Lesson Plan


Abe Fisher Unit Topic: World War 1 Course: Modern World History


Topic, class/grade, level: The Treaty of Versailles, sophomore honors (assume a triple mod)


Objectives:

Students will be able to....

1. explain the important concepts contained in the treaty

  1. identify major inconsistencies in the treaty

  2. make predictions regarding the treaty’s success


Instructional Approach: (list and briefly describe activities & allotted time)

  1. Review World War I briefly (10 minutes, lecture/discussion) Emphasis on causes & nature of the war

    1. nationalism

    2. militarism

    3. long stalemate, cost in human and economic terms is grotesque

  1. Introduce major players (5 minutes, slide, lecture)

    1. show slide of the signing in the Hall of Mirrors

    2. Identify Lloyd George, Clemenceau, Wilson, and Orlando

    3. What seems odd about my introduction? (germans aren’t identified)

  2. Work out negotiating positions

    1. Divide students into 5 groups (5 minutes)

    2. Assign each group a country (U.S., Germany, UK, France, Italy)

    3. Distribute list (see attached) of issues to be negotiated

    4. Give each country a “stance.” (secretly--don’t tell other groups)

      1. U.S.: philosophy underlying 14 pts (nat’l self determination, league of nations, etc.)

      2. Germany: return to pre-war borders

      3. Italy: Territory

      4. France: Punish Germany

      5. UK: Punish Germany

    5. Each country-group now establishes a starting position for negotiation, briefly determines their response to the list (10 mins)

  3. Spokesperson for each group explains their position (15 mins)--teacher records positions on pre-prepared overhead (see attached). Note that no space is provided for German positions (don’t point this out--see if anyone notices)

  4. Discussion: (15 mins).

    1. Questions:

      1. What do you think will happen?

      2. Is the process fair?

      3. Is the process realistic? (i.e. will it produce a rational result)

    2. does anybody want to revise their position?

  5. show them the actual outcome on the map. Explain the non-geographical terms of the treaty. (10 minutes)

    1. national self-determination

    2. reparations

    3. disarmament

    4. league of nations

    5. “peace of justice” vs. “peace of vengeance”



Evaluation/assessment:

  1. Assessment of discussion/negotiation.

  2. See attached.