Back to Unit Design Databank Index

Back to ALA Teachers' Forum

Art and Life in Africa Project

Unit Design Databank

Title/Lesson/Theme: Correlation of Women's Role in Society to Women's Role in Political Authority

Designed By: Tas Anthony

Grade level/Discipline: Secondary Social Studies

Estimated Time: 3 or more days

TSWBA to identify themes surrounding central authority in Africa

TSWBA to develop a thesis regarding the role of African women in political power and authority.

TSWBA to defend their thesis by the use of visual and verbal material.

TSWBA to draw a significant oral conclusion based on findings.

Description/Background:

Political power, both narrow and broad definitions, in the West is characterized by dominance in the economic, social, and /or geographic order. This is unlike African central authority which relies essentially upon contributions made toward the continuance of society. Having a significant role in social life, it is safe to assume women have a powerful role in African politics as well. The students will need to speculate as to the degree and type of female authority in African societies and attempt to validate their speculations.

• Break the classroom into pairs or groups of three.
• Ask the class to give suggestions for a theme to use in order to focus the investigation of the role of African women and power.
• List ideas on the board explaining that the theme needs to be broad enough to cover the topic and focused enough to tell us something.
• The teacher should guide the class toward a workable theme that will help develop a thesis relating the role of women in society to political power .
• For example: Central authority in Africa has been instigated for the continuance of society through contributions to the reproduction and regeneration of that society.
• Ask students after they have read the material to write a newspaper headline based on material from their readings regarding the role of women in society and political power.
• Ask students how their headlines could be interpreted as arguable theses regarding the degree of authority women have in African political life.
• Solicit suggestions from class.
• Each thesis will need to be reviewed to make certain that students have workable thesis.
• Students are then asked to create a presentation validating their position by interpreting the art and commentary presented in the CD sections. This may be done in any of the following forms:

  A. An oral presentation

  B. Computer-based presentation-i.e. PowerPoint presentation

  C. In written form using visuals

• As a conclusion, assign students to prepare an oral brief as to the relationship between their (each group) findings and the theme.

Assignment in CD (essays, chapters):

Chapter: Governance and Social Order: Introduction, Art and Central Power, Women and Political Power

none

Vocabulary: Define in context of CD material or by teacher in discussion

Criteria needs to be established by teacher for each form of presentation and oral conclusions based on objectives.

CD Chapter and pertinent "resources" in CD