Understanding how Politics has Shaped the Environmental Structures within Malawi, Africa, and the Connection to The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Christie Johnson, Exceptional Children, Northridge Middle

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

Synopsis

Middle school students are naturally curious about everything that is happening around them, and through my unit, I plan to help spark that curiosity in my students. I am a middle school exceptional children’s inclusion teacher, and my English Language Arts (ELA) classes are responsible for helping students learn and understand various cultures and how past events have impacted various countries centuries later. With this curriculum unit, I plan to help my students gain a wealth of knowledge about how human choices have impacted the social, economic and geographical wealth in various African countries. Through this unit, I will make a connection between the history of Africa and the social impact and economic impacts that are having an everlasting impression on various African countries today. With this curriculum unit, I plan to help my students gain a wealth of knowledge about the human impact on our environment and to make the connection between economic power, politics and scientific developments within the African country of Malawi. I will make a connection between the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and the impact that scientific developments have had on Malawi. To accomplish this goal, I will use a variety of teaching strategies that will engage students through hands-on activities.