This page provides summaries of primary classroom activities which relate to some of the six themes highlighted by the Commission for Africa report. Unless otherwise stated, the activities have been developed by Leeds Development Education Centre A link to the full details of each activity is provided and this is available in PDF format.

The activities have been designed for the upper primary age range, though many are also appropriate for lower secondary age students and are listed in the thematic classroom activities which can be found using the links above.

Governance

Talking Children’s Rights
An activity in which children explore what rights they think they should have and compare these with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is followed by a sorting activity to classify the rights in terms of Survival Rights, Protection Rights, Development Rights and Participation Rights. The discussion focuses on which of these rights are upheld and denied in both the UK and Africa.

This activity has been designed as a secondary classroom activity but may also be appropriate for upper primary. Click here for full details of the activity (105KB).

For the full text of the Convention on the Rights of the Child click here
For a summary of the Convention from UNICEF click here (PDF format 393KB).

Peace and Security

Wants and Needs
A prioritisation activity which has been designed to help pupils recognise the difference between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’. Working in groups, and starting with fourteen different wants and needs, the pupils have to discard the ones they think are less important ones until they are left with six they think are the most important. It is recommended that teachers run this activity before proceeding to Emma’s Story (see next activity). Click here for full details of the activity (55KB).

Emma’s Story
A sorting activity that uses the case study Emma’s Story (115KB) to explore the Rights of the Child. After reading the story the pupils have to group a selection of Children’s Rights and decide which of these rights were denied to Emma. The Commission for Africa stress the need to involve those groups that are usually marginalised, such as women and young people, in democratic processes and in the process of development. Click here for full details of the activity (58KB).

Investing in people

Why will 40 million children in Africa not be at school today?
A diamond ranking activity in which groups of pupils have to discuss and decide what they think are the most important reasons why 40 million children in Africa do not attend school. The statements used in this activity can be used to explore a range of reasons such as cultural, political and economic as well as challenging some prejudicial views. The Africa Commission stress the importance of education in the development of the continent and highlight that unfair trade, debt repayments and inappropriate aid are all acting against the provision of primary education for all. Click here for full details of this activity (76KB).

Education
A three part activity which explores the link between poverty and access to education; prioritises reasons why it is important to go to school; and uses the case study Emma’s Story (115KB) to compare the educational experiences of pupils in the UK with those of someone from Sierra Leone. Click here for full details of this activity (62KB).

New Pupil Brochure
An activity that uses the case study Emma’s Story (115KB) to explore what it feels like to move to a different place where everyone and everything is new. Based on their own experiences, and those of Emma, pupils make up a brochure for new pupils joining the class. Click here for full details of this activity (54KB).

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
An activity that uses the case study Jariatu’s Story (117KB) to explore the issue of the ‘brain drain’: the migration of trained and skilled people from Africa to more developed countries. After reading Jariatu’s Story groups of pupils consider reasons why Jariatu should stay in Sierra Leone and why she should move to the UK. The Commission for Africa express great concern that trained and skilled Africans are being enticed away from the continent to more developed countries and not contributing to the development of their own countries. Click here for full details of this activity (61KB).

Should Jariatu Stay or Go?
A further activity based on the case study Jariatu’s Story (117KB) in which pupils take on roles of people trying to persuade Jariatu to either stay in the UK or return to Sierra Leone. The rest of the class listen to the arguments and vote on whether they think Jariatu should stay or go. Click here for full details of this activity (69KB).

Water Conservation
A practical activity which explores the importance of water and identifies ways in which pupils can conserve water in their everyday life. The pupils are presented with five ‘clue scenarios’ which they have to use to work out how water can be saved and estimate how much can be saved. This is a useful introductory activity to the importance of water to people in Africa where access to clean water is a key health issue. This activity is developed from an original activity by David Wilde. Click here for full details of this activity (63KB).

Water and Cholera
This activity uses the case study Cholera in Benue State (57KB) to explore the effects of drinking polluted water. After reading the case study pupils work in pairs to match ‘problems’ that contribute towards water contamination with ‘solutions’ to improve the quality of water. The Commission for Africa report identifies unclean water as a major cause of premature death in Africa and one which can be easily prevented by investment in improving access to clean water. Click here for full details of this activity (60KB).

Growth and Poverty reduction

Frank Kapopo
An information gathering activity, based on the case study Frank Kapopo (113KB). It is designed to explore how small scale projects can reduce poverty levels in Africa. After reading the Frank Kapopo case study pupils use a worksheet to find out the benefits of small scale projects. The Commission for Africa stresses the need for economic growth to reach the poorest in society and that small scale projects are an effective way of reaching those in greatest need. Click here for full details of this activity.

Eco-tourism
A role play activity in which pupils have to decide whether a Tourist Safari Company should be allowed to build new tourist lodges in one of Kenya’s National Parks. An activity which is used in conjunction with the case study Ecotourism (217KB). The need for economic growth, the need to alleviate poverty and the impact on the environment are explored in making the decision. The Commission for Africa stresses the need for economic growth to reach the poorest whilst ensuring that the African environment is protected.

The activity is suitable for upper primary and secondary age ranges and the discussion generated by the activity can be adjusted to the ability of the class. Click here for full details of this activity (83KB).

Trade

World Trade
A mapping activity in which pupils find out the countries of manufacture of a range of goods and locate the countries on a world map. Using the information gathered the pupils explore which countries are involved in the production of which kind of products. The Commission for Africa identified that more trade with African countries would generate the income required to develop infrastructure and public services. Click here for full details of this activity (57KB).

We Can’t Eat Roses
A ranking activity that uses the case study Flower Growing in Kenya (152KB) to explore the benefits of Fair Trade. After reading the case study pupils rank a number of statements about the reasons for buying Fair Trade products. The Commission for Africa identified that more trade with African countries would generate the income required to develop infrastructure and public services. More Fair Trade would mean that the poorest communities in Africa would benefit. Click here for full details of this activity (62KB).