Embark on a captivating journey through time and uncover the untold stories of Mali, Songhai, and Kush, magnificent African empires that dazzled the world with their wealth, innovation, and cultural achievements. This comprehensive reading comprehension worksheet, perfect for Black History Month or any social studies unit, delves into the heart of these civilizations, dispelling myths and showcasing a vibrant era of African excellence.
Engage your students with:

• Gripping narratives: Discover the rise and fall of these empires, from Mali's gold-paved streets under Sundiata Keita to Songhai's intellectual fervor under Askia Muhammad, and Kush's powerful queens like Candace Amanirenas.
• Primary source exploration: Analyze compelling excerpts from historical figures like Ibn Battuta and Leo Africanus, gaining firsthand accounts of the empires' opulence and cultural practices.
• Critical thinking activities: Hone critical thinking skills with multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions that delve deeper into the content.
• Standards-aligned assessment: Address key Common Core State Standards related to reading comprehension, informational text analysis, and primary source interpretation.

This resource is ideal for:

• Middle and high school students in social studies, history, or Black history courses.
• Teachers seeking engaging and informative materials for Black History Month or ancient African civilizations units.
• Homeschoolers looking to supplement their curriculum with captivating lessons.

Unmask the mysteries of these remarkable empires and ignite your students' passion for history with this dynamic and informative resource!

Review: The content of the product is excellent. It is well-organized, informative, and engaging. The reading comprehension worksheet follows a clear structure, starting with an introduction to the topic, then providing detailed information about each of the three empires, and concluding with primary sources and assessment questions. The inclusion of primary sources and assessment questions is particularly valuable, as it allows students to think critically about the information they have read and develop their understanding of the topic.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will be able to identify the key characteristics of the ancient African empires of Mali, Songhai, and Kush.
• Students will be able to analyze primary sources to gain insights into the culture and history of these empires.
• Students will be able to develop their critical thinking skills by answering comprehension and analysis questions.
• Students will be able to communicate their understanding of the topic through written and verbal responses.

Common Core State Standards:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.7: Analyze various accounts of a single historical event or issue, recognizing and clarifying differences in points of view.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.8: Distinguish between primary and secondary sources, and determine the difference between fact and opinion.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.9: Analyze and evaluate the usefulness of different resources for researching a topic.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.10: Integrate information from diverse sources, including primary and secondary sources, print and digital sources, and visual sources, in order to write about a topic.