Trekking to Timbuktu: Making The Pitch to Globe Trekker — Student Version
Using several pieces of poster board taped together, make an illustrated timeline
of the history of Timbuktu. For the illustrations, use graphics downloaded from
websites visited during this unit or draw pictures freehand. As a guide for
important dates, consult Timeline.
Your Final Presentation:
Well, you've gone “all the way to Timbuktu.” And you've made it home alive!
You've certainly discovered many of the mysteries, intrigues, and realities
of life in that remote part of the world—and you're now armed with plenty of
good reasons why someone might want to visit there.
Now it's time to convince the producers of Globe Trekkers to film an
episode there.
Hope you've saved all the notes and pictures you've taken as well as the essays
you wrote on your adventure. Your final task is to create a large poster exhibit
in which you highlight - through image and written word—the most interesting
aspects of each topic you've investigated—ie, geography, trade, early years
of Timbuktu, Mansa Musa's pilgrimage and mosque-building, the Golden Age of
scholarship, the search for the lost city of Timbuktu, and efforts currently
being made to restore the past.Use colorful language and any strategy you can
think of to grab the attention of the viewer. Remember, you're selling your
idea! Once you've completed the visual part of your presentation, start practicing
your speech.
When you're all set, make your presentation to your classmates, who will
dutifully carry out the role of the Globe Trekker producers. Good luck!
Extending your stay:
Not ready to go home? Tell your producer you have some more hot
tips to explore.
- The fame of Sundiata, a ruler of the ancient empire of Mali, is documented in the epic poem “Sundjata.” Read this story (available in libraries and online) and learn about his rise to power. For background information, go to Epic Poetry and Sundiata.
- Ibn Battuta's trip—Not long after the death of Mansa Musa, a famous traveler—Ibn Battuta—arrived in Mali and wrote about Timbuktu. Learn more about this man and his descriptions of trip by visiting the following websites: Battuta's Trip Twelve, Ibn Battuta and Ibn Batuta: Travels in Asia and Africa
- Watch a video in which an Islamic scholar of Timbuktu is interviewed. Go to Retelling the Story and click on the videos about Sankore and the ancient manuscripts.
- Take a visit to modern Timbuktu by accessing Travel (to Timbuktu)
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