HISTORY LESSON PLAN (page 1 of 3)

Topic: Kai Tak Airport in the war years (1941-1946)

Class:Form 3 level

Objectives: -To teach students the history of Kai Tak Airport, particularly what happened during the war (1941-1946)

-To help students understand the importance of an airport in a city/country

-To assist students in developing a broader viewpoint (i.e. learning to see things from the perspective of society) through problem-solving exercises

Duration:4 class periods of 35 minutes each

NOTE:All worksheets and infosheets used in the lesson are attached to this lesson plan. Soft copy (filenames are italicized in the lesson plan) can be found on CD-ROM.

CLASS PERIOD 1
Time / Nature of Activity / Activity / Aims / Aids
3 min /

STIMULATION/SIMULATION EXERCISE

/ Divide students into groups of 6-7. Ask them to close their eyes & imagine this scenario: It is the year 1925. The HK Govt is contemplating the construction of an airport. Students assume the role of govt officials in a committee responsible for the airport construction project. / Establish the timeframe and setting for the lesson.
7-10 min /

Group discussion: Problem 1

/ Look at the map of HK in 1923. Four areas (A, B, C, D) are under consideration as airport construction sites and have been circled on the map. Keeping in mind that they are committee members for the airport project, students complete Worksheet 1 in their groups. Worksheet 1 requires them to think about factors to consider when selecting a site. / Students are guided by the worksheet to think critically, from the perspective of society, about the factors to consider when choosing a site for airport construction. / -Map of HK & New
Leased Territory
(map.gif)
-Worksheet 1
(WS1.doc)
17 min /

Report Worksheet 1 answers

/

The teacher consolidates worksheet answers on the board by asking a group representative to report answers. Specifically, the teacher should draw students’ attention to the answers of 2a & 2b (i.e. the factors to consider in selecting an airport site).

/ Students are made aware of the various factors which need to be considered when deciding where to construct an airport. / -Worksheet 1 answers
(WS1-ans.doc)

HISTORY LESSON PLAN (page 2 of 3)

CLASS PERIOD 1 (cont’d)

Time / Nature of Activity / Activity / Aims / Aids
5 min /

Information sheet & Problem 2

/ The teacher informs students that site A (Kowloon Old City) was the chosen airport site & hands out Infosheet 1 which gives some background information on Kai Tak site. Also on Infosheet 1 is Problem 2 for students to ponder. The teacher should briefly explain Problem 2. It will be discussed next class. / Students are given some background information on the Kai Tak site for them to read on their own. They are also given a problem to think about after class. / -Infosheet 1
(IS1.doc)
CLASS PERIOD 2
Time / Nature of Activity / Activity / Aims / Aids
10 min /

STIMULATION/SIMULATION EXERCISE (cont’d)

Group discussion: Problem 2
/ According to Infosheet 1 (distributed last class), constructing an airport is a costly project & some govt depts argue that the govt should not spend money on it or suggest postponing the project. Imagine that the teacher is a govt official opposed to the idea of building an airport. In their groups, students should discuss how to convince the teacher that establishing an airport is a worthwhile project by providing reasons why HK needs an airport. Students should write their points on large pieces of paper. / The questions on Infosheet 1 help guide students to think about & discuss the importance of an airport in a city or country, as well as the advantages/benefits of having an airport in a city or country. / -Infosheet 1
(IS1.doc)
-Large pieces of blank paper
20 min /

Group presentation

/

Each group pastes their large piece of paper on the board and presents their points to the class. During the presentation, the teacher should classify students’ points into categories of “social/cultural”, “economic”, or “military” benefits.

/ Students should be made aware of how the impact of an airport benefits the development of a city/country in military, social/cultural, and economic aspects. / -Students’ work written on large pieces of paper
5 min /

Conclusion

/

The teacher points out the different categories of points raised– economic, social/cultural, military – to conclude the lesson. The teacher may wish to use the format or ideas on Infosheet 2 (for teacher use only).

/ Students get a clearer idea of the different aspects of our society which benefit from the existence of an airport. / -Infosheet 2 (IS2.doc)

HISTORY LESSON PLAN (page 3 of 3)

CLASS PERIOD 3
Time / Nature of Activity / Activity / Aims / Aids
35 min /

POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

/

The teacher shows the powerpoint presentation on Kai Tak Airport during the war years.

/ Students learn about the history of Kai Tak
Airport during the time of Japanese occupation. / -Powerpoint file
(Kai Tak.ppt)

CLASS PERIOD 4

Time / Nature of Activity / Activity / Aims / Aids
30-35 min / Revision worksheet/test / The teacher assigns Worksheet 2 to students as individual work. Answers to the worksheet can be found on Worksheet 2 (answers). / Students are required to complete
Worksheet 2 based on their knowledge and understanding of the material presented in the 3 previous lessons. Worksheet 2 can be used as a revision test. / -Worksheet 2
(WS2.doc)
-Worksheet 2 answers
(WS2-ans.doc)

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