South Africa

Childrens Literature
Lesson Plans

These childrens literature lesson plans are part of an around the world preschool theme introducing preschoolers to different countries, people and cultures of the world.


Around the World Preschool Theme

Mapwork

Remind your children of the names of the continents they have already learnt about so far and point to each one.

The largest city in South Africa is Johannesburg. Johannesburg was founded in 1871, when a tent town sprung up following the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886. Johannesburg remains a mining hub and the financial capital of South Africa. It houses most of the large corporations and companies, which keep our country economically viable.

Cape Town is known as the mother city as it was the first western settlement established in our country’s history.

If you are South African, help your children find the town or city where you live. Then identify other towns and cities that they know.

Top of South African Childrens Literature Lesson Plans

The South African Flag

Top of South African Childrens Literature Lesson Plans

South African Languages

There are 11 official languages in South African, but English, Afrikaans and Xhosa are widely used.

Here is some Afrikaans vocabulary that you and your children can try and say:

• Good day – Goeie dag


• My name is … - My naam is ( sounds like: may narm is…)


• Mom – ma


• Dad – pa


• Teacher – juffrou (yifrow)


• Food – kos


• I am hungry – ek is honger


• Thank you – dankie


• Yes – ja


• No - nee

SA Childrens Literature Lesson Plans

Little Footprints - South Africa in Stories is a complete curriculum for children aged 4-8 which consists of childrens literature lesson plans.

Use it to take your children on a literature-driven sight-seeing tour of our scenic country and discover a wealth of fascinating topics to explore.

Childrens literature lesson plans for over 30 of the best South African picture books are included as well as a dry write map and a picture disc for each story.

Ostrich Collage Craft

Use this free printable ostrich template to make an ostrich poster "feathered" with children's handprints.

The world's largest bird, the ostrich, is indigenous to Africa. Here are more ostrich facts to enrich your studies.

Favourite South African Stories

Fly, Eagle, Fly, Christoper Gregorowski

This award winning story is my personal favourite. An eaglet is rescued by a rural farmer after a storm and raised in captivity. A visiting friend challenges the farmer to see if this strange ‘chicken’ can fly. After failing in various ways, they set off before dawn one morning to see if the bird will fly from the edge of a cliff.

To me, the value of this book lies in the underlying spiritual message that this book will convey to its adult readers – that no one is born for mediocrity. We need to discover our potential and ‘fly’! Buy from Kalahari.net

Jock of the Bushveld, retold by Phyllida Brooke-Simons

This is an illustrated and abridged version of the Afrian classic by the same title. It tells the true story, which has been enjoyed for generations, of a Staffordshire terrier that was the pet of transport rider in the days of the Gold Rush in the early 1900’s.

Jock was a remarkable fellow, a brave dog who accomplished many astonishing feats. Children will love this story. We have read it over and over. Buy from Kalahari.net

At the Crossroads, Rachel Isadora

This beautifully illustrated story depicts the life of children who live in a squatter camp, awaiting the return of their fathers who are migrant mine workers. It is a heart-warming story that reinforces the value of family relationships.

Download the free printable childrens literature lesson plans from Little Footprints to enrich your reading of this story. Bible, Memory Verse, Copywork, Social Studies, Geography, Art, Craft, Math and more are included.



Adventures of Riley -Safari in South Africa, Amanda Lumry

Riley is a nine-year old boy who travels to South Africa to help his Uncle Max, a wildlife biologist, track and count wild animals. They encounter wild African animals like cheetah, baboon, cheetah, giraffe, and others. The beautiful double-page spreads include colour photos of the bushveld, good close-up shots of certain animals as well as cartoon illustrations of Riley and the guides in the jeep. Boxed insets with factual information combine science with the adventure. Buy from Kalahari.net


Top of South African Childrens Literature Lesson Plans

Hamlet and Kimberley, Lynn Bedford Hall

Hamlet is an extra-ordinary pig and Kimberley is a cuckoo-chick that falls from its nest and lands in Kimberley’s fringe. Together they travel across South African to find Kimberley’s parents before they migrate.

The story takes you on an adventure around the country where you will learn about our minerals, flora, fauna and more. Buy from Kalahari.net.

This book was considered for inclusion in our updated edition of the South African childrens literature lesson plans in the homeschool curriculum, Little Footprints. However, since there was so much repetition of many other themes that had already been included, we rejected it. Here are the free printable childrens literature lesson plans to use to enrich your reading of the story, in Little Footprints style!


Makwelane and the Crocodile, Maria Hendricks

This story is brightly illustrated using a variety of media and techniques, including paint and collage.

It is an African version of Little Red Riding Hood in which a little girl overcomes not the big, bad wolf, but a big, bad crocodile. Buy from Kalahari.net.

Top of South African Childrens Literature Lesson Plans

African Animal Colouring A-Z

South African Traditional Food

South Africans eat a wide variety of foods, similar to most western countries. Some traditional foods are:

Ingredients 2T oil
1 onion, chopped
2tsp curry powder
1 slice white bread
2/3 cup milk
500g minced meat
1 T apricot jam
1 T lemon juice
4T hot chutney
4T seedless raisins
6 Dried apricots (optional)
Salt and black pepper
2 eggs
½ tsp curry powder
2 lemon/bay leaves
Desiccated coconut for serving- optional

Method
1. Soak the bread in half of the milk and then mash it.
2. Heat the oil, add the onion and cook until soft.
3. Add the curry powder and mix well, then add the bread.
Stir in the meat, jam, lemon juice, chutney, raisins, apricots and seasoning.
4. Mix well and continue cooking, stirring occasionally.
5. When browned, turn the mixture into a shallow dish and smooth on top.
6. Combine the remaining 100ml milk, eggs and curry powder and pour over the meat.
7. Spike with the bay leaves in the centre.
8. Microwave on 50% for 25-30 minutes or bake in oven until egg mixture has set. Serve with yellow rice, tomato, chutney and desiccated coconut.

Yellow rice
Add 2ml turmeric, a stick of whole cinnamon, 15ml sugar and 5ml margarine to rice while cooking. Seedless raisins can also be added if desired.



Easy Buttermilk Rusks (kids can help with this)

Ingredients
1,5kg self-raising flour
375ml sugar
a pinch of salt
500g margarine/butter
500ml sour milk*

Method
1. Pre-heat oven to 180oC.
2. Mix all dry ingredients together.
3. Rub in the margarine.
4. Add sour milk and mix thoroughly.
5. Roll into balls and place in greased bread pans.
6. Bake for about an hour. Remove from pan and break or cut into pieces.
7. Place on a rack to dry in a ‘cool’ oven.

*Add a table spoon of lemon juice or vinegar to fresh milk if it is not sour.

Top of South African Childrens Literature Lesson Plans




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