Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the Causes, Course, and Consequences of the Mexican-American War: The students should be able to explain the fundamental reasons that led to the war, describe the main events that occurred during the war, and discuss the outcomes of the conflict.

2. Analyze the Impact of the Mexican-American War on the United States and Mexico: The students should be able to identify the changes that occurred in both countries as a result of the war, including the territorial changes for the United States and the effects on Mexico's stability and sovereignty.

3. Develop Historical Thinking Skills: The students should be able to analyze primary and secondary sources related to the Mexican-American War, interpret the information from these sources, and use this information to form their own conclusions about the war.

Secondary Objectives:

• Enhance Communication Skills: Through classroom discussions and presentations, the students should be able to improve their abilities to express their thoughts and ideas about historical events.

• Promote Critical Thinking: By examining the different perspectives and interpretations of the Mexican-American War, the students should be able to develop their critical thinking skills.

Introduction (10 - 12 minutes)

1. Review of Prior Knowledge: The teacher begins by reminding students of the historical context leading up to the Mexican-American War. This includes a brief discussion about the expansionist policies of the United States, the annexation of Texas, and the dispute over the Texas-Mexico border. The teacher also recalls the concept of manifest destiny, which many Americans believed justified their expansion westward.

2. Problem Situations: The teacher presents two hypothetical situations to the class. The first is a scenario where a country claims a piece of land that is already occupied by another country. The second is a story about two neighbors who argue over the ownership of a shared property. These situations are designed to spark the students' interest and provoke thinking about the issues that could lead to a war.

3. Real-World Contextualization: The teacher then connects the topic of the Mexican-American War to current events. They explain that the war resulted in significant changes to the borders of both countries, which still impact the geopolitical landscape today. The teacher also mentions that the war was a turning point in the history of the United States, leading to its emergence as a world power.

4. Introduction of the Topic: The teacher introduces the Mexican-American War as a conflict that took place from 1846 to 1848 between the United States and Mexico. They explain that the war began as a result of a territorial dispute over Texas but quickly expanded into a broader conflict. The teacher highlights that this war is significant because it led to the United States acquiring a vast amount of territory, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming.

5. Curiosity and Engagement: To capture the students' attention, the teacher shares two intriguing facts about the war. The first is that it was the first U.S. war to be extensively documented in photographs, and the second is that several notable figures, including Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, played roles in the conflict. These facts are designed to pique the students' interest and make the topic more relatable and engaging.

Development

Pre-Class Activities (10 - 15 minutes)

These activities aim to provide students with basic knowledge about the Mexican-American War before they come to class. This will allow the in-class time to focus on deeper understanding and critical thinking.

1. Reading Assignment: Students are assigned an article that outlines the main causes, events, and outcomes of the Mexican-American War. The article should also touch on the impact of the war on both the United States and Mexico. Students are required to take notes while reading.

2. Video Viewing: Alongside the reading assignment, students are instructed to watch a short educational video about the Mexican-American War. The video should provide a visual representation of the conflict, making the topic more engaging and easier to understand.

3. Quiz: After the reading and video, students take a short online quiz to test their understanding of the basic facts about the Mexican-American War. This will help them identify any areas of confusion to be clarified in the in-class session.

4. Note-Taking: The students should take notes on the main points of the readings and the video. They should also note down any questions or areas of confusion that arise while studying.

In-Class Activities (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity 1: War Council (10 - 12 minutes)

   • The teacher divides the class into small groups, each representing a "War Council" tasked with making a decision about the conflict.

   • Each group is provided with a brief scenario: "You are a group of top advisors to the President of the United States in 1846. You must decide whether or not to declare war on Mexico over the disputed territories of Texas and California. Consider the possible benefits and drawbacks of such a decision."

   • The groups are given time to discuss and debate their decision, using their prior knowledge and notes from the pre-class activities. They should consider the historical context, the concept of manifest destiny, and the potential outcomes of the war.

   • Each group then presents their decision and the reasons behind it to the rest of the class. The teacher facilitates a discussion, encouraging students to challenge each other's viewpoints and consider the complexity of the issue.

2. Activity 2: The Aftermath (10 - 12 minutes)

   • The class remains in their groups, but the focus shifts to the consequences of the war. The teacher provides a new scenario: "It is 1848, the Mexican-American War has just ended, and you are a group of lawmakers tasked with deciding what to do with the newly acquired territories. Discuss the implications of these decisions for the future of the United States and Mexico."

