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| LESSON 7: Impact of Imperial Borders | |
SUPPORTING QUESTION | How did imperial borders change control over African culture and artifacts? | |
FOCUS SKILL(S) | Contextualization Evaluating Arguments | |
MATERIALS | ||
DO FIRST | Option 1- Frayer: “Restitution” Option 2- Scenario Response | |
TEACHER ACTIONS
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ACTIVITY 1- LAUNCH | Students will watch a video about how imperial control contributed to the removal and theft of cultural artifacts. As they watch, they will answer guided questions to build understanding about the Benin Bronzes and debates over ownership and museums. Be sure to note that the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art also owns 29 of these objects. | |
TEACHER ACTIONS
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History and Political Geography: Daily Lesson Plan (90 Minutes)
©2026 Thinking Nation
thinkingnation.org
| LESSON 7: Impact of Imperial Borders - Continued | |
ACTIVITY 2 - PRACTICE | Next, explicitly introduce students to the historical thinking skill of Evaluating Arguments. They will watch an introductory video, as well as complete an introductory guide of the skill. | |
TEACHER ACTIONS
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ACTIVITY 3 - EXHIBIT | Students will practice evaluating arguments with the document analysis on the restitution debate over the Benin Bronzes (pages 4-5 of student worksheet). Students will need to identify the claim of the article and then evaluate it using the C.L.A.I.M. protocol introduced in the previous activity. Students will complete the Evaluating Arguments Graphic Organizer. †This can also be done on the Thinking Nation platform. | |
TEACHER ACTIONS
| STUDENT ACTIONS
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History and Political Geography: Daily Lesson Plan (90 Minutes)
©2026 Thinking Nation
thinkingnation.org
| LESSON 7: Impact of Imperial Borders - Continued | |
CONCLUSION | Students will conclude the lesson with a Quickwrite “Exit Ticket.” In this quickwrite, students will answer the supporting question. Within their sentences, they will need to include five specific terms. | |
TEACHER ACTIONS
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STANDARDS | 6.4 Describe the purpose, creation, evolution and role of international borders, and evaluate the impact of the creation of a specific border. 6.16 Analyze at least one cultural element of a country located in Africa (e.g., art, literature, music, dance, cuisine, philosophy, religious or political thought), including its local significance and influence on other societies. 6.63 Evaluate the positive and negative effects of globalization and the differing impact of globalization on at least three regions of the world. 6.68 Analyze the characteristics and causes of at least one contemporary issue facing the global community, compare proposals for addressing the issue, and propose a course of action for making change. | |
History and Political Geography: Daily Lesson Plan (90 Minutes)