Objectives (5 - 10 minutes)
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Understanding the concept of nationalism: Students should be able to define the concept of nationalism, understanding how it has developed throughout history and how it has influenced the geopolitical relations between countries. They should be able to identify the main elements of nationalism, such as national identity, patriotism, and the sense of belonging to a nation.
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Critical analysis of historical examples of nationalism: Students should be able to analyze concrete historical examples of nationalist movements and how they have affected global geopolitics. They should be able to discuss the impacts of these movements, both positive and negative, and evaluate how nationalism can be a factor of unity or conflict between countries.
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Connection between nationalism and geopolitics: Students should be able to understand how nationalism influences geopolitics, that is, how power relations between countries are shaped by nationalist sentiment. They should be able to identify contemporary situations in which nationalism plays an important role and discuss the possible impacts of these situations on the global geopolitical order.
Secondary objectives:
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Development of research and presentation skills: During the preparation for the class and the completion of the proposed activities, students will have the opportunity to improve their research, selection, and organization of information skills, as well as their oral presentation skills.
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Encouragement of critical thinking: Through the analysis of historical examples and contemporary situations, students will be encouraged to develop a critical stance on the topic, questioning and evaluating different perspectives and interpretations.
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Encouragement of debate and argumentation: The proposed activities should promote the active participation of students, stimulating debate and argumentation, and contributing to the development of their communication and argumentation skills.
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Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)
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Review of previous concepts: The teacher should start the class by reviewing concepts that are fundamental to the understanding of the topic. In this case, it is important to review concepts of geopolitics, international relations, and national identity. The teacher can do this through a quick oral review or through a short questionnaire that students must answer in writing. This step aims to ensure that all students have a solid foundation for understanding the new content.
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Problem situation: The teacher can start the class by presenting two situations involving nationalism and geopolitics. For example, they can talk about the situation in Crimea, where the issue of Russian nationalism plays a central role, or about Brexit, where British nationalism and the issue of national identity were important factors. These situations should be presented in a way that arouses students' curiosity and motivates them to explore the topic further.
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Contextualization: The teacher should explain to the students the importance of studying nationalism and geopolitics. They can talk about how these themes are relevant to understanding the current world, where nationalism has become increasingly present in the politics of many countries. In addition, they can emphasize how nationalism and geopolitics directly influence the lives of citizens, affecting issues such as the economy, migration, security, among others.
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Introduction to the topic: To capture the students' attention, the teacher can present some curiosities or interesting facts about nationalism and geopolitics. For example, they can talk about how the modern concept of nationalism emerged with the French Revolution, or about how nationalism was one of the main factors that led to the First and Second World Wars. Additionally, they can mention how nationalism has been used by some contemporary political leaders to strengthen their positions and mobilize their voters.
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Lesson objectives: Finally, the teacher should present the lesson objectives, explaining what students should be able to do by the end of the class. This helps to direct students' attention to what is most important in the study of nationalism and geopolitics.
With these steps, the teacher will be able to prepare the ground for the class, ensuring that students are motivated and prepared for the new content.
Development (20 - 25 minutes)
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Debate Activity (10 - 15 minutes): The teacher should divide the class into two groups. Each group will represent a fictional country experiencing a nationalist movement. The teacher should provide each group with a set of information about their country, such as its geographical location, history, culture, natural resources, among others. Each group should then prepare arguments to defend their nationalist movement, considering how it would affect global geopolitics. In the end, the groups should present their arguments in a debate moderated by the teacher. This activity aims to allow students to apply the concepts learned in a playful and interactive way, as well as to develop their argumentation and debate skills.
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Debate Preparation: The teacher should give students time to study the information about their countries and prepare their arguments. During this time, the teacher should circulate around the room, assisting groups that are having difficulties and ensuring that all students are involved in the activity.
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Debate Execution: The teacher should moderate the debate, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to speak and that the debate remains respectful and productive. The teacher should intervene only to clarify doubts and to ensure that the debate stays focused on the topic.
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Concept Map Activity (5 - 10 minutes): After the debate, students should create a concept map representing the relationships between nationalism and geopolitics. The teacher should provide students with a list of concepts related to the theme, such as national identity, sovereignty, borders, conflicts, among others. Students should then connect these concepts in a way that represents the complex relationships between nationalism and geopolitics. This activity aims to help students consolidate their knowledge in a visual and organized way, as well as to stimulate reflection on the topic.
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Concept Map Elaboration: Students should draw the concept map on a piece of paper, connecting the concepts with arrows and lines. They should use colors and drawings to make the map more visual and easy to understand.
