Prelude to Colonisation and… · SHS3 History

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: 3.3.3.LI.1 - Assess the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 and its impact on Africa.

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Describe the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 in terms of its date, venue, organisers, attending countries and the agenda of the meeting.
Explain the economic, political and social factors that motivated European powers to call the Berlin Conference.
Analyse the key agreements and decisions reached at the Berlin Conference and how they shaped the partition of Africa.
Assess the political, economic, social and cultural impact of the Berlin Conference on Africa using primary and secondary sources, including political cartoons.
Compare the map of Africa before 1885 with the map after partition and identify African kingdoms that remained independent.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Age of Encounter and Exchanges Up to the 20th Century (Strand 3)
Sub-strand: Prelude to Colonisation and Colonial Rule (3.3)
Content standard: 3.3.3.CS.1 - Demonstrate understanding of how the Europeans scrambled for and partitioned Africa and how Africans were eventually drawn into the two World Wars. 3.3.3.LO.1 Employ relevant historical skills to analyse and describe how Africa was partitioned, the nature of European rule and the involvement of Africans in the two World Wars including how both influenced nationalism towards independence in different African countries.
Indicator: 3.3.3.LI.1 - Assess the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 and its impact on Africa.
Suggested placement: Semester 2, Week 9 (Week 29 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Curriculum reference: NaCCA curriculum document, p. 127

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

Enquiry Routes: What was the Berlin Conference about? Where was the Berlin Conference held? When was it held? Who organised the conference? Which European countries were represented in the conference? What agreements/ decisions were reached? What was the impact of the Berlin conference on Africa?
Talk for Learning:
- Using think-pair-share activity, learners describe the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885.
- Using Graffiti wall activity, learners explain the rationale behind the Berlin Conference of 1884- 1885.
Project-Based Learning:
- In a Jigsaw activity, learners create charts that explain the economic, political, and social factors influencing the organisation of the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885.
- In small groups, learners create posters on European countries and leaders who represented them in the Berlin Conference.
- In mixed-ability groups, learners create an oral or written presentation on the agreements made at the Berlin Conference.
Problem-Based Learning:
- In pairs, learners analyse political cartoons on the Berlin Conference to justify or otherwise the scramble for Africa. HINT: Encourage learners who are visually impaired to sit in front to help them during the task.
- In small groups, learners compare the map of Africa prior to 1885 to map of Africa after its partition.
- Learners make an outline of countries that were claimed by each of the European countries and explain why some African kingdoms (countries) remained independent after the partition.
- In mixed-ability groups, learners analyse primary and secondary sources to determine the impact of the partition of Africa.
Teaching and Learning Resources:
- Primary sources on the Berlin Conference (old photographs, videos, documents, newspaper reports, etc.)
- A chart on the rationale for the Berlin Conference.
- Cartoons on the Berlin Conference
- Map of Africa before and after its partition.
- Internet access
- Computer/ laptop/mobile phone, speaker-out devices.
- Stationery
- A chart on the difference between Direct and Indirect Rule.
- Old African and European maps
- A chart on features of Direct and Indirect Rule.
- A resource person
- Primary sources on WWI and WWII (old photographs, videos, newspaper reports, etc.)
- Documentaries on WWI and WWII
- A chart on impact of the World Wars on Africa
Assessment (3.3.3.AS.1). The document marks these depth-of-knowledge levels for this indicator: Level 3 Strategic reasoning; Level 4 Extended critical thinking and reasoning.