Students begin by learning the early history of Brazil, including that of its native population. Then they explore and explain the impact of the Portuguese colonization and independence, researching a specific era in Brazil's history. Finally, they consider the impact of the slave trade on Brazil.
Students are introduced to Brazil’s unique colonial history and its role in the African slave trade, then review a Timeline of Brazilian History. They answer two poll questions about early settlement and colonization and post two questions they have about Brazil’s history to a class discussion wall.
Teacher MovesPresent the lesson overview and objectives, highlighting that Brazil’s history is complex and may require more than one class session. Guide students through the timeline, then review and discuss their posted questions, selecting several to serve as guiding questions for the rest of the experience.
Students read selected paragraphs from The Indigenous Population to learn about Brazil’s native peoples before European contact. They summarize the early history of Brazil’s natives in their own words and share their summaries on a class wall.
Teacher MovesHighlight strong or insightful student summaries and use them to prompt discussion about what life may have been like for native groups when the Portuguese arrived, focusing on what they would have seen, heard, and experienced with the newcomers.
Students watch a segment of the video Independence of Brazil to learn about Portuguese colonization and Brazil’s path to independence. Using a timeline-style graphic organizer, they take notes on key dates, events, and developments, then answer multiple-choice questions about the Empire of Brazil, the Treaty of Tordesillas, plantation agriculture, slavery, and European rivals for control of Brazil.
Teacher MovesEnsure students understand the assigned historical eras or events for the upcoming group work, assigning at least one group to each period from pre-colonial Brazil through the reigns of Pedro I and Pedro II. Clarify any misconceptions revealed by the organizer or questions before moving on.
In small groups, students research their assigned era or event in Brazilian history using online sources. They create a report that includes key facts and dates, important people or groups, and an explanation of how their era or event contributed to Brazil’s overall development. Groups post their reports to a shared discussion wall or link to a digital presentation created with tools such as Prezi, Tiki-Toki, or slide presentations.
Teacher MovesSupport groups as they research and organize their information, prompting them to connect their era or event to broader themes in Brazil’s history. When reports are complete, have groups present in chronological order to build a class narrative of Brazil’s development.
Students examine a historical image of an overseer punishing an enslaved person in Brazil and then read Brazilian Former Slave Community Fights for Land to explore how slavery’s legacy continues to affect communities today. They respond on a class wall to the question of what should be done for people in these former slave communities, supporting their ideas with evidence from the article and earlier video content.
Teacher MovesPrepare students for the difficult primary source image and guide them in reflecting respectfully on its content. Help students focus on the article’s key ideas rather than technical legal details so they can clearly see the connection between slavery and present-day struggles. Share and discuss thoughtful student responses to deepen understanding of slavery’s long-term impact.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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