| Grade Level | System Requirement | Product Number |
|---|---|---|
| Grades 5-9 | Apple 128K | A314 |
| Your students take the place of newspaper reporter Henry Stanley in his quest to track down the famous explorer David Livingstone. Rather than merely tracing the path he took, however, kids will make their own journey over the same territory, interviewing villagers to obtain clues to Livingstone’s whereabouts.Enhances problem-solving skills.Provides information about the geography, history, and native peoples of the African continent south of the Sahara Desert. | ||
Introduction
Dr. Livingstone, I Presume? is a simulation in which you take on the role of a contemporary of Henry M. Stanley, the newspaper reporter who was sent to Africa in 1871 to find Dr. Livingstone. As the game begins, you receive a letter from the publisher of the New York Herald, James Gordon Bennett, Jr., who tells you that Stanley has become quite sick and will not be able to lead the expedition. As a result, Mr. Bennett asks you to take his place. You are promptly transported to the coast of Africa to take command of the expedition party assembled there.
As you begin your journey, you are told the location of Dr. Livingstone’s first destination; however, you are free to lead your party in whatever direction seems most appropriate to you. You may search for Livingstone anywhere within sub-Saharan Africa. As you travel, a map will form, showing the rivers, mountains, lakes, and landmarks that you have encountered. You can visit the African towns and villages you find, and you may attempt to trade or to interview the inhabitants. Each time you reach a location where Dr. Livingstone has been, you are told where he went next. If you succeed in finding Dr. Livingstone, you can interview him. At any time, you can review what you have accomplished so far.
When you feel that you have accomplished enough, or that your time is running out, you can head back to the coast.
Program Details
Title: Dr. Livingstone, I Presume?
Subject: World history; world geography
Topics:
- African geography
- Ethnic groups of Africa
- European exploration of Africa
- 19th-century African history
Grade Range: 5-9 (with extensions to grade 12)
Program Type: Simulation game; role-playing adventure
Required Hardware: 128K Apple II series; color monitor recommended
Classroom Use: Individual students, pairs, or cooperative groups
Learning Objectives:
- to visit, interview, and trade with 38 African ethnic groups
- to gain an understanding of the impact of European contact on Africa
- to develop a knowledge of the geography and history of Africa
- to form an awareness of the African slave trade
Time Required: 30-60 minutes per session