Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Content Objective: The students will understand the causes, events, and consequences of the Mexican-American War, including the annexation of Texas, disputes over the Texas-Mexico boundary, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. They will also be able to identify the key figures involved in the conflict and explain their roles.

2. Skill Development Objective: The students will enhance their skills in historical analysis and critical thinking through discussions, group activities, and hands-on tasks. They will learn to evaluate various perspectives on the war, assess the impact of the conflict on Mexico and the United States, and make connections between past events and the present.

3. Affective Objective: The students will develop a deeper appreciation for the complexity of historical events and their ongoing implications. They will learn to approach controversial topics with empathy and respect, recognizing the diverse perspectives and experiences involved.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Recapping Prior Knowledge: The teacher begins the lesson by reminding students of the historical context leading up to the Mexican-American War. They will review the concepts of Manifest Destiny, the annexation of Texas, and the dispute over the Texas-Mexico boundary. This will help to establish a foundation for understanding the causes and events of the war.

2. Problem Situations:

   • Situation 1: The teacher presents a scenario where the students are asked to imagine they are living in Texas during the time leading up to the war. They are told that the United States has annexed Texas, but Mexico still considers it a part of their territory. The teacher asks, "What could be some potential issues or conflicts that might arise from this situation?"

   • Situation 2: The teacher asks students to consider the perspective of a Mexican citizen during the war. The teacher poses the question, "How might they feel about the United States annexing Texas and then going to war with Mexico?"

3. Real-World Applications: The teacher then explains the relevance of understanding the Mexican-American War. They discuss how the outcome of the war and the subsequent Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo shaped the borders of the United States and influenced the relationship between the two countries. They also highlight how the war continues to impact the cultures, economies, and politics of both Mexico and the United States today.

4. Topic Introduction:

   • Curiosity 1: The teacher shares an interesting fact about the war, such as the U.S. Army's use of camels as pack animals during the conflict. They can show a picture of these camels and ask the students, "Why do you think the U.S. Army would use camels in a war fought on the American continent?"

   • Curiosity 2: The teacher then shares a story or legend from Mexican or American folklore that relates to the war, such as the story of the "Alamo" or the "Cinco de Mayo" celebration. This will help to humanize the conflict and make it more relatable and engaging for the students.

The introduction stage of the lesson plan is designed to stimulate the students' interest in the topic, activate their prior knowledge, and set the stage for the exploration of the Mexican-American War.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity 1: Role-playing the Annexation of Texas (7 - 10 minutes)

   This activity will allow students to understand the perspectives of both the United States and Mexico during the annexation of Texas, which was one of the key factors leading to the Mexican-American War. The teacher divides the class into two groups, one representing the United States and the other representing Mexico.

   Role-play steps:

   • Step 1: Each group is tasked with preparing a short skit or dialogue where they will defend their country’s position on the annexation of Texas. The USA group will argue why they believe they had the right to annex Texas, while the Mexico group will argue why they believe Texas still belongs to Mexico.

   • Step 2: After both groups have prepared their arguments, they will present their skits to each other. The teacher will act as a mediator, ensuring that arguments are presented respectfully and that each group has an opportunity to be heard.

   • Step 3: Following the skits, the class will discuss the arguments presented and their implications for the Mexican-American War. The teacher will guide the discussion, helping students to connect the role-play activity with the historical context of the war.

2. Activity 2: Mapping the Mexican-American War (7 - 10 minutes)

   This activity will help students to visualize the geographical aspects of the Mexican-American War. The teacher provides each student with a blank map of North America, focusing on Mexico and the United States.

   Mapping steps:

   • Step 1: The teacher explains the task: students must mark the territories of the United States and Mexico before and after the Mexican-American War, using different colors to distinguish between the territories acquired by each country.

   • Step 2: Students will then use their maps to answer a series of questions about the war's territorial changes. For example, "Which states in the U.S. were once part of Mexico?" or "How did the war impact the size of the United States and Mexico?"

   • Step 3: After completing the mapping activity, students will share their maps and discuss their findings with a partner. The teacher will then lead a class discussion about the territorial changes resulting from the war, tying it back to the role-play activity and the causes of the war.

3. Activity 3: Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources (6 - 8 minutes)

   This activity will allow students to engage in historical analysis, a critical skill in studying history. The teacher provides each group with a packet of primary and secondary sources about the Mexican-American War.

   Analysis steps:

   • Step 1: Students are asked to read and examine the sources in their packets, which may include letters, speeches, newspaper articles, and historical analyses.

   • Step 2: Based on the sources, students are then asked to write short responses to questions such as, "What do these sources tell us about the causes and events of the Mexican-American War?" or "How do these sources reflect the perspectives of different individuals or groups involved in the war?"

