The Process

Follow these steps to create your poster.

1. Read all the directions.

2. Your teacher will assign you to a team of four students.

3. With your team, begin by gathering some background information about Mali.

Background Information

• History
  http://mali.pwnet.org/history/history_mali_empire.htm
• Geography
  http://mali.pwnet.org/geography/geography_location.htm
• Timeline
  http://www.vmfa.state.va.us/mali_timeline.html

4. Next you will choose which role to play. The four roles include: Farmer, Miner, Griot, and King. Read the descriptions about each role below. The following information is provided to help you get a better understanding of each role. After you have read the roles, choose the role each team member will play.

Role 1

The Farmer should:

• Discover the crops that were grown in Mali.
• Investigate the climate and environment of Mali.
• Investigate your role in the trading system in Mali.
• Select or draw three pictures for the poster that you feel best represent what it was like to be a farmer in Mali at this time.

Explore the links below to gather information about items you may want to select for your poster.

• Climate and Vegetation
  http://mali.pwnet.org/geography/geography_climate.htm
• Land and Water
  http://mali.pwnet.org/geography/geography_land_water.htm
• Crops
  http://mali.pwnet.org/geography/geography_resources.htm
  
• Trade
  http://mali.pwnet.org/geography/geography_resources.htm

Role 2

The Miner should:

• Research what was mined and the mining process.
• Investigate why salt was so important during this time.
• Investigate your role in the trading system in Mali.
• Select or draw three pictures for the poster that you feel best represent what it was like to be a miner in Mali at this time.

Explore the links below to gather information about items you may want to select for your poster.

• Geography
  http://mali.pwnet.org/geography/geography_resources.htm
• Trade
  http://www1.enloe.wake.k12.nc.us/enloe/CandC/thegirls/Rise.HTML

Role 3

The King should:

• Identify your role in society at that time.
• Describe your relationship with your people and country.
• Select or draw three pictures for the poster that you feel best represent what it was like to be a King in Mali at this time.

Explore the links below to gather information about items you may want to select for your poster.

• Ruling Families
  http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CIVAFRCA/MALI.HTM
• Sundiata Keita
  http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0900116.html
  
• Mansa Musa
  http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/people/A0831596.htm

Role 4

The Griot should:

• Learn how you become a griot.
• Identify your role in society at this time.
• Describe your relationship with the King.
• Select or draw three pictures for the poster that you feel best represent what it was like to be a griot in Mali at this time.

Explore the links below to gather information about items you may want to select for your poster.

• Storytelling and Everyday Life
  http://www1.enloe.wake.k12.nc.us/enloe/CandC/thegirls/Rise.HTML
• Griot Traditions
  http://www.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum211/coursepack/maligriot.htm
• Music and the Griot
  http://www.econ.uiuc.edu/~hanko/Mali/mali16.html
• Musical Instruments
  http://www.coraconnection.com/pages/WhatisKora.html

5. Once you have chosen your roles, you will visit the links provided for each role to help you decide which items you will include in your oral presentation and poster.

6. Each time you visit a web site you should complete a graphic organizer for your role. This worksheet will help you later in the project.(Graphic organizer for each role in PDF format. You will need Acrobat Reader.)

Graphic Organizers
Farmer (PDF)
Miner (PDF)
King (PDF)
Griot (PDF)

7. Once you have finished your research and completed your graphic organizer you should decide which items or drawings you want to include in your poster and presentation. You should list these items on a piece of paper in the form of a rough draft for your poster.

8. Next you will write or word process a paragraph for each item included on your poster. This will be used as a caption to the pictures on your poster and as an aid for your oral presentation. Use your graphic organizer to help you organize your information.

9. Now work as a team to create your poster and oral presentation. See the teacher if you need help creating or finding items.

10. On the last day of the project, you and your team have returned home safely from Mali. Your team will present your poster and oral presentation to the class.