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Igbo
Culture: Will Things Fall Apart?
A WebQuest for
10th Grade (Advanced English II)
Designed by
Noel Gnadinger
South Oldham
High School
[email protected]
Alusi
priest Ezekwem with figure of deity Eke.
Adazi Ani,
Nigeria. Photograph by Herbert M. Cole, 1966.
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page
Introduction
The year is 1891.
Colonialism is in full swing, and countries throughout Europe are
invading Africa. Several churches have sent missionaries into Africa,
and the British government wants to exploit natural resources in its
African colonies. But people fear venturing into "darkest
Africa," and some are arguing against any infringement on existing
societies. The British Commission on Colonization has gathered experts
in
history, cultural studies, and literature to study the existing Igbo
culture in Britain's newest colony. The result will be a series of
reports that will help the British government assess the level of
civilization of these savages as well as the possible effects of
colonization.
(In our study of Lord of
Flies, we discussed human
nature and the consequences when social constraints and
"civilization" are taken away. In Things
Fall Apart by Chinua
Achebe, we will explore the clash of two cultures, one "civilized" and
one savage. To understand the complexity
of the novel, we must first understand Igbo culture.)
You have been asked by
the British government to join the team of experts assessing Igbo
culture. You must ask yourself:
Can the Igbo people be considered "civilized" by Western standards?
What will happen to their culture if Europeans colonize their lands?
The Task
Using research you gather
from the Internet,
- Investigate one aspect
of Igbo culture.
- Create a multimedia
presentation to teach us about that aspect. Your presentation can be a
video, a PowerPoint, or an Inspiration presentation.
- Include some activity
for us to do as a class (crossword puzzle, note sheet, role playing
scenario, quiz, or whatever you decide).
The Process
The Commission on
Colonization has
divided the Igbo culture into 12 key areas for investigation.
1. You will choose your
topic from those listed
below and follow the guidelines to create your presentation. Your team
should
be determined by your interests.
2. Within your
group,
work together to find all necessary
information for the tasks. Use the KWL chart
to
take notes. Find out more about Informational Reading.
Necessary Information:
- definitions
and/or
explanations of all elements listed in the topic
- any
additional
information you deem relevant
- how
the element of
culture you investigate compares with Western (i.e., American or
British) culture -- be sure to include similarities and differences.
- Correct
citations for all print sources used in the presentation.
- Correct
citations for all multimedia used in the presentation.
3. Synthesize the
information into a coherent and interesting multimedia presentation.
- Presentations
should
include EITHER a PowerPoint,
an Inspiration
presentation, or a video.
- All
presentations must
include an additional visual
element that will be displayed in the room.
4. Presentations must
include an activity for the
class. Suggestions include: quiz, note sheet, matching game, role
playing, crossword puzzle, hands-on activity, manipulative, food
tasting, demonstration, or other creative ideas.
Areas of Culture
for Exploration
- Igbo and African Art
and
Music, including the importance and role of masks; other
functional art; clothing; drums and their use in ceremonies
Igbo Art
Igbo clothing
Igbo drums and music
2. Igbo Economics,
including
cowrie shells, major crops, trade between villages, the markets
Economics
Cowry shells and other currencies
Trade
3. Igbo Marriage
Customs, including bride price,
betrothal, and
wedding ceremonies
Role of women in Igbo culture
- "Women in
Pre-Colonial Nigeria" by Maria Rojas, posted on
African Post Colonial Literature in English on the Post Colonial Web, a
project funded by the National University of Singapore
Marriage customs
4. Igbo proverbs (tell
what they are, significance, and explain a few)
5. Igbo
religious beliefs,
including chi, oracles,
ancestor
worship,
egwugwu, afterlife, osu and Igbo
fears and superstitions (ogbanje, iyi-uwa, Evil Forest, and twins)
Igbo afterlife beliefs
Indigenous Religious Beliefs
Fears and superstitions
6. Igbo festivals and
celebrations and Igbo foods,
including the Feast of the New Yam and foods
including fufu, locusts, palm wine, and yams
New Yam Festival
Other Festivals
Foods
7. Government and Other Customs
for settling
disputes, burial of the dead, roles of
men and women, and regulation of family life (i.e., politics)
Funeral Ceremonies
- "Funeral
Ceremonies of the Ibo" by Karen Hauser, posted on
African Post Colonial Literature in English on the Post
Colonial Web, a project funded by the National University of Singapore
Role of Women in Igbo culture
- "Women in
Pre-Colonial Nigeria" by Maria Rojas, posted on African Post
Colonial Literature in English on the Post
Colonial Web, a project funded by the National University of Singapore
- "Women in
Colonial Nigeria" by Maria Rojas posted on African Post
Colonial Literature in English on the Post
Colonial Web, a project funded by the National University of Singapore
- "The
Role of Women in Things Fall Apart" by June Chun posted on African
Post Colonial Literature in English on the Post
Colonial Web, a project funded by the National University of Singapore
- "Women
in Achebe's World" by Rose Ure Mezu published in Womanist Theory and Research
- "Igbo
Culture and Socialization" collated by Uzoma Onyemaechi,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Role of men
Government
8. Igbo folk tales
(read several folk tales, discuss their significance in the society.
