DAILY AGENDA: Global Studies

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

What well learn

Today, were going to delve into a mini-unit on Black History Month. To start, well look at
Liberia, an African country with a uniquely American history. Well learn about who founded
the country, why its capital is named after an American president, and what it tells us about
the dynamics of power and imperialism.

How well get there

1. Do Now (at bottom)
2. Video: From Abe Lincoln to Ebola -- A Short History of Liberia
3. Five Fast Facts About Liberia Form -- bit.ly/liberia5
4. Tandem Writing Activity

Why this matters

When we hear the word imperialism, we typically think about Europeans traveling to
Africa or the Americas and taking over land. Liberia is an odd variation -- its a case where
freed black men went back to Africa and found their arrival wasnt particularly welcome.
This is a good opportunity to think about black history in a different way, and to think about
what it means to be African, American, African-American, and Americo-Liberian.

By the end of this class, you should be able to

Identify at least two motivations that led former slaves to found Liberia
Summarize how tensions between Africans and Americo-Liberians led to political
instability

What youll turn in

Google Forms (submitted electronically)
Tandem Writing Docs (shared with j kaltwasser@camden.k12.nj.us)

Do Now: Imagine you were starting your own country. What would you call it? What
American ideas would you take with you? What American ideas would you leave
behind?
Google Form: FIve Fast Facts About Liberia
1. Navigate to bit.ly/liberia5.
2. Read the five questions and re-watch the video as necessary.
3. Use the video and internet research to answer the five questions. Then hit
submit.

Tandem Writing Activity

1. Choose a partner. Have one partner be Joseph Jenkins Roberts. The other
partner should be a native Liberian leader.
2. Have one partner go to docs.google.com.
3. Create a new document. Name it GS-Liberia-LastName1.LastName2
4. Share the document with your partner and with jkaltwasser@camden.k12.nj.us.
5. The first partner writes one paragraph, explaining why he should be in charge
of Liberia. Use the voice of your character, but also use complete sentences and
proper grammar.
6. The second partner answers back and disagrees.
7. Repeat this process until each partner has written at least three paragraphs.
8. REMEMBER:
a. Be respectful.
b. Respond to what your partner actually says. Concede points as
warranted.
c. Push for evidence when warranted. Does your partner have a good
reason for what they say?
9. When you are finished, write each of your full names at the bottom of the page.