Lesson Plan Library

The early Chosun (Joseon) Dynasty established themselves 1392 and lasted until 1912. Within the context of East Asia, the Korean peninsula had established itself as a tributary state as far back as the 4th century CE. This relationship had far reaching effects on Korean society and its internal power structure.

This lesson has two components plus some extensions.
1) Students will learn about the Tributary relationship between China and Korea and how the elites (yangban) maintained power through their adoption of Neo-Confucianism. Students will analyze primary sources to practice those skills and will use secondary sources to find evidence demonstrating the importance of Neo-Confucianism in the Joseon court.

2) Day 2 explores the role of language as a tool of maintaining power. Students will explore King Sejong’s creation of Hunminjeongeum (later called Hangul) as a way of educating the people and will also explore the role of the elites in suppressing the expansion of Hangul. The day includes students creating arguments for either the expansion or suppression of Hangul as well as counter-arguments to help practice the skill of using evidence to analyze.

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This lesson helps students develop a nuanced understanding of economic development, encouraging critical thinking about how we measure progress and success on a national and global scale. It aligns well with broader educational goals of promoting analytical skills, global awareness, and multifaceted approaches to complex issues.

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Students will work independently and in small groups to develop an overview of the events of the Wounded Knee Massacre, No Gun Ri Massacre and My Lai Massacre. Through small group discussions, they will compare and contrast the causes and effects of these atrocities. Through their investigation they will discuss the role investigative journalism played in exposing the events to the American and International community. This will lead them to a culminating assignment in which they are tasked with explaining the role investigative journalism can play in exposing human rights violations and shaping public perceptions and calls for action?

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This lesson on Seoul as a primate city provides students with an in-depth understanding of the concept of primate cities, using Seoul as a case study. Through this lesson, students will explore the defining characteristics of primate cities, analyze the economic and cultural significance of Seoul, and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of having a primate city. By the end of the lesson, students will have a better understanding of the complexities and implications of urbanization and economic development in primate cities.

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This lesson introduces students to the spiritual practices of Shamanism and Ancestor Worship in Korea, China and Japan, focusing on their cultural significance and historical development. Students will explore how these practices reflect the values and beliefs of the societies around the Sea of Japan and compare the similarities and differences among the three countries. Through discussion, analysis of primary sources, and a creative synthesis project, students will gain a deeper understanding of the role of spirituality in shaping cultural identity.

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This lesson describes the significance of the Korean wave (Hallyu) beyond just K-pop music.

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In this lesson, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Korean diaspora. They will begin by constructing a Frayer model to define the term “diaspora” and explore its key characteristics. Next, students will delve into statistical data regarding the Korean diaspora, examining its distribution both in the United States and globally. To deepen their understanding, students will read about the most common diasporas originating from Korea. Finally, students will apply their knowledge by completing a triple Venn diagram to compare and contrast the causes and effects of these diverse diasporas, highlighting both similarities and differences in their experiences.

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This lesson plan explores the history behind the migration of Korean workers to West Germany in the 1960s and 1970s and connects it to modern migration issues in South Korea. Students will investigate the economic, social, and political factors that influenced Korean migration, analyze the experiences of these workers, and compare them to the conditions faced by today’s migrant workers in South Korea. Through group research, analysis, and reflective writing, students will understand the historical context and create lessons to inform current migration policies, aligning with relevant Kentucky World History Standards.

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Students will analyze changes to the Korean economy that have occurred since the end of the Korean War. This lesson follows an Inquiry Design Model with three supporting questions that take students through exploring multiple types of stimulus to answer: To What Extent is the Korean Economic Miracle a Miracle? The summative argument includes a rubric and examples of how students can demonstrate their learning. Examples are also provided for students to extend their learning and to take action.

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The purpose of the lesson is to help students understand how cultures spread throughout the world through relocation and expansion diffusion. Students will be working at their own pace via an interactive slideshow or peardeck to read and learn about the different types of diffusion. After learning there is practice students can work on to help them identify and explain different types of diffusion using examples from South Korea.

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