Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The British Empire – Where the Sun Never Set

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read an article on the British Empire.  In this ESL lesson, students explore the British Empire from the 1600's, then work in small groups to complete several activities that reinforce the information learned in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Shooting An Elephant": George Orwell's Essay on His Life in Burma

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High school readers examine George Orwell's essay "Shooting an Elephant" for examples of symbolism, metaphor, connotation, and irony. They analyze how these literary tools convey the writer's main point and contribute to the persuasive...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Romans in Britain, or Classical Colonialism

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars identify the extent of the Roman Empire on a map of Europe and North Africa. They discuss the reasons behind Roman expansion and occupation. They read Cymbeline and write about the attitudes of 3 characters. Groups stage...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": Mixing Fact and Fiction

For Students 3rd - 9th Standards
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," from The Jungle Book, offers young readers a chance to examine how Rudyard Kipling uses setting and personification to bring to life the brave mongoose who battles cobras to protect his family. Class members...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence and Your Own Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read and discuss the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments. They discuss how the rights of the colonists and women were being violated. Students write about their own personal rights and how their rights...
Website
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: Travel, Trade and the Expansion of the British Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
In the 17th century, London was at the center of global trade, with goods and individuals arriving in the capital from all over the world. This article looks at how travel, trade, and empire shaped the works of Daniel Defoe, Alexander...
Website
Other

British Empire: Rudyard Kipling

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of author Rudyard Kipling which references his views on British colonial rule across the world.
Website
Nagoya University (Japan)

Nagoya University: British Authors on the Web

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent and detailed site which lists over 750 British authors. The site provides links to more information about each author and is categorized by alphabet and time period. Some links may no longer work in the archived URL.
Website
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: Travel, Colonialism and Slavery

For Students 9th - 10th
From Robinson Crusoe to the anti-slavery activism of Olaudah Equiano and the letters of Ignatius Sancho: explore a range of writing produced during an age of travel, trade and colonial conquest, in which Britain vastly expanded its...