Black History Month 2021

It is no secret that I create our team's Black History Month lessons. Incorporating black history into my lessons is something I strive for year round, but honouring it during February is equally important right now as well. You can see where I've discussed this matter before: here. I wanted to share what I've done this year because it is different than what I've done in the past, incorporates brand new material, includes history you may not be aware of, and considers how we do this during the time of Covid. I hope you enjoy. 

Disclaimer: These materials were created using free and fair use resources and are not for sale, but are available as I have shared them below. I have credited everyone I can in the Resources portion of this post. Additionally, you may find some errors in my writing. Please let me know by emailing me. Unless otherwise specified all video, audio, and stories are written by me. 

Considerations

This year's theme was ancient connections to Africa. I wanted to look at history and include things many students may not learn in their history courses or, potentially, ever. 

I also wanted to make sure this was accessible for my students. I am teaching concurrently in person and digitally, so I needed a resource that would work for both and I also wanted to encourage exploration. I've also included a section at the bottom of this post about how I adapted it for my vision student. 

So, I decided to make digital/bitmoji classrooms for each lesson. They are made for students to explore as a group or on their own, whichever the teacher decides and they are made to, hopefully, inspire questions and thoughts about why we only hear one side of the story and see how our world connects to ancient Africa. 

Below I've detailed each week. I am in the process of making some, so this post will be updated as I do that. What you will find in each is a brief introduction, a list of materials included and what to click on to access them, and then a link to the digital classroom. 
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If you decide to use these lessons with your students, please give credit to mater monstrorum or Miriam Patrick. Additionally, let me know how it goes :)

Week 01 - Carthago

Another not so secret secret is that I love Carthage.  So, it should come as no surprise that we started here. The question was, how do I fit so much awesome into one day?!? Carthage is a good starting place because it is something that many students learn about in Latin or in their world history classes. I also felt comfortable starting here as I am familiar with Carthage and the other topics were all relatively new. 

Resources Included:

1. Click on the map to see a Google Maps image of Carthage today. 
2. Click on the window to go to a crossword puzzle that goes over the included story. 
3. Click on the image of Hannibal to be taken to a Fakebook profile for Hannibal. 
4. Click on the quote to be taken to a blooket game that goes over the vocabulary for the story.
5. Click on the bookshelf to see the story itself!
6. Click on the plants to see fast facts about Carthage
7. Click on the rug to be taken to Google's Arts and Culture presentation on modern day Tunisia.

Link to Classroom on Carthage

Week 02 - The Ivory Bangle Lady

CW: mention of wh*t* s*pr*m*c*sts

While searching for notable people from Africa that appear in Roman history, an article on the archeological find of the Ivory Bangle Lady came up. Up until this point (AKA January 2021), I had never heard of her, seen anything about her on the various Latin groups I'm in, etc. Her story, while incomplete, is fascinating and turns what has long been the Classic line about the Classical world on its head - so much so that wh*t* s*pr*m*c*sts are incredibly angered by this find and its importance in the ancient Roman world.

Resources Included:

1. Click on the banner to see fast facts about the Ivory Bangle Lady and African culture in Roman Britain.
   
2. Click on the bone on the chalkboard to be taken to the inscription the Ivory Bangle Lady was found with. 
   
3. Click on the plant to be taken to this week's vocabulary game. 
   
4. Click on the open book to see this week's story.
   
5. Click on the window to see a map of Yorkshire. 
   
6. Click on the rug to learn about the Ancient site where this lady was found. 
   
7. Click on the paintbrush in the chalkboard to be taken to this week's discussion. 

Link to the Classroom on the Ivory Bangle Lady

Week 03 - The Garamantes

I chose the Garamantes because I wanted to find a group that had power and an empire that riveled Rome that may be unknown to many. Enter: The Garamantes. They are mentioned a few times in Roman literature: Pliny the Elder and Livy both mention them briefly. Lucan also mentioned them. Their empire lasted about as long as Rome's did and fell in the same century. The Garamantes maintained relationships with (if tumultuous) Rome, Aethiopia (enemies), and Carthage. 

