Lesson Plan for Senior Secondary 3 - History - Colonial Africa And The Two World Wars

### Lesson Plan: Colonial Africa and the Two World Wars **Grade:** Senior Secondary 3 **Subject:** History **Duration:** 90 minutes **Topic:** Colonial Africa and the Two World Wars --- #### Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1. Understand the impact of World War I and World War II on Colonial Africa. 2. Analyze how these global conflicts influenced the socio-political landscape in African colonies. 3. Discuss the roles Africans played in both World Wars. 4. Evaluate the long-term consequences of the World Wars on the decolonization movement in Africa. #### Materials Needed: - Textbooks - Multimedia projector - Map of Africa - Handouts (including primary source documents and excerpts) - Whiteboard and markers #### Lesson Outline: 1. **Introduction (10 minutes)** - **Warm-Up Question:** "What are the different ways war can affect a country or a continent?" - Briefly discuss students' responses and transition to how global wars might affect colonies. 2. **Historical Overview (20 minutes)** - **Lecture:** - Brief overview of European colonialism in Africa pre-WWI. - Summary of WWI (1914-1918) and its global nature. - How African colonies were involved in WWI: labor, soldiers, resource extraction. - The Treaty of Versailles and redrawing of borders. - Brief overview of WWII (1939-1945). - African involvement in WWII: soldiers, strategic locations, impact on economies. - **Visual Aid:** Show a map highlighting key colonies and their European rulers before and after WWI. 3. **Group Activity (20 minutes)** - Divide the class into small groups. - Each group receives a handout with primary sources (letters, photographs, treaties) related to Africa’s role in the World Wars. - Groups will analyze the documents and answer guided questions: - What role did African soldiers/laborers play in the wars? - How did these wars impact African societies? - What were the short and long-term effects on the colonies? 4. **Discussion (15 minutes)** - Groups present their findings. - Class discussion on common themes and observations. - Prompts: - How did World War I and II change the political landscape in Africa? - Were there any positive outcomes for African colonies? 5. **Case Study: Decolonization (15 minutes)** - Presentation on how WWII contributed to the decolonization movement: - Rise of African nationalist movements. - Impact on European powers and their colonies. - Key figures (e.g., Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta). - Show a short video clip/interview with descendants of African soldiers or freedom fighters. 6. **Conclusion and Q&A (10 minutes)** - Recap of key points. - Open floor for any questions or clarification. - Brief discussion on the legacy of colonialism and the wars on modern African states. 7. **Assessment/Homework (5 minutes)** - Assign a short essay (500 words) on the topic: - "How did World War I and II pave the way for the decolonization of Africa?" - Include guidance on using both textbook material and primary sources discussed in class. --- #### Notes for Teacher: - Ensure that the discussion acknowledges both the negative and positive legacies of colonialism and the world wars. - Be sensitive to the diverse backgrounds and perspectives students might bring to the discussion. - Encourage critical thinking and connections to current events in Africa and globally.