You may also want to tell us a folktale.)
9. African/British Colonialism,
including who colonized Nigeria, when, where, why, results. Also, this
group should create a map of Africa,
showing Nigeria and a map of Nigeria
including the capital and major cities, the rivers, and where the major
ethnic groups live. Also, indicate approximately where the novel takes
place.
Colonialism Time line
Current Day Nigeria
Nigeria Maps
10. Igbo village
life: hospitality, wrestling and games, tapping
a palm tree; an ancestor in full regalia; a village meeting; the Kola
nut ceremony
Family Living Quarters
Arrangements
Kola Nut Ceremony
Hospitality
Wrestling
Climbing the Palm Tree
11. Igbo language
and naming customs, including how
children are
named, elements of the Igbo language, writing/reading/literacy in Igbo
culture
Naming customs
Language
Print resources for all groups
- Koslow,
Philip. Lords of the savanna : the
Bambara, Fulani, Igbo, Mossi, and Nupe. Philadelphia : Chelsea
House, c1997.
- Ogbaa, Kalu. Igbo.
New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 1995.
- Ogbaa, Kalu. Gods,
oracles and divination : folkways in Chinua Achebe's novels.
Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, c1992.
- Okpewho, Isidore. Once
upon a kingdom : myth, hegemony, and identity. Bloomington:
Indiana University Press, c1998.
- Umeasiegbu,
Rems Nna. The way we lived: Ibo
customs and stories. London: Heinemann Educational, 1969.
Evaluation
Describe to the learners
how their performance will be evaluated. Specify whether there will be
a common grade for group work vs. individual grades.
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Beginning
1
|
Developing
2
|
Accomplished
3
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Exemplary
4
|
Score
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Quality
of the Information
|
Information
has little or nothing to do with the main topic. (5 pts)
|
Information
clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are
given. (10 pts)
|
Information
clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting
details and/or examples. (12 pts)
|
Information
clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting
details and/or examples. (15 pts)
|
|
Information
Accuracy
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Content
is typically confusing or contains more than one factual error. (5 pts)
|
The
content is generally accurate, but one piece of information is clearly
flawed or inaccurate. (10 pts)
|
Most
of the content is accurate but there is one piece of information that
might be inaccurate. (12 pts)
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All
content throughout the presentation is accurate. There are no factual
errors.
(15 pts)
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Effectiveness
of Presentation
|
Project
is lacking several key elements and has inaccuracies that make it a
poor study guide. (5 pts)
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Project
is missing more than two key elements. It would make an incomplete
study guide. (10 pts)
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Project
includes most material needed to gain a comfortable understanding of
the material but is lacking one or two key elements. It is an adequate
study guide. (12 pts)
|
Project
includes all material needed to gain a comfortable understanding of the
topic. It is a highly effective study guide. (15 pts)
|
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Originality
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Presentation
is vague or incomplete and/or graphics and shows very little attempt at
original thought. (3 pts)
|
Presentation
shows an attempt at originality and inventiveness on part of the
presentation. (5 pts)
|
Presentation
shows some originality and inventiveness. The content and ideas are
presented in an interesting way. (7 pts)
|
Presentation
shows considerable originality and inventiveness. The content and ideas
are presented in a unique and interesting way. (10 pts)
|
|
Group
Behavior and Cooperation
|
Group
often is not effective in delegating tasks and/or sharing
responsibility. (3 pts)
|
Group
delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively some of the time.
