Sean Figge

Jessica Weber

Cross- Content Lesson Plan

National University
 Cross-Curricular Lesson for Grade 10

English Language Arts and Social Science

Purpose: To understand the lasting impact of colonialism on modern day Nigeria and modern

Nigerian culture. To understand important themes in Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart

and to make connections to current events. To use effective research techniques, to synthesize

information from multiple sources and write a research report.

Outcome: Students will use two credible sources to find information on a specific topic regarding

modern day Nigeria, write a mini research report, and share their findings in small groups.

Students will engage in critical discussions in both small and large groups and make connections

between literary themes and modern sociocultural events.

ELA Standards:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.2 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.7

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.8

History/Social Science California State Standards: Chronological and Spatial Thinking

1. Students compare the present with the past, evaluating the consequences of past events and
decisions and determining the lessons that were learned.

2. Students analyze how change happens at different rates at different times; understand that
some aspects can change while others remain the same; and understand that change is
complicated and affects not only technology and politics but also values and beliefs.

Historical Research, Evidence, and Point of View

1. Students distinguish valid arguments from fallacious arguments in historical interpretations.

2. Students identify bias and prejudice in historical interpretations.

Historical Interpretation

1. Students show the connections, causal and otherwise, between particular historical events and
larger social, economic, and political trends and developments.
 2. Students recognize the complexity of historical causes and effects, including the limitations
on determining cause and effect.

3. Students interpret past events and issues within the context in which an event unfolded rather
than solely in terms of present-day norms and values.

4. Students understand the meaning, implication, and impact of historical events and recognize
that events could have taken other directions.

Agenda for Day 1

1. Pre-Assessment – Respond to prompt in journals. Quick Write Prompt: In Things Fall Apart

by Chinua Achebe, the novel reveals how the advent of British colonialism in the late 1800s

impacted the Igbo tribe of Nigeria. Nigeria has since gained its independence in the late 1960s.

In a brief paragraph describe what you believe Nigeria is like today after British Colonialism.

Describe what you believe may be the positive and/or negative social and cultural outcomes

regarding the major topics we discussed as we read the novel, including the lives of women,

government/economy, and religion. Use specific examples from the novel and from your

knowledge of history and colonialism to support your claims.

2. Students discuss response in large group session.

3. Distribute topics to students: women’s lives, religion, government/economy, and Boko Haram

4. Students begin research for Post-Colonial Nigeria Mini Research Project using laptop
computers and project handouts

Agenda for Day 2

1. Continue research

Agenda for Day 3

1. Complete research and write mini research report

Agenda for Day 4

Post Assessment

1. Break students up into groups of 4, each student with a different topic

2. Students take turns presenting topics to one another, students take notes on presentations to

ensure active listening skills

3. In groups, students then discuss how the current state of Nigeria is related to British

Colonialism and make connections to the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

4. Students share interesting thoughts from their small group discussions with the whole class in

teacher lead discussion and conclude thoughts on Achebe’s overall message regarding European

Colonialism in the novel as well as the lasting impacts of colonialism on a country.

 Post-Colonial Nigeria Mini Research Project Handouts

TOPIC:_________________________________ 
 
Information for Source 1
Author’s last and first name:____________________________________________________
Title of Article:_______________________________________________________________
Publisher of website__________________________Title of website:____________________
URL:_______________________________________________________________________
Publish Date:__________________________Access Date:____________________________
 
What type of information are you getting from this source? What are its strengths and

weaknesses? How do you know it is a credible source? 

Write your notes from the website here, avoid writing direct quotes and complete sentences,

paraphrase and bullet important information regarding your topic: 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 Information for Source 2
Author’s last and first name:____________________________________________________
Title of Article:_______________________________________________________________
Publisher of website__________________________Title of website:____________________
URL:_______________________________________________________________________
Publish Date:__________________________Access Date:____________________________
 
What type of information are you getting from this source? What are its strengths and

weaknesses? How do you know it is a credible source? 

Write your notes from the website here, avoid writing direct quotes and complete sentences,

paraphrase and bullet important information regarding your topic: 

 
 One Page Research Report 
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Works Cited 
 
 

Notes on Student Presentations 

Topic: 

Student: 

Notes: 

 
 
 

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Topic: 

Student: 

Notes: 

 
 
 
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Topic: 

Student: 

Notes: 

Reflection
Sean Figge:

I enjoyed working with this teacher, Jessica Weber, in collaboration. I decided to develop a

lesson in social studies to connect to the novel Things Fall Apart that my partner had previously

taught in her classroom. I have created lessons in every subject but usually did so for fifth and

sixth grade levels. This was an interesting experience because I had to increase the complexity of

the lesson to correspond to the tenth grade content.

It was interesting to work with another teacher that was so experienced. I was able to really see

the depth of knowledge that my partner had and the years of experience were very apparent. I am

used to working alone and in some ways I prefer that because I can mold my lesson exactly as I

want without worrying about the other people involved. Though I generally prefer working

alone, this collaboration was very helpful and allowed me to see another teacher’s methods.

Jessica Weber – English Language Arts Teacher SDUSD

I have been teaching English for seven years now and collaboration amongst English peers has

been a common practice in my schools. Although this collaboration is essential, I do find it

unfortunate that there are not more cross-curricular collaboration sessions. I especially find that

English Language Arts and Social Sciences are two subject areas that can work hand in hand

with one another. Therefore, assisting Sean with this project for his credentialing program was

very rewarding. I am always looking for ways to extend the knowledge beyond the literature to

help students find relevancy in their reading. I have used the novel Things Fall Apart for the last

two years in my World Literature courses and have always wanted students to understand both

the immediate consequences of Colonialism as presented in the book as well as the long term

consequences that impact the country of Nigeria presently. Working with a teacher using a
different content area created an engaging, standards based lesson that I would happily

incorporate into my unit of study to achieve this purpose. Overall, I enjoyed the cross-curricular

collaboration and hope to do more of this in my career.