Students will learn from first-hand accounts of the chemical warfare that occurred after the Secret War and how it impacted Hmong people. Students will have the opportunity to weigh in and decide for themselves whether the struggles the Hmong people faced can be considered a genocide.
In this lesson, students will gain an understanding of elements, purpose, and cultural significance of traditional Cambodian dance. Students will also explore why traditional dance is considered a crucial link to Cambodian history and how efforts to preserve it have been made by refugees. Finally, they will develop skills in using primary and secondary sources to express their thoughts both orally and in writing.
Cambodia’s borders have changed significantly over time due to settlements, wars, colonialism, and treaties. The large territory that was controlled by the Khmer Empire in Southeast Asia which included present day Cambodia was redrawn after independence from France in the mid-twentieth century. Cambodia’s disputed border with Thailand has also been a flash point for conflict for decades.
