The Process

Before you start on this WebQuest be aware that many of the web sites provided for you are not written specifically for students. The information may be hard to understand and you may not be familiar with some of the words. If you have any trouble, first consult the online dictionary found by clicking on dictionary in the navigation bar (on the left side of your screen) and then go to your teacher if you still need help. Your group members might also be a good source of information and can help you with hard words or ideas that you don’t understand!

1) Your first assignment as a griot is to find out what and who you really are by gathering background information on griots. Using the worksheet below as a guide for finding information, explore the links to help you learn about Mali!

• Worksheet (PDF) Your teacher may have already printed this out for you. If so, you may begin working on discovering what a griot is. If not, be sure to ask your teacher before printing!!

• A Great Oral Tradition
  http://www.mrdowling.com/609ancafr.html

  Do not click on the word griot that appears within this link!

• History of Ancient Mali

  Once opened, scroll down to the bottom of the page for information on griots.
  http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/KingsParkES/technology/mali/malihis.htm

• Mali Empire & Griot Traditions

  This link has information in the "What is a Griot?" section towards the bottom of the page.
  http://www.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum211/coursepack/maligriot.htm

Mansa Musa

2) Once you have discovered what a griot is, you each will become an expert in one area involving the empire of Mali!

• Physical Characteristics Expert: should research the geography, the people that lived in the empire and how they interacted with their environment.
• Trade Expert: will research the production and sharing of goods and services within the empire.
• Government Expert: will discover information on the lives of kings and how they ruled.
• Fall of the Empire Expert: should research reasons that Mali fell.

For resources and more information on your area, click on the link of your specific role above.
In addition, there are some web sites that include information on a number of the roles and may have helpful information for more than one person in the group:

• The Art of Ancient Mali
  http://vmfa.state.va.us/mali_geo_hist1.html

3) When you have each finished your research, the group should come back together and share what you have found with each other! Now, for this part, remember your job as a griot. Keep your role in mind as you share your information. Practice your skills in using the oral tradition of Mali! Each expert should present at least 8 of the most important facts within their area. This information should be recorded on a chart. You should each take turns recording information, but not for your area. The link for the chart can be found below:

• Fact Chart (PDF)

4) You now get to create your board game! Use dice or make a spinner.

• Create 20 question cards with the answers on the back.
  • Five of the cards should have questions about Mali's physical characteristics
  • Five should have questions about trade
  • Five should have questions about the government
  • Five should have questions about the fall of Mali.
    
• The board can have different spaces telling students to either:
  • Pick a card and answer the question
  • Move forward a certain number of spaces
  • Move back a certain number of spaces
  • Read a question off a card to someone else
  • Or anything else you can think of.
  • If a question is answered correctly, the player can roll the dice or spin the spinner again.
• Your teacher will provide you with a large piece of poster board for the game itself, index cards for the questions, and any other art supplies you may need. For the game pieces or markers, see your teacher for some suggestions.
• Explore this link on board games if you need any help.
  http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec670/BoardGameDesign1.html

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Example of a board game.

5) Once you have decided on the design, your group needs to think about what questions you will include in your board game. Each area of expertise should have five questions. Be creative! Also be sure to work as a group in deciding on your questions. Remember: These games will be played by the rest of the class!!