Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)
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Understand the importance of the United States' entry into World War I and the effects of this participation on the outcome of the conflict.
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Analyze the direct and indirect consequences of the war for the countries involved, including the formation of new states and the redefinition of borders.
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Identify the main agreements and treaties that sealed the end of World War I, such as the Treaty of Versailles, and discuss their long-term implications on global geopolitics.
Secondary Objectives:
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Promote critical reflection on the impacts of World War I on the contemporary world, encouraging students to establish connections between the past and the present.
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Develop research and synthesis skills, as students will be guided to seek complementary information to enrich their understanding of the content.
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Stimulate active participation and debate in the classroom, through the discussion of different perspectives on the historical events addressed.
Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)
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Review of previous content: The teacher should start the lesson by briefly reviewing previous topics that are relevant to the understanding of the lesson's theme. This includes a brief recap of the causes and initial events of World War I, such as the formation of military alliances, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and the subsequent declaration of war. (3 - 5 minutes)
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Problem situation: The teacher can present two problematic situations to instigate students' critical thinking. The first situation could be: "How do you think the late entry of the United States into the war affected the final outcome?" The second situation could be: "What were the main challenges in defining the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and how did these decisions may have contributed to the outbreak of World War II?" (3 - 5 minutes)
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Contextualization: The teacher can then contextualize the importance of the theme, explaining how World War I marked a significant change in global geopolitics, leading to the fall of empires, the emergence of new states, and the redefinition of borders. Additionally, the teacher can highlight how the war had a lasting impact on the economy, society, and culture of the countries involved. (2 - 3 minutes)
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Introduction to the topic: To arouse students' interest, the teacher can share some curiosities or stories related to the topic. For example, he can mention that World War I was the first war in which airplanes were widely used, or that the Spanish flu, one of the deadliest pandemics in history, coincided with the war and may have been exacerbated by it. (2 - 3 minutes)
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Capturing students' attention: To capture students' attention, the teacher can start the lesson by sharing two curiosities about the topic. The first curiosity could be about how World War I was an extremely innovative conflict in terms of military technology, introducing the use of chemical weapons, tanks, and airplanes. The second curiosity could be about the influence of the Spanish flu, one of the deadliest pandemics in history, on the conflict, as the war coincided with the pandemic and may have been aggravated by it. These curiosities can serve as a hook for the topic discussion and for the introduction of the main learning objectives. (3 - 5 minutes)
Development (20 - 25 minutes)
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Entry of the United States into the war (5 - 7 minutes):
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Topic exposition: The teacher should start this part by explaining to the students that, until 1917, the United States had maintained a position of neutrality in World War I. However, this began to change due to a series of factors, including the sinking of American ships by German submarines and the revelation of the Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico against the United States.
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Classroom discussion: After the exposition, the teacher should invite students to share what they know or think about the entry of the United States into the war. This may include the impact of the United States' entry on the balance of power between the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance powers, and how the entry of the United States may have influenced the morale and motivation of the allied troops.
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Consequences of the war for the countries involved (5 - 7 minutes):
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Topic exposition: The teacher should explain that World War I had significant consequences for the countries involved, including the formation of new states (such as Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia), the redefinition of borders, and the loss of territories by the defeated countries.
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Classroom activity: The teacher can divide the class into groups and assign each group a specific country that was affected by the war. Students should research and present the territorial changes that occurred as a result of the war and how these changes affected the population and economy of those countries.
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Treaty of Versailles and the end of the war (5 - 7 minutes):
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Topic exposition: The teacher should explain that the Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, was one of the main agreements that ended World War I. The teacher should discuss the terms of the treaty, including the reparations imposed on Germany, the reduction of the size of the German army, and the loss of territories to France and other victorious countries.
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Classroom debate: The teacher can promote a classroom debate on the effectiveness of the Treaty of Versailles in preventing future conflicts. Students can be divided into teams, with some teams defending the position that the treaty was effective and other teams arguing that the treaty contributed to the outbreak of World War II.
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Connection with the current world (2 - 4 minutes):
- Classroom discussion: To conclude the Development part of the lesson, the teacher should invite students to discuss how the events and decisions of World War I still affect the current world. This may include discussions on the role of the United States as a global superpower, the persistence of ethnic and territorial conflicts in various regions of the world, and the importance of international treaties and agreements in maintaining global peace and security.
Return (10 - 12 minutes)
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Connections to the real world (3 - 4 minutes):
- The teacher should encourage students to make connections between the lesson content and the real world. This can be done through open-ended questions such as: "How do the agreements and treaties that ended World War I still affect international relations today?" or "What are the similarities and differences between the formation of new states after World War I and current territorial conflicts?".
- Students can be encouraged to share recent news or current events that somehow connect with what was learned during the lesson. This can help reinforce the relevance of the content and the practical application of the acquired knowledge.
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Review of key concepts (3 - 4 minutes):
- The teacher should review the main concepts, events, and characters discussed during the lesson. This can be done interactively, through questions and answers, or more directly, through a brief recapitulation.
- Students should be encouraged to ask questions or clarify any doubts they may have about the material presented. This can help consolidate the understanding of the content and identify areas that may need additional review or clarification.
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Reflection on learning (3 - 4 minutes):
- The teacher should ask students to reflect on what they learned during the lesson. This may involve considering questions such as: "What was the most important concept you learned today?" or "What questions have not been answered yet?".
- Students should be encouraged to express their opinions and share any insights or connections they have made during the lesson. This can help foster a collaborative learning environment and promote student confidence and engagement.
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Feedback for the teacher (1 - 2 minutes):
- Finally, the teacher should request feedback from students about the lesson. This may include questions about the presented material, the lesson format, the clarity of explanations, the level of difficulty, among others. Student feedback can be used to inform the planning of future lessons and to make adjustments or improvements in teaching and learning.
Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)
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Summary of content (1 - 2 minutes):
- The teacher should start the Conclusion by summarizing the main points covered during the lesson. This may include the entry of the United States into World War I, the direct and indirect consequences of the war for the countries involved, the agreements and treaties that sealed the end of the war, and the formation of new states and the redefinition of borders.
- The teacher should ensure that students have a clear understanding of these topics and should clarify any remaining doubts.
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Connection between theory, practice, and applications (1 - 2 minutes):
- Next, the teacher should explain how the lesson connected theory (the historical events and concepts discussed), practice (classroom activities and research exercises), and applications (discussions on the connections between World War I and the contemporary world).
- The teacher should highlight how this multifaceted approach helps students develop a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the content.
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Extra materials (1 - 2 minutes):
- The teacher should then suggest extra materials for students who wish to deepen their understanding of the topic. This may include books, documentaries, research websites, and academic articles on World War I and its aftermath.
- For example, the teacher may recommend the book "The Guns of August" by Barbara Tuchman, which offers a comprehensive and detailed insight into the events that led to World War I and the role of the United States in the conflict.
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Relevance of the topic (1 - 2 minutes):
- To conclude, the teacher should emphasize the importance of the topic for students' everyday lives.
- The teacher can explain how the events of World War I shaped the world we live in today, influencing geopolitics, economy, society, and culture.
- Additionally, the teacher can highlight the relevance of the skills developed during the lesson - such as the ability to analyze historical sources, think critically, and debate ideas - for students' lives outside the classroom.