Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Protestantism
| Keywords | Protestantism, Protestant Reformation, Catholic Church, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Henry VIII, Counter-Reformation, Social Media, Digital Methodology, History, 7th grade, Digital activities, Active learning, Debate, Escape Room |
| Required Materials | Cell phones with internet access, Computers or tablets, Slide presentation platforms (e.g., Google Slides), Collaborative document tools (e.g., Google Docs), Online quiz creation tools (e.g., Kahoot!, Mentimeter), Escape game creation platforms (e.g., Google Forms, Breakout EDU), High-speed internet, Projector or TV to display presentations, Writing materials (paper, pens) |
Objectives
Duration: 10 - 15 minutes
The purpose of this stage is to provide a clear and directed overview of the main learning objectives. By describing the topics and necessary skills, the teacher can effectively guide the students, ensuring that the crucial points are understood and explored in depth throughout the lesson.
Main Objectives
1. Understand the political and religious processes that led to the Protestant Reformation.
2. Analyze the social changes resulting from the emergence of Protestant churches.
3. Explain how the Catholic Church responded to the Protestant Reformation.
Side Objectives
- Reflect on the impact of social media on the dissemination of ideas and compare it to the spread of Martin Luther's theses.
- Develop research and argumentation skills through debates and collaborative activities.
Introduction
Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)
✨ Purpose: This initial stage serves to engage students with the topic through the use of digital technologies that are part of their daily reality. By seeking interesting facts about the Protestant Reformation, they directly connect with the content studied in a practical and participatory way, allowing for a rich exchange of information that will contribute to an animated and contextualized initial debate.
Warming Up
Warm-up: Introduce the topic by saying that Protestantism was a religious movement that began in the 16th century, led by figures like Martin Luther, who questioned the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church. Now, instruct the students to use their cell phones to find an interesting fact about the Protestant Reformation and share it with the class. They can use social media, search engines, or other digital sources. Encourage a diversity of information to enrich the discussion.
Initial Reflections
1. What motivated Martin Luther to initiate the Protestant Reformation?
2. What were Luther's main criticisms of the Catholic Church?
3. How can the spread of Luther's ideas be compared to the dissemination of ideas on social media today?
4. What social and political changes resulted from the emergence of Protestant churches?
5. How did the Catholic Church respond to the Protestant Reformation?
Development
Duration: 70 - 80 minutes
The purpose of this stage is to provide a practical and collaborative immersion into the studied topic, using digital technologies to make learning more engaging and connected to students' reality. The proposed activities aim to develop skills in argumentation, digital communication, research, and problem-solving, while deepening understanding of the Protestant Reformation.
Activity Suggestions
It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out
Activity 1 - Reformation Influencers
> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes
- Objective: Foster a deep understanding of the ideas and actions of historical figures from the Protestant Reformation while developing students' creativity and digital communication skills.
- Description: Students will be divided into groups, and each group will choose a key historical figure from the Protestant Reformation (such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, or Henry VIII) to represent them as a modern digital influencer. Each group should create a fictional account on a social network (using slide presentations or collaborative documents) for their influencer and prepare a series of posts explaining their ideas and actions in an accessible and engaging manner.
- Instructions:
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Divide the class into groups of up to 5 people.
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Each group will select a historical figure from the Protestant Reformation.
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Using slide presentations or collaborative documents, each group will create a fictional social media account for their historical figure.
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Students must research and create posts that explain the ideas, critiques, and actions of their historical figure. The posts should be visual and textual, using images, memes, short videos (if possible), and hashtags.
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Encourage the groups to interact by commenting on others' 'posts' to foster a 'digital debate.'
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After creating the posts, each group will present their fictional social media to the class, explaining their content and engagement strategies.
Activity 2 - Gamified Debate: Reformation vs. Counter-Reformation
> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes
- Objective: Encourage critical thinking and argumentation skills, as well as promote the understanding of different perspectives and reactions to the Protestant Reformation.
- Description: Students will participate in a gamified debate where they will be divided into two large groups: one representing the leaders of the Protestant Reformation and the other representing the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation. Using digital voting and quiz tools, students will defend their viewpoints and respond to challenges proposed by the opposing group.
- Instructions:
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Divide the class into two large groups: Reformation Group and Counter-Reformation Group.
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Each group should use their cell phones and computers to research and prepare arguments to defend their positions.