   • Step 3: After analyzing the sources, each group will share their findings with the class. The teacher will facilitate a discussion, helping students to make connections between their analysis and the broader historical context of the war.

These development activities aim to provide the students with a hands-on and engaging learning experience, allowing them to actively participate in the exploration of the Mexican-American War. Through role-playing, mapping, and source analysis, the students will gain a deeper understanding of the causes, events, and consequences of the war, as well as the perspectives of those involved.

Feedback (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussions (3 - 4 minutes)

   After the completion of the activities, the teacher will facilitate a group discussion with the entire class. Each group will be given up to 3 minutes to present their solutions or conclusions from the activities. The teacher will guide the discussion, ensuring that all groups have an opportunity to share and that the students remain focused on the learning objectives. The teacher will also make connections between the students' findings and the broader historical context, reinforcing the key concepts and ideas of the lesson.

2. Assessment of Learning (2 - 3 minutes)

   Following the group discussions, the teacher will assess the students' learning by asking them to reflect on the activities. The teacher will pose questions such as:

   • "How did the role-play activity help you understand the perspectives of the United States and Mexico during the Mexican-American War?"
   • "What did you learn from the mapping activity about the territorial changes resulting from the war?"
   • "How did analyzing the primary and secondary sources deepen your understanding of the war's causes and events?"

   The students will be asked to respond to these questions, either orally or in writing. This will help the students to consolidate their learning and reflect on the skills and knowledge they have acquired.

3. Real-World Connections (2 - 3 minutes)

   Finally, the teacher will wrap up the lesson by discussing how the activities connect to real-world applications and everyday life. The teacher will highlight:

   • The importance of understanding historical events and their impacts, particularly in the case of the Mexican-American War, which shaped the borders and relationships of two nations.
   • The relevance of the skills the students have practiced, such as historical analysis, critical thinking, and perspective-taking, in various academic and professional contexts.
   • The ongoing relevance of the war's legacy in current issues, such as immigration, border disputes, and cultural exchange between Mexico and the United States.

This feedback stage of the lesson plan serves to consolidate the students' learning, assess their understanding of the topic, and connect their learning to real-world contexts. It provides a valuable opportunity for reflection and discussion, helping the students to internalize the knowledge and skills they have acquired during the lesson.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary and Recap (2 - 3 minutes)

   • The teacher begins the conclusion by summarizing the main points of the lesson. They reiterate the causes and events of the Mexican-American War, including the annexation of Texas, the dispute over the Texas-Mexico boundary, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. They also remind the students of the key figures involved in the conflict and their roles.

   • The teacher then recaps the activities the students participated in, highlighting how each one contributed to their understanding of the war. They remind the students of the role-play activity, the mapping exercise, and the analysis of primary and secondary sources, and explain how these activities helped the students to explore different aspects of the war in a hands-on and engaging way.

2. Connecting Theory, Practice, and Applications (1 - 2 minutes)

   • The teacher then explains how the lesson connected theory (the historical facts and events), practice (the hands-on activities and discussions), and applications (the real-world relevance of the war's legacy). They highlight how the role-play activity allowed the students to apply their understanding of the war's causes to a simulated conflict situation.

   • They also discuss how the mapping activity helped the students to visualize the territorial changes resulting from the war, and how the analysis of primary and secondary sources deepened their understanding of the events and perspectives involved.

   • Finally, they emphasize how the lesson's focus on the ongoing impact of the war's legacy helped the students to see the relevance of their learning to real-world contexts and current events.

3. Additional Materials (1 minute)

   • The teacher concludes the lesson by suggesting additional materials for the students to explore on their own. They might recommend books, documentaries, or websites that provide more in-depth information about the Mexican-American War, its causes, events, and consequences, and its ongoing impact on Mexico and the United States.

   • They might also suggest resources that offer different perspectives on the war, encouraging the students to continue developing their skills in historical analysis and critical thinking.

4. Everyday Life Relevance (1 minute)

   • The teacher ends the lesson by explaining the importance of understanding the Mexican-American War in everyday life. They discuss how the war and its aftermath continue to shape the borders, cultures, and relationships of Mexico and the United States today.

   • They also highlight how the skills the students have practiced in this lesson - historical analysis, critical thinking, perspective-taking - are valuable in many aspects of life, from understanding current events to making informed decisions.

   • They encourage the students to keep these connections in mind as they continue their studies, reminding them that history is not just a collection of facts and dates, but a living, evolving story that continues to shape our world.

In this conclusion stage of the lesson plan, the teacher reinforces the key concepts and skills of the lesson, makes connections between the students' learning and real-world contexts, and encourages the students to continue exploring the topic on their own. This stage serves to wrap up the lesson, leaving the students with a clear understanding of what they have learned and how it applies to their lives.