Individual Lesson View
Potato Famine
From: Zinn Education Project
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1-2 class periods
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Hunger on Trial: An Activity on the Irish Potato Famine and Its Meaning for Today
Students are divided into 5 groups, each representing one of the following: Irish Tenant Farmers, British Landlords, British Government, Anglican Church, or the system of Colonial Capitalism. Just like "The People vs. Columbus, et al," activity, students defend their group vs charges of genocide and indicate which group they find guilty. Each group is given a paragraph of background on their group. You might consider adding your own reading assignment on the Potato Famine.
Lesson Identifier: 7Z[um_bookmarks_button post_id=””]
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Grade Level: HS, (College)
- This lesson is intended for high school students
- However, we think it would be excellent for college students as well.
Remote Ready: With Modifications
- Links to the reading assignments can easily be emailed or posted for students.
- It’s much easier for small groups or pairs to coordinate a phone call or video conference meeting than for the entire class to sync their schedules. Have these small groups post answers, a synopsis, or a video of their discussion to your LMS.
Secondary Source Icon
This activity contains secondary sources but only 1 paragraph for each group.
Group Work Icon
This activity calls for working in pairs, a group, and/or having a class discussion
Debate Icon
This activity involves a student debate
Role Play Icon
This activity involves asking students to portray historical figures
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