Thomas Sankara

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/thomas-sankara

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Thomas Sankara born?December 21, 1949
2. When did Thomas Sankara die?October 15, 1987 (age 37)
3. Where was Thomas Sankara born?Yako, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso)
4. What is the career?Military officer, President of Burkina Faso
5. Who was Thomas Sankara?He was the president of Burkina Faso who wanted to make his country fair and strong. He led a revolution and worked hard for the people.
6. What did Thomas Sankara do to help people learn and stay healthy?He started a big literacy campaign, built many schools, and ran vaccination drives that helped stop polio and measles.

Neocolonialism: The use of economic, political, or cultural influence to control or exploit less developed countries.
Pan-Africanism: A movement advocating for the unity and solidarity of all people of African descent worldwide.
Austerity: A set of policies aimed at reducing government budget deficits through spending cuts or tax increases.
Coup d'état: A sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government, typically by a small group or the military.