The Age of Imperialism: A Unit Plan
Title: The Age of Imperialism
Author: Jennifer Berringer
Date: April 4, 2005 - April
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Dear Colleague,
This unit is designed to introduce students to the "Age of Imperialism." Students should gain an understanding of the the causes of European imperialism during the time period from 1870 to 1914. The unit will focus primarily on the effects of European colonialism in Africa and Asia. A variety of teaching methods are used throughout the unit. Students will be assessed based on their completion of a cooperative learning WebQuest activity at the conclusion of their studies.
Goals/Objectives:
1. Students will identify the economic causes of imperialism during the time period from 1875 to 1914.
2. Students will explain how national pride effected the desire of European nations for overseas colonies in the time period.
3. Students will analyze primary sources from the time period and compare conflicting viewpoints on the morality of imperialism.
4. Students will explain the significance of the Berlin Conference in terms of its effect on imperialism on the African continent.
5. Students will argue the significance of the meeting between David Livingstone & Henry Stanley in Africa in 1871.
6. Students will describe the causes and consequences of the Sepoy Mutiny in India in 1857.
7. Students will analyze varying points-of-view on British Imperialism in India during the time period.
8. Students will debate the pros and cons of the Open-Door Policy for the Chinese people.
9.
Students will argue the legitimacy of the goals of Chinese nationalists during
the rebellion of 1900.
NCSS Themes:
III. People, Places, and Environments
VII. Production, Distribution, and Consumption
IX. Global Connections
Days: 7 days
Content:
1. Imperialism: Economic and Nationalistic Roots
2. The Morality of Imperialism (Locke's On Colonies and Colonization vs. Twain's To Person Sitting in Darkness)
3. Imperialism on the African Continent: The Berlin Conference
4. Key Figures: Livingstone and Stanley
5. Imperialism in India: The Sepoy Mutiny
6.
Imperialism in China: The Open-Door Policy & The Boxer Rebellion
Methods:
1. Lecture/Power Point Presentation
2. Vocabulary Graphic Organizer
3. Foldable
4. Primary Source Document Analysis
5. Political Cartoon Analysis
6. RAFT Reading Strategy
7. Critical Thinking Exercise: Conflicting Perspectives
8. Cooperative Learning (WebQuest)
9. Student Presentations
WebQuest Summary:
Goals/Objectives: (Students will be working in small cooperative learning groups for the duration of the WebQuest activity.)
1. Students will research key topics relating to imperialism in China (i.e. The Opium Wars, The Treaty of Nanking, The Taiping Rebellion).
2. Students will analyze primary source documents on the Open-Door Policy in China.
3. Students will analyze primary source documents on the Boxer Rebellion in China.
4. Students will compare and contrast the goals of European merchants and Chinese nationalists around 1900.
5. Students will write a speech from the point-of-view of a British merchant arguing for extended trading rights in China.
6. Students will write a speech from the point-of-view of a Boxer nationalist arguing for the expulsion of foreigners merchants from China.
7. Students will create visual aids to complement their speeches.
8. Students will dress in character and present their two speeches to the class.
9. Students will participate in a post-presentation discussion on the pros and cons of the Open-Door Policy for the Chinese people.
Days: 3
Content:
1. The Opium Wars
2. The Treaty of Nanking
3. The Taiping Rebellion
4. The Open-Door Policy
5.
The Boxer Rebellion
Methods:
1. Cooperative Learning
2. Internet Research
3. Primary Source Document Analysis
4. Graphic Organizer
5. Persuasive Writing
6. Presentation
7. Group Discussion
Unit Information:
Unit Lesson Sequence________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day 1 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Attention Getter Imperialism: British India British India (Visual Image) Power Point Lecture Imperialism: Causes, Key Figures, Morality Imperialism: Causes, Key Figures, Morality Vocabulary Activity Imperialism: Definition, Characteristics, Examples Vocabulary Concept Definition Map Foldable Imperialism: Economic & Nationalistic Causes Dinah Zike's Foldables ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day 2 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Attention Getter Imperialism: Racism/Morality Kipling's White Man's Burden Primary Document Analysis Imperialism: Racism/Morality Locke's On Colonies and Colonization, Twain's To a Person Sitting in Darkness, Graphic Organizer ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day 3 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Attention Getter Imperialism in Africa: The Berlin Conference Political Cartoon: The Scramble for Africa Discussion Imperialism in Africa: The Berlin Conference & Key Figures RAFT Reading Strategy Imperialism in Africa: David Livingstone & Henry Stanley Stanley's How I Found Livingstone, RAFT Writing Assignment on Stanley and Livingstone ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day 4 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Attention Getter Imperialism in Asia: British Rulers in India British Rulers in India (Visual Image) Power Point Lecture Imperialism in Asia: British Rule in India & the Sepoy Mutiny Power Point Presentation Critical Thinking Activity Imperialism in Asia: Conflicting Points-of-View Conflicting Viewpoints on British Imperialism in India ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day 5 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Lecture Requirements & Expectations for the Computer Lab WebQuest Imperialism in Asia: The Open-Door Policy & the Boxer Rebellion WebQuest, WebQuest Project Rubric ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day 6 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)WebQuest Imperialism in Asia: The Open-Door Policy & the Boxer Rebellion WebQuest, WebQuest Project Rubric Reflection Success of Cooperative Learning Student Group Evaluation Homework Completion of Project & Presentation Preparation ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Student Presentations Imperialism in Asia: European & Chinese Perspectives WebQuest Project Rubric Class Discussion Imperialism in Asia: European & Chinese Perspectives
After completing this unit on the Age of Imperialism, students should have an in-depth understanding of the causes and effects of European imperialism from 1870 to 1914. Students should reflect back on the knowledge gained during this unit of study when they begin to analyze the long-term causes of World War I later in the course.
Credits/References:
Course Textbook: Krieger, L., Neill, K. & Reynolds, E. World History: Perspectives on the Past (5th Ed.) D.C. Heath and Company, 1997.
*For on-line references please see the Teacher's Resources section of this page.