Step 1: Introduction 

1. Present the following terms to students and ask them to discuss with a peer what knowledge they have about each term, or what thoughts come to mind when they see the words: Oppression, Colonization, and Persecution.
2. Define each term with the class and brainstorm examples of occurrences in human history of the following:
   1. Oppression - unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power (ex., Civil Rights era; racial oppression of African Americans or minority groups, etc.)
   2. Colonization - the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area (ex., European colonization of North America; overthrow of Hawaiian kingdom, etc.)
   3. Persecution - hostility and ill-treatment, especially on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation or political beliefs (ex., Jews by Hitler’s regime; Indian Boarding Schools, etc.)

Step 2: Interaction with Primary Source: 

1. Hand out a copy of (or project) the excerpt on “Hmong History & Culture.” Read the excerpt out loud as a class or have students individually read over the background information provided by author Ya Po Cha.
   • See Handout pages 1 & 2 https://ucdavis.box.com/s/wuewbjfqtfk3ps5xxahkvqlqxmc6vlor  
2. First interaction with text: Have students annotate unfamiliar terms or phrases they are unclear about. Then, the class can define them together and the teacher can clarify any uncertain text. 
3. Second interaction with text: Complete a Comprehension Check of the reading with a discussion of the Lesson Questions. These questions can be answered with a partner and/or with the whole class.  
   • How have Hmong resisted colonization and persecution?
   • What strategies did Hmong people employ in war to help them safeguard against being exterminated? How did locations, weapons, and fighting tactics help Hmong people protect themselves?
   • How did they maintain their culture, religion, and lifestyle while being colonized or persecuted?

Step 3: Research and Cultural Production

1. Introduce the presentation task to students: In a slidedeck presentation, students are to share their findings of the survival and resilience of Hmong people. All lesson questions should be answered in the presentation.
   • Presentations may take the form of group presentations, whole-class presentations, and/or video presentations. 
   • Alternatively, students can complete the lesson assessment in the form of a written, visual, or audio summary.
2. Teacher will have students review what information they have gathered so far from the excerpt about how Hmong people have been able to retain their identity, language, culture, and beliefs despite being subjected to persecution and colonization continuously throughout history. 
   • Have students think about: What additional information might they need to answer the lesson questions?
3. Students will then work independently or in groups to do additional research on Hmong war stories and learn what happened and how Hmong people fought against colonialism and persecution. 
   • Students can use the referenced sources listed below in the Supplementary Sources to accomplish this or find additional sources from trusted sources on the internet to create and complete their presentation or summary.

Step 4: Closure and Assessment 

1. Have students share their final presentation in small groups or to the whole class.

2. Teachers can use the sample Oral Presentation Rubric (see Handout page 3) to evaluate student presentations or modify the template to create their own.