January 1999

Teacher Guide prepared by: our staff.

Online resources that students may wish to check out for additional information: http://africaquest.classroom.com, http://seekenya.utando.com, http://www.kenyaweb.com

After students have read this article, have them divide a sheet of paper into two vertical columns. The left column will be "Similarities," the right column will be "Differences."

Ask your students to list in the appropriate columns some of the things in the article that are similar to /different from their growing up experience. Then have them imagine they are moving to Kenya for two years. Have them list three things they will miss the most and three things they believe they will enjoy the most during these two years.

Have students look at a globe or world map and identify Kenya and its bordering countries. If your school is fortunate in having a student from one of these countries, invite him or her to speak to the class.

Kenya covers 582,646 square kilometers. Ask students to plot where it would fit size-wise if Kenya was a state in North America.

Homework assignment: Ask each student to interview someone who grew up in another country about his/her recollections. This could be an older school student, a teacher, family member, neighbor, etc. Help students prepare for the interview by brainstorming possible questions. These reports should include brief geographical and historical background of the country involved and could be posted around the classroom. Or students could share their interview results with the entire class as an oral presentation.

Kirui visits his homeland two to three months every year. As a class, discuss his reasons for doing so, and why it is important. Have students think of other examples of people giving back to their community or country.