Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)
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Understand the historical context of the French Revolution: Students will be able to identify and discuss the main characteristics of the pre-revolutionary scenario in France, including its social, political and economic structure. This will allow them to understand the reasons that led to the beginning of the French Revolution.
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Analyze the Constitutional Monarchy: Students will be able to understand how the Constitutional Monarchy was implemented during the French Revolution, including the creation of the Constitution of 1791 and the changes it brought to the power structure in France. This will allow them to understand the transition from the absolute monarchy system to a more democratic government system.
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Study the National Convention and the Directory: Students will be able to analyze the role of the National Convention and the Directory in the French Revolution, including their policies, successes and failures. This will allow them to understand how these two institutions shaped the course of the French Revolution and influenced the development of democracy in France.
Secondary objectives:
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Develop research and historical analysis skills: During the preparation for the class and when performing the proposed activities, students will develop their research and historical analysis skills, becoming more proficient at interpreting primary and secondary sources and building arguments based on historical evidence.
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Stimulate critical thinking: Students will be encouraged to reflect critically on the historical events and figures studied, evaluating their impacts and legacies. This will help develop students' critical thinking and contextual understanding abilities.
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Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)
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Review of previous contents: The teacher will start the class by briefly recalling the events that led to the French Revolution, such as the financial crisis of the State, the popular dissatisfaction, and the beginning of the protests. This will serve as a foundation for the new concepts that will be presented. (3 - 4 minutes)
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Problem situation: The teacher should then present two problem situations to arouse students' interest:
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The first situation could be: "Imagine you live in an absolute monarchy, where the king has unlimited powers and the nobility and the clergy have special privileges. How would you feel if you were a poor peasant, working hard and paying high taxes to sustain a system that oppresses you?"
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The second situation could be: "Now, imagine you were part of the National Convention, a body that was responsible for judging and condemning many of your countrymen to death, including the king. How would you feel being part of such a crucial event in your country's history?" (3 - 4 minutes)
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Contextualization: The teacher should then explain the relevance of studying the French Revolution, emphasizing how it was a landmark in world history, as it not only overthrew an absolute monarchy, but also introduced many of the principles and ideals that underpin modern democracy. In addition, the teacher can mention how the French Revolution influenced other revolutionary movements around the world. (2 - 3 minutes)
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Grabbing the students' attention: To capture the students' attention, the teacher can share two curiosities:
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The first curiosity: "Did you know that during the French Revolution, France adopted a new calendar? The revolutionary calendar had 12 months, each with three weeks of ten days. They even tried to rename the months, with names related to nature, such as Thermidor, Brumaire, and Germinal."
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The second curiosity: "Another interesting fact is that the French Revolution was also a revolution in women's rights. Women played a significant role, fighting for political and social equality. Unfortunately, although they achieved some advances, such as the right to divorce, many of their demands were not met and complete equality would only be achieved much later." (3 - 4 minutes)
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Development (20 - 25 minutes)
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Activity 1 - Board Game "The French Revolution in 3 Phases" (10 - 12 minutes)
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Preparation: The teacher will divide the class into groups of 4 to 5 students. Each group will receive a game board, cards with questions and challenges related to the Constitutional Monarchy, National Convention, and Directory, and game pieces. The teacher will explain the rules of the game and make sure the students understand how to play.
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Development: The students, in their groups, will start the game. In each round, a member of the group rolls the die and advances the corresponding space. Then, he must answer a question or perform a challenge. The questions and challenges are designed to review and deepen students' knowledge of the events and historical figures of the French Revolution. Correct answers or successful completion of the challenge will allow the student to maintain his position on the board, while wrong answers or failures in the challenge will result in moving backwards.
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Conclusion: The game ends when one of the groups reaches the end of the board. The teacher will review the students' answers and discussions, correcting any misunderstandings and clarifying important concepts.
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Activity 2 - Role-playing of a National Convention Court (10 - 12 minutes)
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Preparation: The teacher will divide the class into two groups. Each group will be assigned to represent a side in a simulated "trial". One group will represent the Girondins, a group of moderate politicians who were members of the National Convention, and the other group will represent the Jacobins, a group of more radical politicians. The teacher will provide each group with background information on their respective factions.
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Development: Each group will have a few minutes to prepare, discussing their positions and formulating arguments. Then, the groups will present themselves before the "National Convention" (the rest of the class) to argue their cases. They must use historical information and logical arguments to support their positions. After the presentations, the "National Convention" (class) will vote, deciding in favor of the Girondins or the Jacobins.
