Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the process of colonization of America: Students should be able to analyze and understand the arrival of Europeans to the American continent and how colonization unfolded, identifying the main actors involved, motivations, and impacts.

2. Identify the factors that led to American independence: Students should be able to recognize the social, political, and economic factors that contributed to independence movements in America, highlighting the diversity of these processes and their consequences.

3. Analyze the impacts of colonization and independence on the formation of American nations: Students should be able to evaluate the lasting effects of colonization and independence on the constitution of American nations, considering aspects such as the formation of national identities, social structure, and economy.

Secondary Objectives:

• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills: Students should be encouraged to critically analyze historical events, identifying connections and impacts.
• Stimulate research skills and autonomous study: Students should be encouraged to seek additional information on the topic, deepening their understanding and developing autonomy in the learning process.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of Previous Content: The teacher should start the lesson by reviewing the concepts of colonization and independence, which were studied in previous classes. This can be done through a brief discussion, emphasizing the importance of these events in shaping the modern world. (2-3 minutes)

2. Problem Situations: The teacher can propose two problem situations to arouse students' interest:

   • Situation 1: "How do you believe the colonization of America by Europeans impacted the current configuration of the continent?"
   • Situation 2: "What factors do you think were essential for the independence of the American colonies? How could these factors have varied from one colony to another?" (3-5 minutes)

3. Contextualization: The teacher should then contextualize the importance of the theme, explaining that the colonization and independence of America are fundamental milestones in world history that changed the geopolitical, economic, and social configuration of the planet. Additionally, the teacher can highlight the relevance of the theme for understanding the formation of American nations and the current issues they face. (2-3 minutes)

4. Capturing Students' Attention: To capture students' attention, the teacher can share curiosities or interesting stories related to the theme. Some suggestions are:

   • Curiosity 1: "Did you know that the colonization of America was started by accident? Christopher Columbus, who was looking for a new route to the Indies, ended up reaching the American continent by mistake!"
   • Curiosity 2: "Do you know which was the last American colony to become independent? Surprisingly, it was Belize, which only gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1981!" (3-5 minutes)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

Activity 1: "Colonization: The Conquest Game" (10 - 12 minutes)

1. Preparation: The teacher should divide the class into groups of up to 5 students. Each group will receive a map of America and colored markers. Additionally, the teacher should prepare cards with information about the colonizing powers (Spain, Portugal, France, England, etc.) and the main colonies in America.
2. Rules: The objective of the game is for each group, representing a colonizing power, to conquer as much American territory as possible. To do this, students must, in turns, choose a colony to "conquer" and justify this choice based on the information on the card. If the justification is accepted by the other groups, the territory is marked with the group's color. Otherwise, the group loses its turn. The game continues until all territories are conquered.
3. Development: Students should discuss in their groups, analyzing the information on the cards and planning their strategies. During the game, the teacher should circulate around the room, monitoring the discussions and clarifying doubts. At the end of the game, the teacher should promote a collective discussion about the strategies adopted and the impacts of colonization on the formation of the American continent.

Activity 2: "Independence: The Path to Freedom" (10 - 12 minutes)

1. Preparation: The teacher should continue with the same groups from the previous activity. Each group will now receive cards with information about the factors that led to the independence of different American colonies, such as revolts, wars, international pressures, etc.
2. Rules: The objective of this activity is for students, still representing the colonizing powers, to prevent the independence of their colonies. To do this, groups must, in turns, choose a factor to "apply" to an independent colony and justify this choice. If the justification is accepted by the other groups, the colony remains under the dominion of the power. Otherwise, the colony becomes independent, and the group loses the colony. The game continues until all colonies are independent or under the dominion of a power.
3. Development: Just like in the previous activity, students should discuss in their groups, analyzing the information on the cards and planning their strategies. The teacher should circulate around the room, monitoring the discussions and clarifying doubts. At the end of the game, the teacher should promote a collective discussion about the strategies adopted and the factors that influenced the independence of the colonies.

At the end of the activities, the teacher should revisit the lesson Objectives, reinforcing the importance of understanding the colonization and independence of America to comprehend the formation of the continent's nations. Additionally, the teacher should highlight the skills developed during the activities, such as critical thinking, argumentation, and teamwork.

Return (10 - 12 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes):

   • The teacher should gather all students and promote a group discussion about the solutions or conclusions reached by each team during the activities. This will allow students to share their perspectives and learn from each other.
   • The teacher should ensure that all students have the opportunity to speak and encourage active listening among students so they can understand the different perspectives and arguments presented.

2. Connection with Theory (3 - 4 minutes):

   • The teacher should then make the connection between the practical activities and the theory studied. They should highlight how the colonization game and the independence game illustrate the real historical processes of colonization and independence in America, and how they help understand the factors that influenced these processes.
   • The teacher should reinforce the main concepts of the lesson, explaining how they apply to the situations presented in the activities. For example, they can discuss how the conquest strategies adopted in the colonization game reflect the actual policies of the colonizing powers, or how the independence factors chosen in the independence game correspond to the historical factors that led to the independence of different American colonies.

3. Individual Reflection (2 - 3 minutes):

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher should suggest that students reflect individually on what they have learned. They can do this by formulating questions like: "What was the most important concept you learned today?" and "What questions have not been answered yet?".
   • Students should have a minute to think about their answers. Then, the teacher can ask for some volunteers to share their reflections with the class. This will provide the teacher with valuable feedback on what students understood and which points may need further explanation in future classes.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary of Key Contents (2 - 3 minutes):

   • The teacher should recap the main points covered during the lesson, reinforcing students' understanding of the process of colonization of America, the factors that led to American independence, and the impacts of these events on the formation of American nations.
   • The teacher can do this through a brief slide presentation, highlighting the most important concepts and their interconnections. Additionally, they can recall the answers from the practical activities that illustrated these concepts.

2. Connection between Theory, Practice, and Applications (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher should emphasize how the lesson connected theory, practice, and applications. They can explain that the theory was presented through the initial discussion, practice was developed during the game activities, and application was demonstrated through the analysis of the impacts of colonization and independence on the formation of American nations.
   • The teacher can also highlight how the skills developed during the lesson, such as critical thinking, argumentation, and teamwork, are important not only for understanding history but also for everyday life and future studies.

3. Additional Material (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher should suggest additional materials for students who wish to deepen their understanding of the topic. These materials may include books, documentaries, educational websites, and online games. Additionally, the teacher can indicate related topics that will be covered in future classes, encouraging students to continue studying the subject.
   • The teacher can share these suggestions through a printed or digital list that students can take home.

4. Relevance of the Subject (1 minute):

   • Finally, the teacher should reinforce the importance of the topic for students' daily lives. They can explain that understanding the history of the colonization and independence of America helps to comprehend current issues on the continent and to appreciate the cultural and ethnic diversity of its societies.
   • The teacher can also highlight how the skills developed during the lesson, such as the ability to critically analyze information, are crucial for making informed decisions and for active participation in society.