**Cultural Connection Brainstorming Activity**

**Pre-Reading Activity:** **K-W-L Chart (Know - Want to Know - Learned) on Africa** **Activity Description:** Before reading "Africa" by David Diop, ask students to fill out the first two columns of a K-W-L chart about Africa. In the “K” column, students list what they already *know* about Africa (its geography, cultures, history, languages, etc.). In the “W” column, they write down what they *want* to know, especially about the continent’s struggles, beauty, and the impact of colonization. **How this Helps:** This activity stimulates curiosity, activates prior knowledge, and sets a meaningful context for the poem. "Africa" deals with both pride in African heritage and the pain of colonization. By reflecting on what they know and what they wish to understand, students are mentally and emotionally prepared to connect the poem’s imagery and themes to real-world contexts. They’re also primed to notice how the poet expresses longing, pride, and historical burden. **Poem Quotes Supporting This Activity:** 1. *“Africa my Africa / Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs”* — This line speaks to Africa’s proud heritage and history, encouraging students to engage with and celebrate their prior knowledge. 2. *“Is this you this back that is bent / This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation”* — This line references pain and humiliation, possibly due to colonization, echoing questions students may have in their “Want to know” column. By linking these lines with the K-W-L activity, students will be more attentive and better able to understand the emotional and historical layers within David Diop’s poem. **[5 marks: clear pre-reading activity (1), explanation (2), relevant poem quotes (2)]**