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Lesson Plan Library

Free Lesson Plans for Teachers

WHDE offers a set of free resources for teachers to help students better understand Korea. The lesson plans cover a variety of topics including geography, religion, economic development, culture, history, and the Korean War. Search our archive of lessons plans by topic, skill or grade level. You can find more teaching resources on the Korean War on the Korean War Legacy Foundation website. Visit teachingaboutnorthkorea.org to find lesson plans and activities for teaching about North Korea.

 
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Showing 61 - 70 of 84 lesson plans:

The Cold War in Asia: Korea and Vietnam

black and white photo of group of soliders

The purpose of this lesson is to compare the Korean and the Vietnam wars. Student should have background knowledge of the beginning of the Cold War. Using different sources, students will analyze documents and videos to answer questions regarding the Cold War in Asia.

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PDFWord

Author: Melani Lippard

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: One- Two 85-minute classes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2018

Skills: Comparison

Topics: Korean War

The Continuation of the Korean War Along the DMZ

four US soldiers with large gun

Since the surrender of Japanese forces in 1945 the Korean peninsula has been divided along the 38th parallel. North of the 38th parallel the communist nation of North Korea was founded and to the south the capitalist system of South Korea. As a result of the Korean War the 38th parallel became a demilitarized zone dividing the two countries until a formal peace agreement could be signed. Though this armistice has been effect since July 23, 1953 some events along the DMZ and other parts of the Korean Peninsula have increased the reopening of open conflict between the two nations.In the next lesson students will build on their knowledge of the Korean War and its legacy through reading primary and secondary sources about the events that have brought the two nations to the brink of open warfare. Students will complete the activity through a guided method to increase understanding.

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PDFWord

Author: Craig Wood

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 2 50-minute classes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2019

Skills: Cause and Effect, Comparison

Topics: Communism, DMZ, Korean War

The Five Themes of South Korea

street with wall and buildings in background

This lesson is an introduction to the Five Themes of Geography. All students will use images to identify how the five themes are found in South Korea. Students will individually research other countries and apply the five themes as they did with the analysis of South Korea.

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PDFWord

Author: Rhonda Watton

Grades: Middle (6-8)

Time: 2-3 50 minute sessions

Participation Year: Fellowship 2019

Skills: Analysis

Topics: Geography

The Hermit Kingdom – Exploring the History Behind the Name

temple

This lesson is intended to connect current events with the past in order to better understand the United States’ relationship with Korea today, both North and South. Note: (The lesson is designed to be utilized immediately after the topics of Western intrusion in China and Japan in the Age of Imperialism. Both of which remain key topics in World History curricula, while Korea’s interaction with the West continues to be omitted)

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PDFWord

Author: Leonore Heino

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 2-3 class periods - 50 minutes each

Participation Year: Fellowship 2019

Skills: Cause and Effect

Topics: Current Events, Hermit Kingdom, Imperialism

The Impact of the Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952: (Korean GI Bill)

soldier hugging older man

This lesson explores the question, “How did the Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952 (Korean GI Bill) impact the Korean War veterans and American society as a whole?”

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PDFWord

Author: Kate Ehrlich

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 90 minutes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2020

Skills: Analysis

Topics: Korean War

The Korean Diaspora: A Three Country Case Study

map graphic of koreans across the globe

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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PDFWord

Author: Patrick Sprinkle

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 60-75 minutes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2024

Skills: Analysis

Topics: AP Human Geography, Geography, World History

The Little Green Frogs

book cover: The Green Frog

The purpose of this lesson is to develop an understanding of different global cultures using mentor texts. Using The Green Frogs, students will practice the whole book approach to reading a Korean folktale in order to better understand the role of folktales as a way of preserving culture

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PDFWord

Author: Heather Brougham-Cook

Grades: 4-5

Time: Two 50-minute classes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2018

Skills: Analysis, Comparison

Topics: Culture, Folktales

The Migration of Korean Workers to West Germany and Modern Migration Issues in South Korea

The Hidden History of Korean Labor Migrants in Germany

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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PDFWord

Author: Ginny Muse

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 2 Class Periods (45 minutes each)

Participation Year: Fellowship 2024

Skills: Comparison

Topics: AP Human Geography, World History

The Remarkable Space Between the Wars

tower behind trees

“The role that Korea has played in international politics and economics is often overshadowed by negative preconceptions and outright misconceptions by students.As the United States is currently embroiled in a climate of political, social and economic turmoil, students must understand the complexity of international relations. The ability to explore Korea’s role in the 21st Century will initiate critical discussion on the issues surrounding the current political, economic, and military crisis’s many nations are facing. Geopolitical decisions are global in scope and require systematic study of an interdependent world perspective. Students further need to develop a clearer understanding that technology plays a significant role in this decision-making. This lesson emphasizes a challenge to all learners to apply their prior knowledge to societal conditions as they analyze issues of past and present as well as working to clarify their own values, and refine their decision making capabilities.
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PDFWord

Author: Ellen Resnek

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 3-4 45-minute classes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2019

Skills: Analysis

Topics: Economics, Politics

The Republic of Korea and the Miracle of the Han River

city skyline at night

The Republic of Korea is a major player in Global Economics today. Students should be aware of the history of occupation and war that plagued Korea in the first half of the 19th century. Korea is a good example of how Government policy shifted the country from one of an aid recipient to a leading power. In the next lesson students will build on their learning by reading excerpts about Korea and the events that led to it becoming an aid nation, while answering questions. the teacher will guide students through readings that explain how government policy changed the outcome in South Korea allowing them to build upon the strong culture of education and hard work. Students will complete activities in the packet that clarify this process.

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PDFWord

Author: Julie Cross

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 2 50-minute class periods

Participation Year: Fellowship 2019

Skills: Comparison

Topics: Economics

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