African Studies Curriculum Unit: The Cycle of Life in the African Family.

A two week unit on the cycle of life in the African family for secondary school students is presented. General objectives are to help students value and respect marriage and the family as basic constituents of all human cultures; to create cultural awareness; to identify aspects of traditional family life which may serve as models for social change; and to eliminate stereotypic notions of African peoples. Five lessons examine initiation into adulthood, marriage in African societies, family structures, kinship systems, and the birth role of children. Each lesson provides learning objectives, lists resource materials, and suggests activities, procedures, and evaluation methods. Activities include discussion sessions, essay writing, and filmstrip viewing. All activities invite comparison with American customs, traditions, and social problems involving the family. (KC)