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Conclusion: The teacher will facilitate a discussion after the trial, allowing students to reflect on the process and the decisions made. The teacher can highlight how this activity illustrates the challenges and complexities of politics during the French Revolution.
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Activity 3 - Creating a Poster "The Pros and Cons of the French Revolution" (5 - 7 minutes)
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Preparation: The teacher will divide the class into groups of 4 to 5 students. Each group will receive a large piece of paper, colored pens, markers, and old magazines to cut out images.
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Development: Each group will create a poster that summarizes the main benefits and challenges of the French Revolution. They should use images, words, and short sentences to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively.
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Conclusion: After finishing the posters, each group will present their work to the class, explaining the choices they made and justifying their arguments. The teacher will facilitate a discussion, allowing students to share their opinions and reflect on the pros and cons of the French Revolution.
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Feedback (8 - 10 minutes)
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Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes)
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Preparation: The teacher will gather all the students and ask each group to briefly share the main conclusions or solutions they reached during the activities. Each group will have a maximum of 2 minutes to share their ideas.
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Development: The teacher will start the discussion by asking each group: "What was the most challenging situation you encountered during the board game or the role-playing? How did you deal with it?" Then, the teacher will ask each group to share their answers. The teacher may also ask: "What were the most important concepts you learned today?" or "What questions have not yet been answered?" This discussion will provide an opportunity for students to reflect on what they learned and how the activities helped them better understand the Constitutional Monarchy, the National Convention, and the Directory during the French Revolution.
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Connection to Theory (2 - 3 minutes)
- Preparation: The teacher will return to the Objectives of the class and make connections between the activities performed and the theoretical concepts presented. The teacher can, for example, ask: "How did the mock court activity help us understand the role of the National Convention during the French Revolution?" or "How did the board game help us understand the sequence of events of the French Revolution?" The teacher can also use this moment to briefly review the key concepts, reinforcing students' understanding.
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Individual Reflection (2 - 3 minutes)
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Preparation: The teacher will ask students to reflect individually on what they learned in class. The teacher can provide guiding questions, such as: "What was the most important concept you learned today?" or "What questions have not yet been answered for you?" Students will have one minute to think about their answers.
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Development: After one minute of reflection, the teacher will ask some volunteer students to share their answers with the class. This will allow the teacher to evaluate the effectiveness of the class and identify any areas that may need further clarification or practice. The teacher can also use this moment to praise students' good work and encourage them to continue striving.
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Feedback and Closing (1 minute)
- Development: The teacher will thank the students for their participation and effort. The teacher may provide general feedback on the class, highlighting the strengths and suggesting areas for improvement. The teacher can also inform the students about the next topics to be studied and the expectations for the next class.
Conclusion (3 - 5 minutes)
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Summary of the Class (1 - 2 minutes)
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The teacher should start the Conclusion by summarizing the main points that were addressed during the class. This includes understanding the pre-revolutionary context in France, analyzing the Constitutional Monarchy, discussing the National Convention and the Directory, and critically reflecting on the French Revolution.
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It is important that the teacher reinforces the key concepts, reminding students of the most important details and encouraging them to continue studying and deepening their knowledge of the subject.
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Connection between Theory, Practice, and Applications (1 - 2 minutes)
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The teacher should then explain how the class connected the theory, practice, and applications of the content. He can mention how playful activities, such as the board game and role-playing, helped students understand and apply the theoretical concepts.
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The teacher can also highlight how understanding the French Revolution can have practical applications in students' lives, such as understanding democratic principles and the importance of civic participation.
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Extra Materials (1 minute)
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The teacher should suggest extra materials for students who wish to deepen their understanding of the French Revolution. These materials can include books, documentaries, films, educational websites, among others.
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It is important that the teacher briefly explains the content of these materials and how they can be useful for students' individual study.
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Relevance of the Subject and Closing (1 minute)
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Finally, the teacher should explain the relevance of the subject to students' daily lives. He can mention how the French Revolution influenced the way we live today, especially with regard to human rights, democracy, and equality.
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The teacher should close the class by thanking the students for their participation, reinforcing the importance of continuous study, and encouraging them to ask questions and seek answers. He can also give a brief overview of what will be covered in the next class, creating anticipation and motivating students to continue studying the subject.
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