Overview:

After studying the pandemic of HIV/AIDS on the continent of Africa, the students will be asked to research further to prepare themselves for their final assessment.   They will be given the choice of participating in a role-play, mock interview, newscast, writing an informative or persuasive speech, or a paper on the issue of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Objectives:

The students will be able to:

1. Research further into the issue of HIV/AIDS in Africa.
2. Teach peers in a small group setting about a person or organization central to HIV/AIDS in Africa.
3. Perform a role-play, mock interview, newscast, etc. for their peers.

Grade Level: 7-12

Time: 8- 47 minute periods

Subjects: Geography, Global Studies or Current Issues

Prerequisites:  Students are going to need background information on the issue of HIV/AIDS in Africa.  It is imperative that students know that there are more people in Africa that are living with HIV/AIDS than on any other continent and the political, social, and cultural reasons for this catastrophe.  They are also going to need to know whom some of Africa’s leaders and organizations are and how they play a role in the current issue of HIV/AIDS on the continent.

Required Materials

• Access to the Internet (or printed articles and stories from the Internet for those without access) for researching the assigned person/organization
• Attachment 3A made into a transparency (www.time.com.aidsinafrica.htm)
• “Influential Person/Organization” research questions (attachment 3B)
• Classroom set of laptop computers or computer lab access for in school research
• “Current Issue Analysis: Final Product” worksheet for all students (attachment 3C)
• List of helpful web sites (attachment 3D)
• Paper
• Something to write with
• Access to a video camera (out of school) if one plans on videotaping any of the performances
• TV and VCR to show videos made outside of school
• Computer and printer if one plans on writing a paper

Optional Technologies:

Suggested Procedure (Pedagogy):

Opening:  (Day 1- 15 minutes at the end of the period)  1.  Make attachment 3A into a transparency and put in on the overhead.  One by one go over the statistics given.  Assuming you have a class of about 30 students, explain that in South Africa 6 of them would be infected with HIV and statistically none of them would know it.  “How does that make you feel?  Would we be okay with those statistics if they were American statistics?  Why, then, don’t Africans do more about the problem?  (Lack of resources, money, education, government support, or fear due to cultural taboos)  What are some influential Africans or organizations currently doing to address the issue?”  2.  Each student will be assigned one of the following to research for the beginning of tomorrow’s lesson: Thabo Mbeki (President of South Africa), Robert Mugabe (President of Zimbabwe), Yoweri Museveni (President of Uganda), and the organization called Doctors Without Borders.  The questions to be answered are included on attachment 3B.  This is to be done at home.  Have some copies of articles taken from the list of web sites provided (attachment 3D) on these people or organization for those who do not have Internet access at home.  Students will need to be prepared at the beginning of the next class period.

(Day 2)  1.  Assign each student a small group to be in so that there is a representative for each person/organization assigned.  In the small groups the students will take turns sharing their answers to the questions given for about 15 minutes.  2.  I will go over the answers for each person/organization with the class and answer any questions.  3.  Pose the following question: “What can you do as an American student who may feel far removed from the issue?"  Discuss that EDUCATION is the key to making any kind of progress and each student’s goal in this activity is to educate others through a performance or a written paper.  4.  Pass out the “Current Issue Analysis: Final Product” worksheet (attachment 3C) to each student and go over the instructions together.   5.  Pass out list of helpful web sites (attachment 3D) to each student.  Explain that the next 3 days will be spent on the laptops (or in the lab) researching further to enhance your final product.  By class time tomorrow everyone should have chosen a partner or group of 3 to work with.  Students may choose to work alone on writing a paper or speech if they wish. 

(Days 3-5)  Students will be researching for their final product. Remind them daily to answer the questions provided on the assignment sheet and to check out the web sites given.  Walk around and check in with each group daily.

(Days 6-8)  Class presentations of final products.  Make sure to ask in advance if anyone is going to need a TV/VCR for his or her presentation so that there will be one on hand.

Credits

Anna Hoppe, 8th grade Geography teacher at Central Middle School, Eden Prairie, MN.