African Culture: Music and Dance

This engaging activity will have your students out of their seats as they work together to produce polyrhythmic music and then use two brief video lessons to attempt basic African dance moves. At the end, students watch two brief video clips of African toddlers dancing with the isolated body motions that the class just struggled to imitate. The form and function of music and dance in Africa are completely different from European-based cultures. So, the lesson provides valuable insights into contrasting cultures, increases global awareness, and provides a lot of laughs.

INCLUDED IN THIS LESSON:

➢ Complete Lesson Instructions

➢ Links to Dance Lesson Videos

➢ Link to Polyrhythmic Music Demonstration

➢ Links to Videos of African Children Dancing

➢ Student Handout

➢ Answer Key

➢ Common Core Alignment

FOR OTHER COMPELLING LESSONS ON CULTURE CONSIDER:

INDIGENOUS TRIBES - AN INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE

FOLKWAYS, MORES, LAWS, AND TABOOS: A GAME OF CULTURES AND CUSTOMS

WORLD GEOGRAPHY INTRODUCTORY TRIVIA COMPETITION

WORLD GEOGRAPHY DEMONSTRATION: CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND WEALTH DISPARITY

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS SIMULATION: POPULATION, CONSUMPTION, AND GLOBAL WARMING