Examining Marxism in Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, and China (Communism)

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OBJECTIVE:
o The learner will examine the theories behind Karl Marx communism.
o The learner will identify characteristics and political philosophy of Marxism.
o The learner will examine how Marxism played a vital role in communism.
o The learner will compare how communism is implemented ruled in the four remaining communist countries of the 21st century.
o Students will be assigned a communist country and will apply the information learned and researched to determine whether communism is effective or ineffective.

MATERIALS:
o Technology to display the introductory videos
o Communism or Capitalism listening guide reproducible
o A tool to project the Communism or Capitalism listening guide on the board
o Who Was Karl Marx article reproducible (One per team of two)
o Communist Countries Cards reproducible
o Make copies of Who Was Karl Marx? (One per tea of two)
o Five- to six-foot piece Butcher paper (One per collaborative team)
o Comparing and Contrasting Today’s Communist Countries reproducible

PREPARATION:
o Arrange desk so students can work in groups of two.
o Make copies, 1 per group, of Who Was Karl Marx?
o Make copies of Communism & Capitalism listening guide.
o Set up technology to show introductory video.
o Make copies of the Communist Countries Cards.

INTRODUCTION:
Ask: What the four communist countries remain in the 21Century? Have students locate them on a map.
Answer: with purchase of lesson

Ask: What is the difference between how we live in the United State and how other live in communist countries such as Cuba, China, North Korea, and Vietnam.
Answer: With purchase of lesson plan

Say: “Lets look at what others have to say about communism compared to the United States.” As you listen, examine the pros and cons of each government system; fill out the listening guide (see below).

o Introduction video: Communism
Provided with purchase of lesson plan

o A Brief Introduction to Marxism
Provided with purchase of lesson plan

(Disclaimer: As time passes, some of these videos may be dropped from the sites, which is beyond the author’s control. Therefore, the author has included a wide range of videos for you to choose from in the case this occurs. If a video is removed from a site, this should not reflect the lesson score provided on Amped Up Learning as the author has no control over whether the site allows the video to remain on their site. Simply, choose another video provided or send the author a question asking for help finding another video. Amped Up Learning asks the buyer to refrain from scoring until attempt is made to contact the author and work out issues such as these.)

Once the video is finished, review the students’ answers to the Communism vs. Capitalism Listening Guide. Project the listening guide on the board, and as the students share their answers, fill in the listening guide.

Say: “To understand Marxism, one must understand capitalism. Here is an example of exploitation of labor: included with purchase of lesson plan.

PROCEDURE:

Small Group Activity:
Place students in groups of two. Provide each group with a reading activity on Marxism. Students will choose one of the four current-day communist countries (or) you may assign students a country using the Communist Country Cards: China, Vietnam, North Korea, or Cuba.

Large Group Activity:
Once students have completed their research, place all the students in circles either in the hallway or in the room based on the country they researched. Make sure to give them plenty of room away from other groups so they are not distracted and so they have enough room to work. The most you will have if you have a class of thirty is a group of eight.

Provide students with five- to six-foot piece of butcher paper and a set of markers. More with purchase of lesson plan.

Note: not all communist countries follow every aspect of Marxism.

CLOSURE / EVALUATION:
Included with purchase of lesson plan.

Enrichment/Homework Activity:
Included with purchase of lesson.