Unless otherwise noted, I have previewed all YouTube clips to ensure that I would feel comfortable showing them to my own children before I recommend them to you and yours! But feel free to do the same yourself if you have any concerns. Enjoy!
Introduction to Africa—>
Picture Book: Anna Hibiscus’ Song by Atinuke (9 min; ages 4 and up)
Lions, and zebras, and hippos–oh my! (16 min; ages 4 and up; Note: shows lions eating a carcass)
Listen to an African storyteller and dance the Lamba (9 min; ages 4 and up)
Elijah and I discuss Africa & give book recommendations (4 min; recorded in 2016 so ignore ending announcements, all ages–how cute is this kiddo?!)
Children Just Like Me (2 min; all ages)
Meet some of Africa’s well-known animals (3 min; ages 7 and up)
Learn about African Geography (10 min; ages 10 and up)
Links to Learn More:
- Free African audio folktales: Anansi the Spider Time, Anansi and the Pot of Beans, Anansi Goes to Lunch, Anansi and the Tug of War, Why Spider Has a Thin Waist
- Audiobooks: If you have access to the digital library app, Hoopla, look for these missionary biographies about Charles Mulli, Mary Slessor, and David Livingstone.
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Destination: Kenya—>
Picture Book: Papa, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joose (3.5 min; ages 4 and up)
Is there anything cuter than this?!! (7 min; ages 4 and up)
Such an interesting glimpse of a child’s daily life in Kenya (3.5 min; all ages, but you’ll need to read text to younger children)
Another fascinating day in the life, this time from the Maasai tribe (4 min; ages 8+)
Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai (look for books about her in Give Your Child the World!) shares an inspirational story about living with a mission (2 min; ages 8+)
A fun episode of Geography Now! to enjoy with your teens (13 min)
Links to Learn More:
- Coloring Page/Flag: The flag of Kenya, another interesting & colorful one!
- Live Cam: Watch for African Animals at this watering hole in Kenya (& find other African live cams as well!)
- Maps: Be sure to mark Kenya on your map printables to document your visit!
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Destination: Liberia—>
Picture Book: Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke (7.5 min; ages 4 and up)
See if you can learn these fun clapping games ~ Africa Heartwood Project (3 min; ages 4 and up)
Kema gives us a glimpse into her daily life as a sponsored child with Plan International (3 min; ages 8 and up)
Learn more about children’s rights in Liberia (2.5 min; ages 9+)
Liberia has an interesting history (3 min; ages 10+)
And also a complicated one, as this video articulates (3 min; for teens)
Links to Learn More:
- Coloring Page/Flag: See how the Liberian flag is so similar to the US flag?
- Maps: Be sure to mark Liberia on your map printables to document your visit
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Destination: South Africa—>
Picture Book: My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me by Maya Angelou (14 min; ages 6+)
Hillsong South Africa‘s online church service for kids (40 min; ages 6-12; Note: I have not watched the entire clip, so preview first if you have concerns.)
Thought it might be fun to watch this instead of the other way around! (8 min; all ages, but be prepared for a bit of spitting out of snacks here and there!)
Stunning South African Tour (4 min; ages 10+; includes a brief glimpse of a tribe with some nudity)
On August 10th, South Africans celebrate National Women’s Day:
The holiday commemorates the national march of women to petition against legislation that required Africans to carry the ‘pass.’
The ‘pass’ was an identification document which restricted a black South African man’s freedom of movement under apartheid.
On August 9th 1956, 20,000 women staged a march to protest the idea of black women having to do the same. They left petitions containing more than 100,000 signatures at prime minister J.G. Strijdom’s office door, and stood silently outside for 30 minutes.
The women sang a protest song that was composed in honour of the occasion: Wathint’Abafazi Wathint’imbokodo! (Translation: Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock).
An introduction to the history of Women’s Day (2 min; ages 10 and up)
More on Women’s Day, including a clip of their protest song (3 min; for teens)
Links to Learn More:
- Coloring Page/Flag: The flag of South Africa is an especially fun one to color!
- Article: What’s it like growing up in South Africa? Read this post to find out!
- Maps: Be sure to mark South Africa on your map printables to document your visit!