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Use an online quiz platform (like Kahoot! or Mentimeter) to create questions and challenges that the groups must answer during the debate.
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The debate will be divided into rounds. In each round, one group presents an argument, and the other responds. After each round, the class votes on the most convincing argument using an online voting tool.
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At the end of the debate, tally the votes to determine which group presented the most convincing arguments.
Activity 3 - Escape Game: The Secrets of the Reformation
> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes
- Objective: Promote playful and collaborative learning, encouraging research and problem-solving while deepening knowledge about the Protestant Reformation.
- Description: Students will participate in a digital 'Escape Room' where they must solve enigmas related to the Protestant Reformation to advance through the stages and 'escape.' Using escape game creation platforms (like Google Forms or Breakout EDU), the enigmas will include questions, puzzles, and challenges that require a deep understanding of the topic.
- Instructions:
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Divide the class into groups of up to 5 people.
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Create or use a digital escape room platform to develop a series of enigmas and challenges about the Protestant Reformation.
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Each group must solve the enigmas sequentially, using cell phones and computers to research answers.
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The enigmas may include questions about historical figures, important events, political and social changes, and the response of the Catholic Church to the Reformation.
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The group that solves all the enigmas and 'escapes' first will receive a prize or symbolic recognition.
Feedback
Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)
✨ Purpose: This stage aims to consolidate learning in a collaborative and reflective manner, allowing students to share their discoveries, receive constructive feedback, and engage in a rich and contextualized discussion about the Protestant Reformation and its implications.
Group Discussion
Group Discussion: Facilitate a discussion where groups share what they learned during the activities and the conclusions they reached. Follow this brief outline to start:
- Introduction: 'Let's share our discoveries about the Protestant Reformation. Each group will have 5 minutes to present what they learned during the activities.'
- Group Presentations: Ask each group to talk about their historical figure, their posts on fictional social media, and their experiences in the gamified debate and escape game.
- General Discussion: After the presentations, open the discussion for questions and comments that encourage the exchange of insights among students.
- Summary: Summarize the main points discussed, highlighting the most significant learnings and how they connect to the current reality of students.
Reflections
1. How did the political and religious aspects of the Protestant Reformation influence social changes? 2. In what way did the Catholic Church react to the critiques and challenges posed by the Reformation? 3. How can we compare the dissemination of ideas at the time of the Reformation to the dissemination of information on social media today?
360° Feedback
360° Feedback: Instruct students to undergo a 360° feedback stage, where each student provides and receives feedback from their group peers. Remind students to maintain a constructive and respectful tone. Follow these guidelines:
- Preparation: 'Each student will have 2 minutes to give feedback to a peer in the group, focusing on positive aspects and suggestions for improvement.'
- Feedback: 'Remember to be specific in your feedback, highlighting what was helpful and what can be improved.'
- Conclusion: After the feedback round, ask students to reflect on what they heard and how they can apply the insights received to enhance their research and group work skills.
Conclusion
Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)
Purpose: This stage aims to consolidate learning in a fun and reflective way, connecting historical events with the modern reality of students. By summarizing the concepts and showing their practical applications, the conclusion seeks to strengthen understanding of the topic and encourage students to be critical thinkers and engaged in contemporary dynamics.
Summary
Playful Summary: Imagine the Protestant Reformation as an epic theater play! On stage, we have Martin Luther, the rebellious protagonist, who challenged the powerful Catholic Church with his 95 theses. He wasn't alone: John Calvin and Henry VIII also took the stage with their critiques and reforms. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church responded with the Counter-Reformation, creating a kind of 'battle of ideas.' In the midst of it all, social and political changes altered the landscape, and the audience (society) was never the same again. All of this shows us a spectacle of transformation and innovation that, in a way, reflects the dynamism of today's social networks.
World Connection
Connection to the Current World: Just as the spread of Luther's ideas was revolutionary, today social media allows an idea to spread and have a global impact in a matter of minutes. The rapid circulation of ideas and debates we saw during the Protestant Reformation can be compared to the modern dynamics of digital media, where anyone can be an influencer and promote significant changes in society.
Practical Application
Applications in Daily Life: Understanding the Protestant Reformation helps us see how ideas and movements can provoke profound changes in society. This is crucial in today's world, where being critical and well-informed is fundamental to actively participating in social and political life, as well as understanding the power and challenges of social media in disseminating information and ideas.
