Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. The teacher will introduce the topic of Mercantilism to the students, explaining its significance as an economic system that dominated Europe from the 16th to the 18th century.

   • The students will be able to define Mercantilism and understand its historical context.
   • The students will understand the primary goal of Mercantilism, which was to accumulate wealth through a favorable balance of trade.

2. The teacher will explain how Mercantilism influenced the development of colonies and the slave trade.

   • The students will learn about the role of colonies in supplying raw materials and serving as markets for manufactured goods.
   • The students will understand the impact of the slave trade on the accumulation of wealth during the era of Mercantilism.

3. The teacher will introduce the key players in the era of Mercantilism, such as European nations and their colonies.

   • The students will learn about the major European nations involved in Mercantilism, including England, France, Spain, and Portugal.
   • The students will understand the economic relationship between these nations and their colonies.

Secondary Objectives:

• The students will build their historical thinking skills by analyzing the causes and effects of Mercantilism.
• The students will develop their communication skills by participating in class discussions and sharing their understanding of the topic.

Introduction (10 - 12 minutes)

1. The teacher will start the lesson by asking the students to recall the economic systems they have learned about in the past, such as feudalism and capitalism. This will serve as a quick refresher and a way to connect the new topic of Mercantilism to their prior knowledge.

2. The teacher will then present two problem situations to the students:

   • First, the teacher will ask the students to imagine they are explorers from a European country in the 17th century. They have just discovered a new land with abundant resources. What would they do with these resources? How would they use the land and its people to benefit their home country?
   • Second, the teacher will ask the students to consider a scenario where they are the ruler of a small European country in the 18th century. They want their country to become more powerful and wealthier than their neighbors. What economic policies might they implement to achieve this goal?

3. The teacher will contextualize the importance of the era of Mercantilism by explaining its influence on the modern world. They will point out that many of the economic and political systems we have today, such as global trade and colonization, have their roots in Mercantilism. This will help the students understand that history is not just about the past, but it also shapes the present and the future.

4. To grab the students' attention, the teacher will share two interesting facts related to the topic:

   • Fact 1: The teacher will tell the story of how the search for new trade routes to Asia led to the discovery of the Americas. This unintended consequence of Mercantilism dramatically changed the world, as it opened up new frontiers for exploration, colonization, and trade.
   • Fact 2: The teacher will share a curious detail about the economic policies of the time, such as the Navigation Acts in England, which restricted trade between the colonies and other nations. This will help the students understand the real-world implications of the theoretical concepts they will be learning.

5. The teacher will conclude the introduction by reminding the students that they will be learning more about these intriguing topics in the coming class.

Development

Pre-Class Activities (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Reading Material: The teacher provides the students with a summarized text (2 - 3 pages) about the concept of Mercantilism, its underlying principles, its historical context, and its impact on world history. The text should be accessible and engaging, including images, bullet points, and key terms.

2. Video Resource: The students are assigned to watch a short, animated video (around 5 minutes) which explains Mercantilism in a simplified and engaging way. The video should cover the basic aspects of Mercantilism, including its goal of accumulating wealth through a favorable balance of trade, the role of colonies in supplying raw materials and serving as markets for manufactured goods, and the influence of Mercantilism on the slave trade.

3. Note-making and Reflection: After reading the material and watching the video, the students are asked to write down their understanding of the topic. They should jot down any questions or points of confusion they have for further discussion in the class. They are also encouraged to reflect on the material and think about how Mercantilism might have influenced the development of the modern world. This activity will help students to consolidate their learning and prepare them for the in-class activities.

In-Class Activities (40 - 50 minutes)

Activity 1: Mercantilism Simulation Game (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Setting the Context: The teacher introduces a game that will allow the students to experience the principles of Mercantilism firsthand. The class is divided into three groups, each representing a different European nation (England, France, and Spain) in the 17th century. The teacher explains that these nations are in a race to accumulate the most wealth through trade and colonization.

2. Game Play: Each group is given a map and a set of resources, such as beads, sugar cubes, and paper money. The map is divided into different areas representing colonies and the "home country". The goal of the game is for each group to use their resources to acquire as many colonies as possible and extract resources from them. The ultimate aim is to accumulate the most wealth, represented by the resources they have acquired.

   • Phase 1: Exploration and Colonization: The groups take turns "exploring" unclaimed areas on the map and "colonizing" them by placing their flag. They can also "trade" with each other to acquire more resources.

   • Phase 2: Resource Extraction and Trade: Once the map is fully colonized, each group can start "extracting resources" from their colonies. They do this by trading resources with the teacher, who acts as a "global market".

   • Phase 3: Wealth Accumulation: The game ends after a set amount of time. At this point, each group counts their resources to determine the "wealth" of their nation.

3. Reflection: After the game, the students are asked to reflect on their experience. They discuss in their groups what strategies they used to gain wealth and how they felt about other nations' actions. This reflection will help the students to connect their gameplay experience with the historical concept of Mercantilism.

Activity 2: Mercantilism Debate (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Setting the Context: The teacher introduces a debate activity where each group will argue for or against a specific aspect of Mercantilism. The topics for debate could be:

   • "The accumulation of wealth through trade and colonization was the main goal of Mercantilism and justified its exploitative practices."
   • "The era of Mercantilism laid the foundation for the modern global trade system and shaped the world as we know it today."

2. Preparation and Presentation: Each group is given time to prepare arguments and counter-arguments for their assigned topic. The teacher provides them with resources from class materials to support their arguments.

3. Debate: The teacher moderates the debate, with each group presenting their arguments and counter-arguments. The other groups are encouraged to ask questions and challenge the presenters' arguments. The debate is conducted in a respectful and constructive manner, focusing on the ideas rather than the individuals.

4. Reflection: After the debate, the students are asked to reflect on the arguments presented and the questions raised. They discuss in their groups what they learned from the debate and how it has changed or reinforced their understanding of Mercantilism. This reflection will help the students to understand the complexity of historical issues and develop their critical thinking skills.

Feedback (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussions: The teacher will facilitate a group discussion, allowing each group to share their conclusions from the simulation game and the debate. Each group will be given up to 3 minutes to present their main points. This will allow the students to learn from each other's experiences and perspectives, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

2. Connecting Theory and Practice: The teacher will then guide the students to reflect on how the activities connect with the theory of Mercantilism. They will discuss the strategies used in the simulation game and how they relate to the economic principles of Mercantilism. They will also consider the arguments presented in the debate and how they reflect the historical context of Mercantilism. This part of the feedback session will help the students to see the practical relevance of the theoretical concepts they have learned.

3. Assessment of Learning: The teacher will assess the students' understanding of Mercantilism based on their participation in the activities and their reflections. They will consider how well the students were able to apply their knowledge in the simulation game and the debate, and how effectively they were able to connect their experiences with the theory of Mercantilism. The teacher will provide constructive feedback on the students' performance, highlighting their strengths and areas for improvement.

4. Self-Reflection: The teacher will then ask the students to take a moment to reflect on what they have learned in the lesson. They will be asked to think about the most important concept they have learned and any questions they still have. This self-reflection will help the students to consolidate their learning and identify any areas of confusion or curiosity that they can explore further in future lessons or on their own.

5. Closing the Lesson: The teacher will conclude the lesson by summarizing the main points and reminding the students of the importance of understanding Mercantilism in the context of world history. They will also preview the next lesson, which will delve deeper into the impacts and legacy of Mercantilism. The teacher will encourage the students to continue exploring the topic and to come to the next class with any questions or ideas they have.