African Plant Explorer Activity Book
This book features five hands-on activities designed for 8-to
12-year-olds. Each activity includes one 30-to 60-minute project and
extensions. Activities can be used in any order. Also included are objectives
and learning outcomes, assessment questions, ideas for a presentation
or exhibit and topics for further investigation.
Table of Contents
Everyday Poisons ACTIVITY ONE
Watch a video about scientist Fatimah Jackson and then discover the
poisons in everyday foods.
Learning Outcomes:Youth develop an understanding of the work of a scientist
and of the abilities needed to do scientific inquiry.
Investigating Starch ACTIVITY TWO
Examine the chemical properties of starch.
Learning Outcomes:Youth develop an understanding of energy, food, and
personal health.
African Arts ACTIVITIES THREE
& FOUR
Use cassava to batik African symbols onto cloth. This is a two-day activity.
Learning Outcomes:Youth compare and contrast daily life in different
cultures,considering aspects such as communication,technology,and cultural
conditions.
Green Travelers ACTIVITY FIVE
Explore the world travels of everyday foods.
Learning Outcomes:Youth develop an understanding of living things and
environments and identify and describe past and present contributions
of people from diverse cultures.
Pulling It All Together
Create a story about a scientist who works with the chemicals in plants.
Learning Outcomes:Youth draw on what they have learned in the activities
to construct their own understanding of what it means to be a scientist.
New Wonders
Here are some ideas you might like to use for projects or exhibits.
Learning Outcomes:Youth develop an understanding of science and technology
in society and of science as a human endeavor.
Permission is given
to educators to reproduce these pages for classroom and training purposes
only.