This lesson, Freedom in the 21st Century: Exploring the Economic-Political Connection, was designed for Honors World History II students to meet the Virginia SOL WHII.14b, which focuses on evaluating the relationship between economic and political freedom in the modern world. The lesson blends inquiry-based learning, data analysis, historical case studies, and student collaboration across content areas.

Through a station-based model, students engaged with real-world data (e.g., Freedom House, Heritage Foundation), historical case studies (e.g., China vs. South Korea), video analysis, and primary/secondary source perspectives to investigate whether and how political and economic freedoms are linked. Using tools such as Google Sheets, Padlet, and timelines, students synthesized information and evaluated trends, outliers, and personal viewpoints. A whole-class discussion followed, allowing students to compare data with lived experiences and develop a more nuanced understanding of global freedom.

The lesson concluded with a formative assessment and reflective closure that brought students back to the essential question: How are economic and political freedoms connected, and why does this matter globally? This high-level evaluative activity allowed students to demonstrate critical thinking, cross-disciplinary skills, and content mastery while practicing real-world social science analysis.