SAMPLE
LESSONS:
West
Indies and The Caribbean: Sugar & Slavery
by:
Antonio T. Benson
Subject: The Triangular Trade / Caribbean
Islands / Sugar & Slavery Economy
Related Subject Areas: African History, African-American
History, Caribbean History, World History
Grade Level: 8 - 12
Estimated Time requirement: A Full Academic term
Lesson Objectives:
- Students will explore the state of the world (Africa, West Indies/The
Caribbean and Europe) before the slave trade.
- Students will understand the geography and economics of the
slave trade.
- Students will explore primary sources and how historians use
these sources to create historical interpretations.
- Students will view primary sources, historians and history teacher
perspectives to develop their own historical interpretations (students
becoming historians).
- Students will learn about the Middle Passage, Triangle Trade,
the Slave Trade and the sugar economy in the West Indies and the
Americas. Especially Massachusetts were most of the rum was produce.
State Standards:
History/Social Science: American History
- 1. Chronology and Cause;
- 2. Historical Understanding;
- 3. Research, Evidence and Point of View;
- 4. Society, Diversity, Commonality and the Individual; and
- 5. Interdisciplinary Learning. Geography Places and Regions
of the World
National Standards:
National Standards for Visual Arts:
National Standards for History (8-12)
- Chronology & Cause
- Historical Understanding
- Places & Regions of the World
- The effects of Geography
- Interdisciplinary Learning:
- Natural Science
- Religion, Ethics, Philosophy & literature in History
- Mathematics & technology in History
- Authority, Responsibility & power
Writing:
- Demonstrates competence in the skills and strategies of the
writing process.
- Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in writing.
- Various forms of Essay and Reflection writing.
- Each student will complete a Research Paper.
Materials:
• Computers
- Internet Access;
- Microsoft Encarta Africana 200 CD-ROM
• Articles: Caribbean Islands
• A large map of the Caribbean
• Books:
- Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro, The history of
the Caribbean.
- Eric Williams, Capitalism and Slavery
- Jan Rugozinski, A brief History of the Caribbean - From the
Arawak and the Carib to the present.
- Roderick A. McDonald, The Economy and Material culture of
Slaves.
- Rebecca J. Scott, Slave Emancipation in Cuba - The Transition
to Free Labor, 1860-1899.
- Richard S. Dunn, Sugar and Slavery - The Rise of the Planter
Class in the West Indies.
- Clinton V. Black, History of Jamaica
- Michael Burnett, Jamaica Music
- Boston Public Schools Resource Guide for Educators, Blacks
in Boston - The Caribbean Connection.
- J.D. Fage, An Atlas of African History
• Sidebar:
• Media:
Slave ship (video) - A documentary of the Middle Passage Journey
of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the West Indies
and the New World. (Discovery Channel).
• Features:
• Websites:
Introduction:
The West Indies introduced enslaved Africans to the harsh realities
of slavery and the horrible Middle passage journey to the New World.
The Racism and hard labor on English sugar plantations set the pattern
for the later treatment of Africans in the English colonies. These
practices set the stage for the bitter racial divisions that would
trouble the United States for some 200 years.
Today the West Indies culture is as rich and varied as the region's
people are. Their official languages might include Spanish, English,
Dutch and French. Also Creole, a dialect rooted in African languages,
is widely spoken too.
With the end of slavery in the islands, (1800s) grew feelings of
pride in traditional African culture music (Salsa, Reggae, and Calypso
or SOCI) foods (Fufu, Fried Plantains, Cassava pone) and dialects
(Creole -rooted in African languages).
Each of these sounds and tastes is rooted in the region's African
heritage - helping to create what some call an "Afro-Caribbean Culture"
Many Islands are transitioning to Independence: 11 out of the 13
Independent islands-nations practice democracy.
Teaching strategy / Learning Activities:
I. Open-ended "Key" question or problems (students should
consider about history, geography, economics, civics, government,
and culture). This strategy requires students to think critically,
not just recall knowledge, and to prepare a response, product, or
performance involving analysis, synthesis, evaluation, or a combination
of the three.
The format is the following:
A. Topic sentence
1. Details
2. Details
3. Details
B. Summary or Conclusion
2. History / Social Science Portfolio (8-12)
Each student will keep a collection of work for the school year.
A spiral notebook, a three-ring binder, a pocket folder, electronic
notebook, or some other organizational / storage device.
The portfolio will include the following:
- Class notes and information - Articles, reading materials, presentations,
lectures, and discussions.
- Responses to Key Questions (students will discuss and write
frequent response to open-ended key question).
- Performance tasks: Tests, quizzes, and final examine.
- Each student will complete a Research Paper at the end of the
year.
3. Style:
4. Subject Matter:
5. Things to Remember:
6. Cyberskills:
Contributor:
Antonio T. Benson
Community Academy
Alternative Education (8-12 grades)
76 Shirley Street, Roxbury MA. 02119
617. 635.7732 or 617.799.5103