Resources Included:

1. Click on the snow flakes to see fast facts about the Garamantes.
2. Click on the bookshelf to see this week's story (it's a song!)
3. Click on the poster to be taken to the comprehension game for this story.
4. Click on the snow globe to see a Google Maps image of Lake Chad. 
5. Click on the mug to see Google's Art and Culture presentation on modern day Libya. 
6. Click on the fireplace to see this week's discussion board.
7. Click on the chair to hear a reading of the song in Latin. 
8. Click on the rug to play this week's vocabulary game. 

Link to the Classroom on the Garamantes

Week 04 - The Beachy Head Lady

Another amazing archeological find, the Beachy Head Lady (found in Essex, England) was a Sub-Saharan African woman about whom little is known. What has been discovered is that her body/bones were in very good and well kept condition, suggesting a comfortable life in some aspects. She provides context to the ancient world of Africa that is often missing from the world of Classics.

Resources include:

1. Click on the paper at the top right of the chalkboard to play a game comparing the Beachy Head Lady to the Ivory Bangle Lady.
2. Click on the large white paper with Ms. Patrick's face to see fast facts.
3. Click on the clock to see a jigsaw puzzle (may or may not work depending on account limits).
4. click on the top bookshelf to see the story.
5. Click on the bottom bookshelf to play some comprehension games. 
6. Click on the computer desk to play a vocabulary game.
7. Click on the globe to see where the Beachy Head Lady was found. 

Link to the classroom on the Beachy Head Lady

Accommodations for Vision Students

This year we have vision students in our Latin I program. Some of our students are in person and some are digital, so we've worked out ways we'll get these materials to our students. Here are some accommodations I made:

1. Record all stories as audio. Some are provided in the links, others were sent to the students
2. Provide copies of the story as a .doc/.docx (for braille readers) and embossed in braille. 
3. Use gimkit or blooket for games to provide accessibility.
4. Turn other games and activities into word documents
5. Take oral input from the student and the teacher enters into the discussion for them. 
6. Provide writing alternatives to drawing (if applicable)
7. Provide written picture descriptions for images used. 

Resources used:

A Broad Abroad (2013). Ancient Carthage, resort towns, foreign investment & media: The first few days in Tunisia. Retrieved from: https://abroadabroadtravel.com/2013/01/15/ancient-carthage-resort-towns-foreign-investment-media-the-first-few-days-in-tunisia/

Aleksangel. Big comfy armchair. Retrieved from: https://www.canstockphoto.com/big-leather-armchair-vector-illustration-48772565.html​

BBC (2014). Centuries old beachy head lady's face revealed. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-25962183

Leach, S., Eckardt, H., Chenery, C., Muldner, D., & Lewis, M. (2009). A lady of York: Migration, ethnicity, and identity in Roman Britain. Retrieved from: https://www.academia.edu/230134/A_Lady_of_York_migration_ethnicity

Millenial Boss. (2019). 17 inspirational quotes to motivate you to achieve your goals. Retrieved from: https://millennialboss.com/inspirational-quotes-to-motivate-you-to-achieve-your-goals/

Pinterest. Mosaic with hunting scenes: Garmantes. Retrieved from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/300474606373887849/

Otus (2021). Retrieved from: https://otus.com/

Quain, J. M.D. (1854). A series of anatomical plates bone plate. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jones_Quain#/media/File:A_Series_of_Anatomical_Plates_Bones_Plate_24.jpg

Susannp4. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/window-wooden-windows-open-1202902/

Washington, J. (2018). Did you know Hannibal was black? retrieved from: https://urbanintellectuals.com/know-hannibal-carthage-black/

Wikipedia (2010). Book3. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Book3.svg​

Yorkshire Museums and Gallery Trust (2021). Ivory Bangle Lady. Retrieved from: https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/collections/collections-highlights/ivory-bangle-lady/