# Lesson Plan: The Impact of Christian Missionary Activities in West Africa
### Class Details:
- **Subject**: History
- **Grade Level**: Senior Secondary 3
- **Duration**: 60 minutes
### Lesson Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain the reasons behind the arrival of Christian missionaries in West Africa.
2. Discuss the key activities carried out by Christian missionaries.
3. Evaluate the positive and negative impacts of Christian missionary activities on West African society.
### Materials Needed:
- Whiteboard and markers
- Projector and computer for multimedia presentation (optional)
- Textbooks and primary sources (excerpts from missionary reports, letters, etc.)
- Handouts with key points and discussion questions
- Map of West Africa
### Lesson Outline:
#### Introduction (10 minutes)
1. **Hook**: Begin with a short multimedia presentation showcasing images of early missionary activities and their locations in West Africa.
2. **Objective Sharing**: Briefly explain the day’s objectives to the students.
#### Lecture and Discussion (20 minutes)
1. **Background Information**:
- Explain the arrival of European missionaries in the 19th century and the role of organizations like the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG).
- The motives behind missionary work: religious (spreading Christianity), social (education and healthcare), and political (colonial interests).
2. **Missionary Activities**:
- Establishment of churches and schools.
- Translation of the Bible into local languages.
- Introduction of Western education and healthcare systems.
3. **Discussion**:
- Ask students to brainstorm some of the positive changes they think Christian mission activities might have brought to West Africa.
- List the students' ideas on the board.
#### Group Work (15 minutes)
1. **Divide the Class into Small Groups**:
- Each group will receive a handout with a primary source excerpt and discussion questions.
- Assign each group to analyze and summarize their excerpt, focusing on either the social, cultural, educational, or political impacts of missionary activities.
2. **Group Presentations**:
- Groups will present their findings to the class.
- Discuss as a class, noting key points on the board.
#### Analysis of Impacts (10 minutes)
1. **Positive Impacts**:
- Spread of literacy and Western education.
- Introduction of modern healthcare facilities and practices.
- Bridging cultural gaps and introducing new moral and ethical perspectives.
2. **Negative Impacts**:
- Erosion of traditional beliefs and practices.
- Cultural imperialism and loss of indigenous identities.
- Sometimes fostered dependency and undermined local authority structures.
#### Conclusion and Homework Assignment (5 minutes)
1. **Summary**:
- Recap the key points discussed in the lesson.
- Emphasize the complex legacy of missionary activities in West Africa, including both positive and negative impacts.
2. **Homework**:
- Assign students to write a 300-word essay on how they think the legacy of Christian missionary activities still influences West African societies today, citing specific examples.
#### Evaluation:
- Participation in discussions and group work.
- Quality and depth of group presentations.
- Assessment of homework essays.
### Additional Notes:
- Encourage students to consider various perspectives and avoid oversimplification in their analysis of historical impacts.
- Use a variety of teaching methods (lecture, discussion, group work) to engage different learning styles.