All about North Korea

Description

The country of North Korea, often featured in recent news stories, is introduced in this lesson.  The country’s capital city is mentioned, as well as land features like Mount Paektu and the Yalu River, among others.  The history of North Korea is mentioned, as well as some government oppression and propaganda.  By the end of the lesson, students will understand the history of North Korea and be able to locate it on a map.  It is recommended teachers use the video resources to take students on a “trip” to North Korea.  The lesson may also be used with a lesson related to the Korean War.

Classroom Procedure:

1. Ask students: What do you think it means for people who live in a communist country?  What do you think life would be like?
2. Allow for responses and discussion. Encourage students to be specific.  Ask students to name the communist countries in the world.  (China, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba, North Korea)
3. Allow for responses and ask students how they know. Ask students if they know which of the five countries is the “most communist” country?  (According to experts it is North Korea.)
4. Allow for responses and discussion, asking students to support their response. Introduce All About North Korea.
5. Distribute All About North Korea content pages. Use a North Korea map during the lesson to identify the borders, landmarks, geographic features, etc.  Save the final question for the lesson closing.  Read and review the information with the students.  Use the additional resources to enhance understanding.
6. Distribute Activity page. Read and review the instructions.  Pair students.  Encourage students to think about the letter as a letter to a stranger who has no idea what the rest of the world experiences.  They may think of it as a letter to a pen pal.  Allow students time to complete the letter, creating a rough draft before writing the final copy.
7. Once completed, the students will share the letter with another pair of students or read them aloud to the class.
8. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’ responses.
9. Distribute the Homework page. The next day, check and review the students’ responses.
10. In closing, ask students: Nearly all citizens in North Korea do not have access to the Internet. What do you think life would be like without Internet access?  What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having access to the Internet every day?

Common Core State Standards: 

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.3, 7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3, 7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.3, 7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.3, 7

Class Sessions (45 minutes): at least 2 class sessions

Additional Resources: 

• http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-korea/
• https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/North_Korea
• http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15256929

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