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Lesson Plan Library

Free Lesson Plans for Teachers

WHDE offers a set of free resources for teachers to help students better understand Korea. The lesson plans cover a variety of topics including geography, religion, economic development, culture, history, and the Korean War. Search our archive of lessons plans by topic, skill or grade level. You can find more teaching resources on the Korean War on the Korean War Legacy Foundation website. Visit teachingaboutnorthkorea.org to find lesson plans and activities for teaching about North Korea.

 
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Showing 1 - 7 of 7 lesson plans:

Korea’s Changing Demographics

Graphic of Korea's population growth and decline

Students will look at the historical trend in population in South Korea since the Korean War and will explain the reasons the population has been declining recently as well as the steps the government is taking to increase the fertility rate. Furthermore, students will predict what the population trend will be in future decades in South Korea, with or without government assistance.

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PDFWord

Author: Lisa Smith

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 90 minutes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2024

Skills: Analysis, Comparison

Topics: AP Human Geography

Rethinking Economic Development Measures: A South Korean Case Study

Korean flag over photos

This lesson helps students develop a nuanced understanding of economic development, encouraging critical thinking about how we measure progress and success on a national and global scale. It aligns well with broader educational goals of promoting analytical skills, global awareness, and multifaceted approaches to complex issues.

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PDFWord

Author: Thomas Sakole

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 60-80 minutes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2024

Skills: Analysis, Comparison

Topics: AP Economics, AP Human Geography, Economics, World History

Seoul as a Primate City

Skyline view of Seoul at night

This lesson on Seoul as a primate city provides students with an in-depth understanding of the concept of primate cities, using Seoul as a case study. Through this lesson, students will explore the defining characteristics of primate cities, analyze the economic and cultural significance of Seoul, and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of having a primate city. By the end of the lesson, students will have a better understanding of the complexities and implications of urbanization and economic development in primate cities.

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PDFWord

Author: Allison Cecil

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 60 minutes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2024

Skills: Analysis

Topics: AP Human Geography, Geography

South Korea – Culture, Economic Measures of Devleopment, and the World Economy

world map with pins

This lesson describes the significance of the Korean wave (Hallyu) beyond just K-pop music.

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PDFWord

Author: Kimberly Crawford

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 60 minutes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2024

Skills: Analysis

Topics: AP Human Geography

The Korean Diaspora: A Three Country Case Study

map graphic of koreans across the globe

In this lesson, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Korean diaspora. They will begin by constructing a Frayer model to define the term “diaspora” and explore its key characteristics. Next, students will delve into statistical data regarding the Korean diaspora, examining its distribution both in the United States and globally. To deepen their understanding, students will read about the most common diasporas originating from Korea. Finally, students will apply their knowledge by completing a triple Venn diagram to compare and contrast the causes and effects of these diverse diasporas, highlighting both similarities and differences in their experiences.

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PDFWord

Author: Patrick Sprinkle

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 60-75 minutes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2024

Skills: Analysis

Topics: AP Human Geography, Geography, World History

The Migration of Korean Workers to West Germany and Modern Migration Issues in South Korea

The Hidden History of Korean Labor Migrants in Germany

This lesson plan explores the history behind the migration of Korean workers to West Germany in the 1960s and 1970s and connects it to modern migration issues in South Korea. Students will investigate the economic, social, and political factors that influenced Korean migration, analyze the experiences of these workers, and compare them to the conditions faced by today’s migrant workers in South Korea. Through group research, analysis, and reflective writing, students will understand the historical context and create lessons to inform current migration policies, aligning with relevant Kentucky World History Standards.

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PDFWord

Author: Ginny Muse

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 2 Class Periods (45 minutes each)

Participation Year: Fellowship 2024

Skills: Comparison

Topics: AP Human Geography, World History

Types of Diffusion

Types of Diffusion

The purpose of the lesson is to help students understand how cultures spread throughout the world through relocation and expansion diffusion. Students will be working at their own pace via an interactive slideshow or peardeck to read and learn about the different types of diffusion. After learning there is practice students can work on to help them identify and explain different types of diffusion using examples from South Korea.

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PDFWord

Author: Padi Kong

Grades: Secondary (9-12)

Time: 50 minutes

Participation Year: Fellowship 2024

Skills: Comparison

Topics: AP Human Geography