Patel Center for Global Solutions
University of South Florida
Global Schools Project
Title
Aids in Africa Epidemic
Concept/Main Idea of Lesson
This lesson deals with highlighting the epidemic of AIDS in Africa that has affected millions
and continues to do so. Also, this lesson will focus on how the problem has continued to
spread throughout the continent.
Intended Grade Level
This lesson is geared for high school students in grades 9-12.
Infusion/Subject Area(s)
World History, Global Studies, Economics
National Curriculum Standards
NCSS Standards:
--IX: Global Connections: “Social studies programs should include
experiences that provide for the study of global
connections and interdependence.”
I.
Instructional Objective
The students will:
-analyze the reasons that have allowed AIDS to continue to spread rapidly
throughout the continent.
-analyze the epidemic from the perspective of a woman from Kenya who has had to
endure the pain of not only seeing family members die of AIDS, but she is also a
victim of AIDS as well.
-apply their recently acquired knowledge concerning the problem of AIDS in Africa to
analyzing what can be done both domestically and internationally to combat AIDS.
II.
Learning Activities Sequence
a.
Set Induction:
I will begin the lesson by having the students listen to the song, “Crumbs From
Your Table” by U2 (The students would also have a copy of the lyrics to follow
along with the song). After listening to the song, we would discuss what they
believe the message is that U2 is trying to convey through this song. After
getting their responses, we would also discuss what some of the current
problems affecting other nations in the world might be.
After compiling this list, I would direct the students to the problem of AIDS in
Africa and discuss some of the basic reasons that have allowed AIDS to
continue to spread rapidly in the continent. I would also question them on
what they believe should be done to combat AIDS in the region.
b.
Learning Activities:
I will have the students read Bono’s speech together as a class (“A Chance
for Real Change in Africa”). After completing the reading, have the class
discuss what the message was that Bono was trying to convey concerning the
people of Africa. I will have the students support their responses with
references to the article itself.
After discussing the speech, I will give the students a blank outline map of
Africa where they will be labeling and coloring the countries. In addition, and
more importantly for this activity, I will give the students a list of 11 African
nations. From these countries, I will have the students list to the side of the
map the following information:
Average life expectancy in 11 African Countries (age in years)
Country
Before AIDS 2010
Angola
41.3 35.0
Botswana
74.4 26.7
Lesotho
67.2 36.5
Malawi
69.4 36.9
Mozambique
42.5 27.1
Namibia
68.8 33.8
Rwanda
54.7 38.7
South Africa
68.5 36.5
Swaziland
74.6 33.0
Zambia
68.6 34.4
Zimbabwe
71.4 34.6
(http:www.avert.org/aidsimpact.htm)
I will also have the students subtract the 2010 life expectancy from the “Before AIDS”
life expectancy. The negative number that they arrive at will be placed on the
country on the map to represent how many years are lost by the average citizen of
each of these nations due to AIDS.
After approximately 30 minutes to complete the map, I will further question the
students on what should be done to combat the disease in the region. After
discussing this with the students, I would direct them to a website where they will be
introduced to three teenagers growing up in different parts of Africa. From this
website, the students will be participating in a web quest, where they will become
familiar with how these three teenagers live their lives in spite of the AIDS epidemic
that has plagued their continent.
At the website, http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/globalcafe/peacecorps/kenya/kenya_sylvia1.html
the students will read about a young girl named Sylvia who lives in Kenya. The
students will read the 4 sections of Sylvia’s interview and will fill in the graphic
organizer with their responses from what they have discovered about AIDS in
Sylvia’s location in Kenya. When the students finish their findings for Sylvia, I will
direct the students to another account of AIDS in Africa. This time, the students will
be discovering how the epidemic has ravaged the country of Lesotho. The website
for the first student in Lesotho is a young girl named Maphophi.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/globalcafe/peacecorps/lesotho/lesotho_maphophi1.html.
From this website, the students will continue completing the graphic organizer for the
three sections of questions concerning Maphophi’s life in Lesotho. In addition, after
completing the questions for Maphophi, the students will then view the life of another
young woman from Lesotho named Nthabiseng Lebeko
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/globalcafe/peacecorps/lesotho/lesotho_nthabiseng1.html.
(If computer access is not possible for classes, the web quest can also be
accomplished by the teacher going to these websites and printing the necessary
sections.)
Closure: After completing the graphic organizer for these three young women in
Africa, I will have a class discussion to gauge what the students have learned about
the living situations for these women and their families and see how AIDS has
negatively impacted their countries. In addition, based on their perceptions, we
would revisit the lyrics of the song, and as we are listening to the lyrics again, I would
ask the students to individually brainstorm what they believe could potentially be
done to improve the situation.
III.
Evaluation
After this, I will divide the class into groups of 2-3. In these groups, the students will
be collaborating to create a poster that identifies what they believe should be done to
combat the situation in Africa. On the poster, they will be creating a visual that
symbolizes the struggle that the continent is facing. In addition, the posters will also
include: at least three reasons that have allowed the problem to persist, at least two
to three ways that the problem can be addressed, and who should shoulder the
burden of helping these African nations combat AIDS and why. Also, in one
paragraph, the students should conclude with their overall assessment of the
situation.
IV.
Materials and Resources
Handout 1: Lyrics for “Crumbs from Your Table”
Handout 2: Bono’s Speech “A Chance for Real Change in Africa”
Handout 3: Blank Outline Map of Africa
V.
References
Avert.org. “The Impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa. http://www.avert.org/aidsimpact.htm
DebtAIDS Trade Africa (DATA). Bono’s Debt Relief Organization: “A Chance for Real
Change in Africa” Speech by Bono at the Labour Party Annual Conference.
Brighton Centre. September 29, 2004
NewsHour: A NewsHour with Jim Lehrer special for students. “Global Café: A Place to
Share World Views”.
http://pbs.org/newshour/extra/globalcafe/peacecorps/kenya/kenya_sylvia1.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/globalcafe/peacecorps/lesotho/lesotho_maphophi1.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/globalcafe/peacecorps/lesotho/lesotho_nthabiseng1.html
U2. Album: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Lyrics to “Crumbs from your table”.
2004. Interscope Records. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/u2/crumbsfromyourtable.html
WorldAtlas.com Blank Outline Map of Africa.
http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/printpage/afoutline.htm
VI.
Additional Suggested Readings
UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. UNAIDS, June 2004.
http://www.unaids.org/bangkok2004/GAR2004_pdf/UNAIDSGlobalReport2004_en.pdf
AIDS in Africa. Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress, May 2003.
http://www.ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/03Jun/IB10050.pdf
VII.
Internet Links
http://www.vh1.com/partners/vh1_music_studio/supplies/specials/monster-lesson5.html
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/fyi/lesson.plans/04/19/africa.aids/
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/fyi/lesson.plans/04/19/africa.aids/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/africa/03/aids_debate/html/default.stm