History : African- Americans –

The little girl from whose perspective the story is written feels a certain kinship with the Masai people as she learns about their culture in school knowing that her ancestors were from Africa. Ask your child, “If you were to feel a tingle of kinship with a group of people who would it be with?” This could lead to a talk about where their ancestors are from.

Geography:

Africa is a continent that consists of over 50 different countries each with many different tribes having their own unique cultures (Swaziland is an exception – it being a small one-tribe one language group nation; however even within this country there are tribes from neighboring countries that have settled there).  The northern third of the continent is home to the Sahara Desert – the largest and hottest desert in the world.

African Culture:

Contrast the differences in village life in Africa compared to US city life, for example:
       
        1. Homes:
        Mud and stick huts are clustered together for extended family to live together in homesteads, cooking by open fire, lack of            
        refrigeration, furniture , windows and beds (sleep on mats).

        2. Mode of Transportation:
        It would not be unusual in the villages of Africa to walk a mile or several miles to get to water, get to a store etc.

        Note: You should, however, point out that just as in the US rural and urban areas vary a lot, so there are cities in Africa that are much
        more modernized where people do live in concrete style homes or apartments with furniture and beds and where people get around   
        by cars and buses.

        3. Tribal Life:
        The Masai is just one tribe of 100's in Africa; each tribe has its own language and unique culture; Notice in the book the distinctive
        dress of the Masai people-including loose cloth and large beaded necklaces and hoop earrings (even the men); the Masai people
        wear a lot of red clothing which stands for “power” and are strong warriors** (note the double page of the warriors with no text); notice
        also the differences in girls' names mentioned in the book.  Source

        4. Resourcefulness:

        Rural Africans generally live off the land growing their own food, selling their extra, raising livestock for personal use and sale, selling
        handicrafts made from grass, wood, clay etc.

        Growing up in Africa, children learn to be resourceful at an early age; Instead of going to the store to get sweets, children in rural
        Africa will look to nature to find something sweet such as honey from a beehive, sugar cane from the field or fruit from a fruit tree
        (guava, mango, etc).

        (Note: this section is not directly related to the story but would be fun to look at since the story is about children)
        Many of the toys would be more simple and made with available resources (tin cans, wire, sticks etc); see the supplemental books    
        listed at the end to look more closely at African toys. The Mancala game originated in Africa but has been adapted and played    
        around the world; traditionally it would be carved from wood and small stones would be used as the playing pieces. To make your own
        Mancala game from egg cartons and tuna cans visit: http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/mancala.html
        The game can be played with marbles, small stones, shells, beans etc.

In spite of all these differences, there are commonalities between the two cultures that you can bring out: love of family, respect, participation in household chores, self-care

Masai
Many different kinds of people live in Africa; they have different ways of life, different customs, different languages, different foods they eat.  Masai (also spelled Maasai) is one tribe of people who can be found in Kenya and Tanzania. 

The Masai are a warrior tribe typically pictured wearing a red cloth and holding a spear. They live in villages consisting of 8 to 15 huts which the women are responsible for building.  The frame is built of branches and then a plaster mixture of twigs, grass, and cow dung is applied to the frame. When the mixture dries, it is very strong (comparable to our cement).   It takes a woman about 7 months to complete the task of building one hut. 

Inside the hut, the only openings are the doorway and a small hole in the roof or wall which allows the smoke from a fire to escape. They use dried cow dung for fuel to keep the fire going to cook and keep them warm during the rainy season. The only furnishings inside are beds of woven branches cushioned with dry grasses and animal skins.

Women and girls are also expected to milk the cows and fetch water.  Their time is also filled with beadwork; they decorate animal hides with beads in addition to making arm and leg bracelets.  They also pick gourds and clean them.  Then the gourds are decorated with leather and beads. They use the gourds to store milk, water, honey and cornmeal. Masai do not kill animals for food but will eat them if they die naturally.

In order for the village to be protected from wild elephants, lions, and cheetahs, the men use thorny branches (comparable to our barbed wire) to build fences.  At night, Masai bring their domestic animals (cows, goats, etc.) inside the fence so they will be protected as well. 

The men's primary job is to care for the cattle which they believe God has entrusted to them. Their wealth is measured by the number of cattle they own. As young Masai boys reach the age of 15 they participate in coming of age ceremonies which include many rites and rituals. Several Masai warriors will live together in one hut until they have passed on to manhood (5 to 7 years time). Then they will marry and bring their wives and raise their families in the same hut. People of the same age usually live in the same kraal. The elderly will all live together but teach traditions and skills to the youth; they also lead celebrations and ceremonies.
 

Language Arts –

Point of View-

Ask your child who is telling the story? This story is told in the 1^st person by the African-American girl holding the African artifact in the first illustration; she uses her imagination to consider what it would be like to grow up in Africa.

Vocabulary -

kraal (pronounced crawl): an enclosure for domestic animals in Africa

kinship: relationship

tingle: to feel a pricking or thrilling sensation

cowhide : the hide (skin) of a cow or leather made from it

gourd: a hard-rinded inedible fruit the shell of which may be used for carrying water

sod: top layer of soil

slender: slim, thin

graceful: attractive; moving with ease

glide: to move smoothly and effortlessly

lope (along): moving in an easy manner


Swahili Vocabulary Cards made by Kimberly Kaffenberger

Adjectives: used to describe the Masai people - tall, proud; you can also add your own:

You may want to check-out the report forms and copywork pages on Homeschool Share's Animal Forms page as well as the Zebras Lapbook and the Ostriches Lapbook in the Animal Studies section.

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