Mock Trial: Emperor Hirohito

Teaching skills like critical thinking, researching, and collaborating is one of the most important task of education nowadays. Sometimes it is difficult to fully focus on these important competences, since the curriculum is full and expectations high. One of the topics of the IB history exam is the "Move to Global War", for which the Japanese expansion between 1931-1945 is a case study. I designed a mock trial based on an imaginary prosecution of the Japanese emperor Hirohito to focus on as well skills as content.

Lesson 5 – Dividing Africa

Students re-enact the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 during which European countries divided Africa amongst themselves. The lesson makes the students realise how ignorant the Europeans were of already existing tribes and connections in Africa, and only concerned about their own gains from the continent. The lesson includes a script for each country, a selection of maps, and historical context. 

Lesson 4 – Writing Injustice

This lesson was linked to Anti-War protests during the Cold War. The focus was injustice in our current day society. During these two lessons, students created their own narrative about injustice, and thought of ways for them to get involved in a particular cause. This lesson is meant as an example of how history can be used to explore a general concept in past and present times, hereby developing reflective skills and awareness among students.

Lesson 3 – Talking History

This lesson was designed on the basis of four different texts in which people put forward pro-slavery arguments or abolitionist standpoints. Students conducted "Table Talks", so they conversed about the different texts in groups. They recorded these conversations with one cell phone. This idea of Table Talks is created by Mr Fischburg, who gave permission to share the great activity. 

Lesson 2 – Rappin’ about Revoltin’

This lesson was a part of the lessons series on Slavery in the New World 1500-1800 for the IB diploma program. In a previous lesson, students were surprised to find pictures of revolts organized by the enslaved in their book. Therefore I thought it necessary to use some lessons on the different ways enslaved people revolted during their enslavement.