(5 pts)
|
Group
delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively most of the time.
(7 pts)
|
Group
delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively all of the time.
(10 pts)
|
|
Graphics
and Appearance
|
Presentation
uses font, color,
graphics, effects etc. but these often distract from the presentation
content. (3 pts)
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Presentation
makes use of font, color,
graphics, effects, etc. but occasionally these detract from the
presentation content. (5 pts)
|
Presentation makes
good use of font,
color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance to presentation. (7 pts) |
Presentation
makes excellent use of
font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance the presentation. (10
pts) |
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Documentation
of Information and Image Sources
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Some
sources are not accurately
documented. (5 pts)
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All
sources (information and graphics)
are accurately documented, but many are not in the desired format. (10
pts)
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All
sources (information and graphics)
are accurately documented, but a few are not in the desired format. (12
pts)
|
All
sources
(information and graphics)
are accurately documented in the desired format. (15 pts)
|
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Mechanics
|
Presentation
has more than 2
grammatical and/or spelling errors. (3 pts)
|
Presentation
has 1-2 grammatical errors
but no misspellings. (5 pts)
|
Presentation
has 1-2 misspellings, but
no grammatical errors. (7 pts)
|
Presentation
has no misspellings or
grammatical errors. (10 pts)
|
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Enthusiasm
and Other Visual Aides
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The
activity chosen detracts from the
presentation. (7 pts)
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Students
use an activity that may
keep our interest, but does not enhance the content of the
presentation. (10 pts)
|
Students
use an activity
that shows work/creativity, but may not capture the class's
imagination or keep our interest. (12 pts)
|
Students
uses an activity for the
class (food, game, or other activity) that show considerable
work/creativity and which make the presentation better. (15 pts)
|
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Conclusion
Now that we at the
Commission on Colonization know about Igbo culture, we must consider
how it compares to Western (European or American) culture. Is it more
or less complex? Does it have the elements of culture that we think of
as "civilization"? What do you think will happen when this culture
comes into contact with Western culture? How will colonization affect
this culture?
These are questions that
we will explore as we read Things
Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.
Please take a moment now
to reflect on this project and the research process using the following
document.
Reflection!
Credits
& References
Picture:
Alusi priest Ezekwem with figure of deity Eke. Adazi Ani,
Nigeria. Photograph by Herbert M. Cole, 1966. http://www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/two_sculp/index.htm
Face mask Igbo
peoples, Afikpo, Nigeria Wood and fibers. H. 68.6 cm. Maureen and Harold Zarember, Tambaran
Gallery (Cat. 5) Available at: http://www.africanart.org/facingthemask/intro_kinds.html
Rubric:
Rubistar, Rubric Creator developed by High
Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php
PowerPoint
tips:
Tutorial Created by Mark L.
Merickel of Oregon State University
http://oregonstate.edu/instruction/ed596/ppoint/pphome.htm
Inspiration
tips:
Inspiration Quick Tips developed by Candace Standberry for the
Louisiana Department of Education
http://www.doe.state.la.us/conn/getFile.php?lesson_id
=140&dlfilename=Insptips.doc&PHPSESSID=3a11af45698546bfbd9abfb07289f0c9
Citation
tips:
See references on those pages
KWL:
See references on that page
Research
process ideas:
"Student Inquiry in the Research Process" developed by Leslie Preddy,
based on the elements of Information Inquiry designed by Dr. Daniel
Callison, Indiana University and LMS Associates. http://pmms.msdpt.k12.in.us/imc/Inquiry/
Created by
Noel Gnadinger
Last
updated on June 2004.
Based on a template from The
WebQuest Page
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