Colonial history and legacy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the impact of colonial rule on the DRC and its lasting effects.
Key learning points
- The DRC was a former Belgian colony and has had multiple names over time including the Belgian Congo and Zaire.
- King Leopold II exploited the country's natural resources and people, causing millions of deaths.
- After independence in 1960, the DRC faced political instability and conflict.
- Colonial borders and exploitation still affect the DRC today.
Keywords
Colony - a country or area that is controlled by another country and has people living there from the controlling country
Legacy - something handed down or passed on from an earlier generation
Natural resources - resources that come from Earth without human influence and can be used for human needs
Border - the dividing lines between two countries
To exploit - to use something for personal benefit
Common misconception
That countries are always the same shape and size, with the same borders and the same name throughout their history and that these aspects will never change.
History has shown that in many countries borders move, countries expand or shrink and the name of any given country is not fixed and permanent. These things are often the result of conflict or warfare which causes significant political change.
Teacher tip
Read a passage from Conrad's 'Heart of darkness' to get pupils thinking about the impact of colonialism in the DRC.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What continent is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in?
Q2.Which of the following countries borders the DRC?
Q3.What is the capital city of the DRC?
Q4.The DRC is located closest to which major line of latitude?
Q5.What type of climate does the DRC have?
Q6.Approximately how many people live in the DRC?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which European country colonised the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)?
Q2.What does the word colony mean?
Q3.What does "to exploit" mean in colonial history?
Q4.What was one main reason Belgium wanted to colonise the Congo?
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: Colonial history and legacy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: Colonial history and legacy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the The Democratic Republic of the Congo: What are its opportunities and challenges? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.