Social science

Introduction

Welcome, young historians! 

Have you ever wondered why Kiribati did not gain independence as early as some other Pacific nations? In this WebQuest, you will travel back in time to explore the events and issues that delayed Kiribati’s journey to independence.

Through games, teamwork, and creative activities, you will uncover the Ellician issue and the Banaban issue—two important events that shaped Kiribati’s history.

By the end of this WebQuest, you will:

  • Identify the causes of the delay of Kiribati’s independence.

  • List and explain issues that contributed to this delay.

  • Understand how these issues affected the people of Kiribati.

Let’s begin this historical adventure! 🏝️📜

Task

Task

Your mission is to become a History Investigator!

You will work in groups to research, discuss, and present your findings about the causes that delayed Kiribati’s independence.

Your tasks:

  1. Discover what caused the delay of independence in Kiribati.

  2. Explain the Ellician issue and Banaban issue clearly.

  3. Create a group poster or short role-play that shows how these issues affected Kiribati’s path to becoming an independent nation.

  4. Complete a short quiz and reflection activity to show your understanding.

 

Process
  • Step 1: Warm-up (10 minutes) Let's watch a short movie to lead our understanding more on this topic.

Play the “Jumbled Word” game!

Your teacher will display some mixed-up words (e.g., ndeeepennic, cuasse, issue). Work together to rearrange them into the correct words.

This fun game helps you recall important terms before starting.

Read and discuss the notes provided by your teacher about the causes of colonialism and the background of Kiribati’s independence.

Ask questions, highlight key terms, and share your thoughts with classmates.

  •  Step 3: Group Research & Discussion (20 minutes)

Form four groups:

  • Group 1 & 2: Research and discuss the Ellician issue.

  • Group 3 & 4: Research and discuss the Banaban issue.

Use your notes, teacher resources, and classroom materials to find:

  • What happened during the issue?

  • Why was it a problem?

  • How did it delay Kiribati’s independence?

Create a poster on A3 paper showing your findings using drawings, timelines, and key words.

  •  Step 4: Present Your Work (5–10 minutes)

Each group presents their poster to the class.

Be creative — you can use short role-plays, interviews, or storytelling to make your presentation exciting!

  • Step 5: Application – Quick Quiz (10 minutes)

Answer the True/False and Short Answer questions provided:

  • True or False: The Banaban issue and the Ellician issue caused the delay of Kiribati’s Independence.

  • Short Answer Example: Why did Ellice Island want to separate from Kiribati?

Then, swap papers with a partner and mark together with the class discussion.

  • Step 6: Fun Review Game – Talking Box (10 minutes)

Join the Talking Box game!

When the music stops, the student holding the box picks a question card and answers:

  • What is the Ellician issue?

  • What is the Banaban issue?

  • What issues caused the delay of Gilbert’s independence?

End the game with three big claps for everyone’s teamwork and effort! 👏👏👏

Evaluation

Criteria

 Excellent (4) Good (3) Satisfactory (2) Needs Improvement (1)
Understanding of Issues Clearly explains both Ellician & Banaban issues with strong detail Explains both issues with some details Explains one issue or lacks clarity Little or no understanding shown
Group Collaboration Works well, everyone contributes equally Works well, some rely on others Unequal participation Minimal teamwork
Creativity & Presentation Poster/role-play is creative, colorful, and clear Poster/role-play is neat and informative Poster/role-play is simple Poster/role-play incomplete
Quiz Accuracy 4–5 correct answers 3 correct answers 2 correct answers 0–1 correct answers

Students can earn a total of 16 points.

Conclusion

congratulations, young historians! 🎉

You have explored and understood the two major issues — the Ellician issue and the Banaban issue — that delayed Kiribati’s independence.

Through teamwork and discussion, you’ve learned how disagreements and social issues can affect a nation’s progress.

Remember: Unity, understanding, and cooperation are key to building a strong nation.

Credits

This WebQuest was developed for Year 7 Social Science based on the topic Cause of Nationalism (Issues cause delay of Kiribati's independence)

Resources adapted and referenced from:

  • Kiribati Social Science Teacher’s Guide (Ministry of Education)

  • Kiribati History Notes for Secondary Schools

  • Kiribati museum 

Teacher Page

Subject: Social Science

Year level: 7

Duration: 60 minutes

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify the causes of the delay of Kiribati's Independence.

  • List issues that caused the delay.

  • Explain how these issues affected the independence movement.

Teaching Tips:

  • Prepare the jumbled words and question cards before class.

  • Monitor group discussions to ensure equal participation.

  • Encourage creativity in posters and presentations.

  • Use praise and claps to motivate students.

  • Ensure questions in the Talking Box reflect lesson objectives.

Assessment Tools:

  • Observation checklist

  • Group poster rubric

  • Quiz results

  • Oral responses during the Talking Box activity