Activity 1
Debate: Have a look at the science modules below. Having researched either individually, in groups or as a class, set up a debate on the pros and cons of locally sourced food. If we lived in a huge area, like many of the countries in Africa, would we have to accept having only locally sourced food?
Activity 2
Language for a purpose: Shortage of water is one of the most desperate needs of the people Seeds for Africa helps. Can you think of 10 ways in which we could save water and then choose one of them as a focus for a poster design?
Activity 3
Poetry:
Read the poem below and use it as a framework for a poem of your own about water and food shortage in Africa. Xerxes Buyeto is a pupil in a Kenyan school. This is her poem.
LOOK AT ME
Look at me I say, Look at me.
You may think I know all the trees but I don't.
It is because my parents have cut down all the trees-
Like KUMUFUTU. which has very sweet fruits.
KUMUKHENDU which is very beautiful.
KUMUKHOLONDO Which has good medicine.
I say look at me.
Look at me I say, look at me.
You may think I know all the birds but I don't.
It is because my parents have cut down all the trees and the birds have disappeared.
Like NG'OLI which is very beautiful.
Like ENGICHOLIO which wakes me up in the morning.
Like EMANDE which sings a nice song at night.
I say look at me.
Look at me I say, look at me.
You may think I know all the fishes but I don't.
It is because my parents have cut down all the trees and the rivers have dried up And the fishes have disappeared.
Like MUD FISH which is our natural fish.
Like TILAPIA which has sweet meat.
But now I eat expensive OMENA which is brought from Lake Victoria.
I say look at me.
Look at me I say, look at me.
You may think I know the taste of honey but I don't.
It is because my parents have cut down all the trees and the bees have disappeared.
Now parents let us plant trees so we keep bees
And have honey as our food.
I say look at me.
Look at me I say, look at me.
You may think I enjoy air but I don't.
It is because my parents have cut down all the trees and the air is dirty.
Now parents let us plant trees so
We can enjoy clean air and long life!
Look at me I say and look at me again!
Activity 4
Letter writing:
Write a letter to an African child describing a day in your school life. Try to be very detailed about describing your classroom and the facilities in the school. In your letter, ask questions about life in their school.
Many of the children we work with have only one meal a day. If your school is going to raise money to help we could twin you with a school and you could send your letter to an African friend!
Activity 5
Story writing:
In Africa, history and cultural traditions are usually passed down through generations by storytelling. The tales of great adventures and exciting or funny experiences are told to one another and kept to pass on to future generations.
Find a real family story or maybe create one of your own and write it so that it can be passed on to future generations of your family – maybe your own children when you are older!