Africa Inquiry Project
What is a challenge Africa has, what is its impact, and what can be done about it?
Our Inquiry Process on Africa
- Connect (short videos)
- Wonder
- Investigate & Cite
- Use EasyBib™ to organize your questions, record what you learned and where you found it, and put it into your own words to avoid plagiarism.
Use credible sources
We need to use credible (reliable) sources to learn about our topic and answer our research questions. Start by using the sources listed next to your topic below.
Health: It's a Hard-Knock Life
Malaria
Big Question: How has malaria affected Africa?
Learn about the topic
Credible Sources with Information on the Problem
Find articles in Britannica Young Adults or Britannica Library Children Use keyword: Malaria.
To answer the question, why is malaria such a challenge for Africa, try looking up the Health of countries in Africa (such as Uganda) in Culture Grams.
Watch this 4 minute video from the World Health Organization about Malaria (you will need a teacher to bypass the screen). To cite this video, copy and paste this citation:
WHO: Key Facts About Malaria (updated). Health Topics. World Health Organization, 9 Dec. 2014. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
Check out this very interesting graphic on infectious disease. Graphic.
National Geographic Article July 2007: Malaria
Nothingbutnets Malaria No More
The WAR on Bugs AMREF - African Medical and Research Foundation
Malaria: It's not just in tropical places anymore
Why Mosquitos Prefer to Bite Humans over other Animals
World Health Organization Malaria update 2016 (report and video)
Watch this 4 minute video about Stomping Out Malaria in Africa by Peace Corp.
Learn what can be done
Organizations Committed to Solutions
Nothingbutnets Malaria No More AMREF - African Medical and Research Foundation
World Health Organization Malaria update 2016 (report and video)
Ebola
Big Question: How has malaria affected Africa?
Learn about the topic
Credible Sources with Information on the Problem
Find articles on Ebola in Britannica Young Adults.or Britannica Library Children
Use keyword: ebola
Excellent summary about Ebola from The Week Nov 21, 2014.
National Geographic Article on Finding Homes for Ebola's Orphans.
Article about Ebola found in ScienceWorld Magazine. Copy and paste this citation:
Adams, Jacqueline. "BATTLING EBOLA. (Cover Story)." Science World 71.6 (2014): 6. Middle Search Plus. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
To answer the question, why is malaria such a challenge for Africa, try looking up the Health of countries in Africa (such as Liberia) in Culture Grams.
E-Book - Ebolahttps://reader.follettshelf.com/mobileReader/#/ktsId/1712455
Book titled Ebola by Shelley Bueche. Use this ISBN to create the citation: 9780737717808
Read these two articles from Newsela:
- U.S. and British Troops Head to West Africa to Help Fight Ebola Virus
- Stopping the Spread of the Ebola Virus
Read these two articles from Junior Scholastic and UpFront Magazine:
This is a very useful Website from the Centers for Disease Control
Check out this very interesting graphic on infectious disease. Graphic.
We have books to help.
Learn what can be done
Organizations Committed to Solutions
Topic
Health: It's a Hard-Knock Life
Disease: Malaria
Disease: Ebola
Environmental Challenges: Dealing with the Land
Deforestation
Drought/ Desertification
Conflict/War: It's All About Power
Rwanda
Sudan & The Lost Boys
Social: It's a Life
Society
Overarching Question
(BIG Question)
How has malaria affected Africa?
How has Ebola affected Africa?
How have human interactions affected Africa's environment?
How have human interactions affected Africa's environment?
How have ethnic differences/conflicts affected Africa?
How have ethnic differences/ conflicts affected Africa?
What are some daily challenges people face in Africa?
Credible Sources with Information on the Problem
Center for International Forestry Research
GreenFacts: Facts on Health and the Environment
Trees for All (formerly Trees for Travel)
Neighborhood Environmental Watch Foundation
United Nations Genocide Prevention
Lesson's Learned from Rwanda Genocide
Concern Worldwide Inc. South Sudan
Darfur Dream Team (Sister Schools Program)
Education: Africa Education
Economy: Kiva
Economy: FINCA - Foundation for International Community Assistance
Economy Accion (a micro-financing organization)
Healthcare: Africa Healthcare Improvement
Out of Poverty, New York Times Upfront Magazine, April 25, 2016
The End of Extreme Poverty, New York Times Upfront Magazine, December 9, 2013
Find articles in Britannica Young Adults or Britannica Library Children
Keyword: Deforestation.
This video is a CASE STUDY of how deforestation is affecting the lemurs of Madagascar.
Brittanica Article on Deforestion
Center for International Forestry Research
Article in National Geographic September 2010: Deforestation in Madagascar
Article in National Geographic November 2011: Unrest in Africa's Albertine Rift
Deforestation Collection in Destiny
Find articles in Britannica Young Adults or Britannica Library Children
Keyword: Desertification.
Article in National Geographic April 2008: Sahel
Article in National Geographic April 2009: Outlook Extreme
GreenFacts: Facts on Health and the Environment
Trees for All (formerly Trees for Travel)
Neighborhood Environmental Watch Foundation
Drought/Desertification Collection in Destiny
Find article in Britannica Young Adults or Britannica Library Children. Keyword: Rwanda.
Culture Grams: World Edition, Africa, Rwanda.
Rwanda to Harvard Article in Upfront Magazine
Rwanda background and overview
Find article in Britannica Young Adults. or Britannica Library Children: Keywords: Sudan, South Sudan, Darfur.
Read this article from The New York Times on the Lost Boys of Sudan.
This three-part series on The Lost Boys is the TV show 60 Minutes.
Famine possibility in South Sudan. National Geographic
Watch this 4 minute VIDEO about the modern history of Sudan. 4 minute VIDEO about the modern history of Sudan. 4 minute VIDEO about the modern history of Sudan. 4 minute VIDEO about the modern history of Sudan. 4 minute VIDEO about the modern history of Sudan.
Good overview of the cause of the conflict. Updated 2017.
South Sudan: Breaking the rules of war - BBC News, Published on Sep 28, 2015 URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5qNxT7M_Vw
Culture Grams: World Edition, Africa, Sudan & South Sudan
Concern Worldwide Inc. South Sudan
Darfur Dream Team (Sister Schools Program)
Africa is a complex place with lots of differences. Instead of looking at the whole continent, you will pick two countries in Africa and then find answers to your questions for those countries. You might look up your country's name and then use the following keywords economy, education, healthcare in Britannica Young Adults or Britannica Library Children
You may also use Culture Grams for the two African countries you chose. From those countries, what generalizations can you make about daily challenges people face in Africa.
Other Credible Sources
- See our Online Resources.
- When accessing the databases from home, you must enter your Douglas County Library card number and PIN (which is the last four digits of your phone number).
- If you don't have a library card, you can get one from the Douglas County Libraries website.
- Click HERE. Click on Get a Card at the very top of your screen.
- Copies of important articles can be found in the magazines on display.
- Search CMS Learning Commons for books on your topic.
- Most books on your topic are already on the cart ready for you to use. Bibliography of books available in our Learning Commons.
- Easybib™ - click on ESSAY TOOLS and then RESEARCH. Enter your keywords
- Sweetsearch.com - search by your keywords (all results are reliable)
Quick Links
Tutorials on Citations by Type of Source