   • Each group brainstorms and discusses the potential effects of the war, both short-term and long-term. They should consider the territorial changes, the impact on the people living in these areas, and the effects on the economies and political systems of both countries.

   • The groups then share their thoughts, and a class-wide discussion is facilitated by the teacher, focusing on the ethical considerations and the long-term effects of the decisions made after the war.

Both activities aim to foster critical thinking and collaborative discussion among the students. By placing themselves in the shoes of historical figures, they can better understand the complexities and consequences of the Mexican-American War. The teacher's role is to facilitate the activities, guide the discussions, and ensure that all students participate and contribute to the activities.

Feedback (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion: The teacher brings the entire class together for a group discussion about the solutions or conclusions reached by each group during the activities. The teacher encourages students to share their thoughts and discuss their group's decision-making process. This allows students to learn from each other and understand different perspectives on the Mexican-American War.

2. Connecting Theory and Practice: The teacher revisits the objectives of the lesson and asks students to reflect on how the activities and discussions in class have helped them understand the causes, course, and consequences of the Mexican-American War. The teacher also prompts students to discuss the skills they have developed, such as analyzing historical sources, critical thinking, and decision-making.

3. Individual Reflection: The teacher then gives students a few moments to reflect on their learning. Students are asked to answer the following questions in their reflection journals:

   • What was the most important concept or skill you learned today?
   • What questions do you still have about the Mexican-American War?

4. Assessment of Learning: The teacher collects the students' reflection journals and uses them to assess the students' understanding of the lesson. The teacher also uses this information to identify any areas of the topic that may need to be revisited in future lessons.

5. Closing the Lesson: The teacher concludes the lesson by summarizing the main points about the Mexican-American War and its significance. They also remind students of any unanswered questions that will be addressed in future lessons.

6. Homework Assignment: To further reinforce the lesson's content, the teacher assigns a short essay for homework. The essay prompt asks students to analyze the causes, course, and consequences of the Mexican-American War from the perspective of either the United States or Mexico. This homework task will encourage students to further research and think critically about the topic.

By the end of the feedback session, the teacher should have a clear understanding of the students' grasp of the subject and any areas that may need to be revisited in future lessons. The students should also have a clear understanding of what they have learned and what they still need to learn about the Mexican-American War.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Recap of Lesson Content: The teacher begins by summarizing the main points of the lesson. They remind students that the Mexican-American War was a conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. The war was primarily over disputes about the territories of Texas and California. The teacher reiterates that the war resulted in significant territorial changes for the United States and had lasting effects on both countries.

2. Connecting Theory and Practice: The teacher then explains how the lesson connected theory, practice, and applications. They highlight that the pre-class activities provided students with the basic knowledge needed to understand the causes, course, and consequences of the war. The in-class activities then allowed students to apply this knowledge in a practical context, such as through the group decision-making scenarios. The teacher also emphasizes that the lesson's focus on historical thinking skills, critical thinking, and communication skills has real-world applications beyond the classroom.

3. Additional Resources: To further enrich the students' understanding of the Mexican-American War, the teacher suggests a few additional resources. These could include:

   • Books: "The Training Ground: Grant, Lee, Sherman, and Davis in the Mexican-American War" by Martin Dugard, "A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico" by Amy S. Greenberg.
   • Documentaries: "The U.S.-Mexican War: 1846-1848" by PBS, "The American Experience: The Gold Rush" by PBS.
   • Websites: The Library of Congress' online exhibition "The Mexican-American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo", the National Park Service's website on the Mexican-American War.

4. Relevance to Everyday Life: Finally, the teacher briefly discusses the importance of understanding the Mexican-American War in everyday life. They explain that the war's outcomes, such as the acquisition of new territories by the United States, still have an impact on the country's geopolitics today. They also mention that the war was a significant event in U.S. history, leading to the country's emergence as a world power. Understanding this history can help students make sense of current events and appreciate the complexities of international relations.

By the end of the conclusion, students should have a clear understanding of the Mexican-American War, its significance in history, and its relevance to their lives today. The additional resources will also provide them with opportunities for further exploration and learning about the topic.