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Presentation of Concept Maps: At the end of the activity, students should present their concept maps to the class. The teacher should take this opportunity to correct possible misinterpretations and to reinforce the main concepts.
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Research Activity (5 - 10 minutes): Finally, students should conduct a quick research on a historical example of a nationalist movement. The teacher should provide a list of examples, such as the unification of Germany, the independence of India, the dissolution of Yugoslavia, among others. Each student should choose an example and research about it, preparing a brief summary to present to the class. This activity aims to deepen students' knowledge on the topic, as well as to develop their research and synthesis skills.
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Research Execution: Students should conduct the research on their phones or on computers provided by the teacher. They should look for reliable and relevant information, such as newspaper articles, history books, academic institution websites, among others.
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Presentation of Summaries: At the end of the research, students should present their summaries to the class. The teacher should take this opportunity to correct possible errors and to clarify doubts.
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With these activities, the teacher will be able to ensure an active and participative learning environment, where students will have the opportunity to apply the concepts learned, develop their research and argumentation skills, and reflect on the importance of nationalism and geopolitics for life in society.
Return (10 - 15 minutes)
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Group Discussion (5 - 7 minutes): After completing the activities, the teacher should promote a group discussion so that students can share their conclusions and impressions. Each group should briefly present the main ideas that emerged during the debate and the elaboration of the concept map. The teacher should encourage the participation of all students, promoting an environment of respect and attentive listening. This step aims to consolidate learning and ensure that all students have understood the main points addressed during the class.
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Group Presentations: Each group should present their main conclusions, explaining how they reached them and which arguments they used. The teacher should intervene only to clarify doubts and to highlight the most important points.
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Group Discussion: After the presentations, the teacher should promote a group discussion, where students can ask questions, present counterarguments, and reflect on what they have learned. The teacher should ensure that all students have the opportunity to speak and that the discussion remains respectful and productive.
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Connection with Theory (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should then make the connection between the activities carried out and the theory presented at the beginning of the class. They should explain how the activities helped students understand and apply the concepts of nationalism and geopolitics. In addition, the teacher should emphasize the importance of nationalism and geopolitics for understanding the current world, and how these concepts can be useful to understand phenomena such as migration, international conflicts, and power relations.
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Final Reflection (3 - 5 minutes): Finally, the teacher should propose that students reflect silently for a minute on what they learned in the class. After this minute, the teacher should ask some questions to guide the students' reflection. For example, they can ask:
- What was the most important concept you learned today?
- What questions have not been answered yet?
- How can you apply what you learned today in your life or in your daily routine?
The teacher should give students time to think about these questions and, if they want, they can ask them to share their answers with the class. This step aims to help students consolidate what they have learned, identify possible gaps in their knowledge, and reflect on the importance of the topic for their lives.
With this Return stage, the teacher will be able to ensure that students have understood the main points addressed during the class, and that they are able to reflect on the importance of nationalism and geopolitics for life in society.
Conclusion (5 - 10 minutes)
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Summary of Main Contents (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should give a brief summary of the main contents covered during the class. They should recapitulate the concept of nationalism, the relationship between nationalism and geopolitics, and the historical and contemporary examples of nationalist movements. In addition, the teacher should highlight the main conclusions that students reached during the practical activities, emphasizing how they relate to the theory presented.
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Connection between Theory and Practice (2 - 3 minutes): Next, the teacher should explain how the class managed to connect theory and practice. They should show how the practical activities allowed students to apply theoretical concepts in a playful and interactive way, and how they helped consolidate learning. In addition, the teacher should emphasize how the discussion and reflection promoted during the class contributed to the development of students' critical thinking.
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Additional Materials (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher should then suggest some additional materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge on the topic. These materials may include books, articles, documentaries, websites, among others. The teacher should briefly explain what each material addresses and how it complements what was learned in the class. In addition, the teacher should be available to answer any questions students may have about the materials.
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Relevance of the Topic (1 - 2 minutes): Finally, the teacher should emphasize the importance of the topic for students' lives. They should explain how nationalism and geopolitics directly influence life in society, affecting issues such as politics, economy, security, migration, among others. In addition, the teacher should highlight how the study of nationalism and geopolitics can help students better understand the world they live in and become more conscious and informed citizens.
With this Conclusion stage, the teacher will be able to consolidate students' learning, connect theory and practice, and motivate students to continue studying the topic. In addition, the teacher will be able to reinforce the relevance of the topic and the importance of studying geography for life in society.