21st Century Historical Skills: Tips for Teaching Travelling Theory

Lesson Plan: History through Travel Grade: 8-10 Theme/Topic: The French Revolution in the World History (In accordance with CAPS subject requirements for grades 8-10) Duration: 4 hours Lesson Objectives: The learners should be able to: 1. Understand the causes, progression, and consequences of the French Revolution. 2. Evaluate the effect of the French Revolution on the modern world. 3. Analyze primary and secondary sources related to the French Revolution. 4. Use mapping skills to locate key places related to the French Revolution. Lesson Plan: I) Introduction (30 mins): - Share the lesson's objectives and expectations. - Show a short video clip that introduces the French Revolution and its significance. - Conduct a short discussion to check learners' prior knowledge on the topic. - Distribute maps and allow learners to locate France and some of its significant cities during the Revolution. II) Body (2.5 hrs): 1. Activity 1: Causes of the French Revolution (30 mins) - Share the background information about the French society prior to the Revolution. - Students participate in group work to discuss the social, economic, and political causes. - Each group presents its findings. 2. Activity 2: Progression of the French Revolution (1 hr) - Share key events of the Revolution, using a timeline, and discuss the course it took. - Virtual Travel: Using websites and digital platforms such as Google Earth, take students on a virtual tour of key places related to events (e.g., Versailles and Paris). - Discuss the important figures and their roles in the Revolution. 3. Activity 3: Impact and Consequences of the French Revolution (1 hr) - Discuss the outcomes of the Revolution and its impact on France and the world. - Role play: students recreate debates held after the Revolution discussing the future of France. - In groups, students discuss the changes brought by the French Revolution. III) Conclusion (1 hr): - Reflective discussion on what students have learned. - In pairs, students create a mind map summarizing the causes, progression and consequences of the French Revolution. Assessments: 1. Formative: Observing group work and presentations, checking understanding through random questioning during the lesson. 2. Summative: Assessment of the mind maps created and the depth of understanding embodied in them. Additionally, evaluating the group presentation on the causes of the French Revolution. Materials: - Video clip on French Revolution - Maps of France - Internet access for Virtual travel - Resources for creating mind maps Historical skills acquired: - Ability to use and analyze primary/secondary resources. - Skills in collaborative work and presentation. - Constructing arguments based on historical evidence. - Understanding significant historical events and their impact on the present. - Developing historical empathy by understanding the perspectives of people who lived in the past. - Geographical skills of locating and understanding importance of places in historical events.