Playing in Lesotho
How Children Play in Lesotho
Print this Page- Subject(s): Language Arts & Literature, Social Studies & Geography
- Region / Country: Africa / Kingdom of Lesotho
- Grade Level(s): K–2
- Related Publication: Ebook | Playing Together With Kids in Lesotho
- Duration: 1 class period
Overview
Children everywhere play. American students will have the opportunity to see how resourceful children are in the country of Lesotho when it comes to finding things to play with. Imagination can transform a simple item into the best toy ever.
Background Information
The Kingdom of Lesotho is a small country in southern Africa. It is completely surrounded by the country of South Africa. As a developing country, the citizens of Lesotho must use their resources wisely and children have to rely on their ingenuity and immagination to find things to play with. Children are still happy, and enjoy playing and each other. A time of play they each create with toys from their own hands. More information on Lesotho
Objectives
Students will
- Become familiar with the Kingdom of Lesotho , its location, and people.
- Explore children in another part of the world through a narrated virtual book.
- Understand that all children play even if they live in another country.
Featured Reading(s)
- Playing Together with Kids in Lesotho by Madeline Uraneck
Procedures
- Introduce the topic of this lesson by showing the students the location of the kingdom of Lesotho in southern Africa . Discuss with your students the fact that not all children in the world have toys like we do in the United States, that many children must find a way to make toys, imagine games, and play.
- Ask the students to tell you what their favorite way to play is. What is their favorite toy?
- Show your class the virtual book narrated by Peace Corps Volunteer Madeline Uraneck . Pause the book if you feel more explanation of the individual slide is needed.
- Ask your students which picture or page they liked the best and why? What did they notice about the children in the photos? What did the children not have that children in the United States do? Did the children look happy?
- Have you ever made a toy or imagined a pretend toy?
- Have the students draw a picture of their own favorite toy. Allow time for them to describe it to the class.
Extensions
- Have the students in your class start a correspondence with a Peace Corps volunteer Africa through the World Wise Schools Correspondence Match Program.
- Have the students listen to some Lesotho music.
- Bring home the concept of diversity by creating a short lesson on "What Country are You From?"
- Use the book to focus on making crafts, game playing, singing and dancing, or jump rope exercises.
Framework and Standards
Enduring Understandings
- Even though children come from different countries, speak different languages, and look differently outside—they all enjoy playing.
Essential Questions
- What do we need to be happy?
- Why does play make us happy?
- How can we make our own toys?
Standards
Life Skills (McRel)
- 7.3 Engages in active listening
English Language Arts
- Standard 12: Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).
Social Studies
- Strand I: Culture
- Strand IV: Individual Development and Identity
- Strand IX: Global Connections