Objectives (5 minutes)

• Enable students to understand the concept and main characteristics of Enlightenment, based on the knowledge acquired in previous classes.

• Provide students with the opportunity to analyze and discuss the influences of Enlightenment on the formation of modern society, highlighting the main thinkers and their ideas.

• Develop the ability to relate the historical context of Enlightenment to the current reality, allowing students to understand how this movement influenced the contemporary world.

Secondary Objectives:

• Stimulate active participation of students during the proposed activities, encouraging the expression of opinions and the exchange of ideas.

• Foster students' critical thinking, promoting reflection on the importance of Enlightenment and its impact on current society.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

• The teacher should start the class by reminding students of the essential contents already studied that are fundamental for understanding Enlightenment, such as absolutism and the society of orders. This can be done through a brief review using conceptual maps, graphics, or timelines. (3 - 5 minutes)

• Next, the teacher should propose two problem situations that will serve as a trigger for the presentation of the content. The first one could be: 'How do you think it would be to live in a society where knowledge and science are controlled by the government?' The second one: 'What would it be like if people did not have the right to express their opinions freely?' The teacher should encourage students to express their opinions and think about the consequences of these situations. (3 - 5 minutes)

• After the problem situations, the teacher should contextualize the importance of Enlightenment, explaining that it was a movement that emerged in the 18th century, during the period of absolutism, and that its main objective was the valorization of reason, science, and individual freedom. The teacher can emphasize that many of the rights and values that we consider essential today, such as freedom of expression and equality, were achieved thanks to Enlightenment. (2 - 3 minutes)

• To arouse students' interest, the teacher can share two curiosities about Enlightenment: the first one is that the movement was named this way because its followers believed they were bringing the light of reason to a world dominated by ignorance and superstition. The second one is that, despite having emerged in Europe, Enlightenment had a global impact, influencing independence movements and revolutions worldwide. (2 - 3 minutes)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

Activity 1: The Enlightenment Game (10 - 12 minutes)

• The teacher should divide the class into groups of up to 5 students. Each group will receive a box with cards containing questions about Enlightenment and its ideas, as well as a board representing the path to 'enlighten' society.

• The goal of the game is to advance on the board by correctly answering the questions. Each question has a difficulty level represented by colors: green (easy), yellow (medium), and red (difficult). The more difficult the question, the further the advancement on the board.

• In addition, the game features 'challenge' cards. These cards propose hypothetical situations for students to solve, such as 'How would you apply the idea of freedom of expression in a crisis situation?' or 'How could science and reason help solve a current social problem?'.

• The teacher should circulate around the room during the game, assisting groups when necessary and encouraging discussion of the answers.

Activity 2: The Enlightenment Manifesto (10 - 12 minutes)

• Still in groups, students will be tasked with creating an 'Enlightenment manifesto' for current society. Students should imagine they are living in a society where reason, science, and individual freedom are not valued, and that they, as Enlightenment philosophers, want to change this reality.

• The manifesto should include an Introduction explaining what Enlightenment is and why it is important, followed by a list of demands based on Enlightenment ideas. For example, students may demand freedom of expression, free access to knowledge, and equal rights for all citizens.

• Students should be encouraged to be creative and to use concrete examples from current society to justify their demands.

• At the end of the activity, each group should present their manifesto to the class. The teacher should promote a discussion about the demands presented, relating them to the historical context of Enlightenment and to current society.

Activity 3: Improvised Scene (optional, if time allows) (5 - 7 minutes)

• If there is time, the teacher can propose a dramatization activity. Students, still in groups, should create a short scene representing a conflict between an enlightened society and a non-enlightened society.

• The scene should show how Enlightenment ideas, such as reason, science, and individual freedom, can help resolve this conflict.

• To prepare the scene, students should discuss and decide which characters and situations to include, what each character will say and do, and how the scene will end.

• After preparation, each group will present their scene to the class. The teacher should promote a discussion about the scenes, highlighting points that show the importance of Enlightenment and how its ideas can be applied in current society.

Return (10 - 15 minutes)

• The teacher should start this stage by recalling the main points discussed during the group activities. This can be done through a brief discussion, where each group shares their solutions or conclusions. The teacher should make connections between the students' answers and the theoretical content presented at the beginning of the class. (3 - 5 minutes)

• Next, the teacher should propose individual reflection. Students will have a minute to think about the questions:

  1. 'What was the most important concept you learned today?'
  2. 'What questions have not been answered yet?' (2 - 3 minutes)

• After the reflection time, the teacher should ask students to share their answers. The teacher should encourage everyone's participation and ensure a respectful and active listening environment. (3 - 5 minutes)

• To close the class, the teacher should propose a synthesis activity. Students, in groups, should create a 'mind map' of Enlightenment, including the main concepts, the most important thinkers, the ideas that were discussed, and the connections with current society.

• The teacher can provide cardboard, colored pens, and stickers so that students can create their maps in a more playful and visual way.

• After creating the maps, each group should present theirs to the class. The teacher should promote a discussion about the maps, highlighting the connections created by the students and reinforcing the most important concepts of Enlightenment. (3 - 5 minutes)

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

• The teacher should start the Conclusion by recalling the main points covered during the class. This includes the concept of Enlightenment, its characteristics, the main thinkers and their ideas, as well as the importance of this movement for the formation of modern society. The teacher can use a visual scheme, such as a conceptual map or a timeline, to facilitate the recap. (1 - 2 minutes)

• Next, the teacher should bridge the gap between theory and practice, highlighting how the activities carried out during the class allowed students to experience and understand Enlightenment thought more deeply. The teacher can recall the ideas presented in the manifestos and improvised scenes, emphasizing how students were able to apply Enlightenment ideas to current reality. (1 - 2 minutes)

• Subsequently, the teacher should suggest additional materials for students to deepen their understanding of Enlightenment. This may include books, articles, documentaries, educational institution websites, and virtual museums. The teacher should emphasize that independent study is essential for knowledge construction and encourage students to explore these materials. (1 - 2 minutes)

• Finally, the teacher should conclude the class by reinforcing the importance of Enlightenment for current society. The teacher can highlight that, despite having emerged more than 300 years ago, many of the ideas and values proposed by Enlightenment philosophers are still fundamental to our society, such as freedom of expression, equality, and respect for science and reason. (1 - 2 minutes)