs of this religion.
Three main practices of this religion. Remember, a practice is what people DO as part of this religion. 
Two Shrines: holy or sacred places in this religion.