“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”
~Maya Angelou
Just the other day, my son and I were watching my niece’s soccer game and when it got over, music began to play over the speakers. The song “This Time for Africa” by Shakira came on and it brought back fun memories because in the weeks leading up to our trip to Africa, I would blast that song and sing it to my kids as we were driving places. They loved that :)
As I think about our trip, I feel like I have gained two main takeaways. LOTS of others, but these are the MAIN two.
#1 - Traveling is an incredible journey that opens our hearts and minds to new people, places, and ways of life. When we step outside our comfort zones and visit new places, we immerse ourselves in different cultures, flavors, traditions, and ways of life. This exposure fosters empathy, broadens our perspectives, and challenges our preconceived notions. By sharing stories with locals, embracing new customs, and tasting the unique cuisines of each destination, we learn to appreciate the beauty in diversity. Traveling not only enriches our understanding of the world but also allows us to connect with others on a deeper level. Travel experiences can shape you into a more open-minded and compassionate individual and I really want all that for my kids.
And #2 - Traveling provides rich, hands-on learning experiences that a textbook simply can't match. Actually being able to see a place or a historical landmark rather than just reading about it in a textbook is so much more significant. Coming face-to-face with a giraffe or zebra is unforgettable. Merely reading about them in a science book isn’t that memorable. Seeing sights and animals and people in person makes you appreciate them SO much more. By venturing beyond the pages of a book, you gain invaluable insights that stay with you for a lifetime, making every journey a powerful lesson in understanding the world and its people.
Now I realize not everyone can just go to Africa to learn about lions and tigers. But even field trips to local museums or hands-on learning experiences like trips to the grocery store, the bank, the humane society, or the police station are noteworthy memories that will stick with kids long after they’ve put their textbooks away.
So take advantage of homeschooling and get out there and explore your town, your state, your country, and the world!
The first few pictures below show how we were exposed to the different culture and lifestyles in Tanzania. We learned how people live, dress, what they eat, what their homes are like, how they make a living, about the weather and land.
The rest of the pictures are of the Great Migration, which is when over a million wildebeests and hundreds of thousands of zebras, gazelles, and other animals follow the rains to fresh grazing lands in the Serengeti and Maasai Mara. The migration is marked by the dramatic river crossings. We watched the wildebeests pace back and forth along the river bank for hours looking for just the right time and place to jump. Just as we were settling in to eat our sack lunch in the jeep, one wildebeest went for it and the rest began to follow so we ditched our lunch and our jeep driver drove like a mad-man to find us the perfect spot to watch!
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Are you studying Africa?
Bring the rich and diverse cultures of Africa into your classroom with this immersive learning adventure!
No African safari can be done without a jeep, so this activity starts off with the students designing their own jeep and coming up with a name for their tour guide company. Students will then begin their safari by driving all around the continent of Africa, learning about the top ten must-see destinations. Teachers will place informational posters around the room, allowing your students to move around as they learn about each place. As they explore the classroom, visiting each poster, they’ll discover fascinating facts about Africa’s geography, history, and natural wonders, all while developing their reading and comprehension skills. At each stop they will answer questions about that place in their packet.
These questions practice skills such as:
cause and effect
summarizing
main idea and details
context clues
adjectives
proper nouns
reading comprehension
apostrophe usage
The top ten places they will visit include:
Victoria Falls
The Serengeti National Park
Masai Mara National Park
Cape Town, South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Lake Retba, Senegal
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Zanzibar, Tanzania
The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Each poster is beautifully designed with stunning photos and engaging information that will captivate your students’ imaginations.
But the adventure doesn’t stop there! After gathering information from all ten posters, students will select their favorite destination and embark on a creative writing journey. Guided by structured prompts and organizers, they will craft a thoughtful paper that delves deeper into the place that inspired them the most. This exercise not only reinforces the knowledge they’ve acquired but also hones their research, writing, and critical thinking abilities—essential skills that will serve them well throughout their academic careers.
The final step of this exciting learning adventure is transforming their written work into a speech. Students will have the opportunity to share their findings with their classmates, building confidence in public speaking and fostering a collaborative learning environment.
This resource is more than just a lesson—it's a full-circle educational experience that brings Africa to life in your classroom. This is one learning adventure your students won't forget!
This fun activity requires little prep. Just print one set of posters and place them around your classroom. Print the packet for your students and they are ready to learn!
