Lesson Plan | Active Learning | French Revolution: Constitutional Monarchy, National Convention, and Directory

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is essential to establish the foundations upon which students will build their knowledge during class. By clearly defining the objectives, students will be able to direct their prior study efforts and classroom participation towards achieving a comprehensive and critical understanding of the French Revolution and its developments. Precise definition of objectives helps maintain focus and cohesion in proposed activities.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to comprehend in a contextualized way the historical process that culminated in the French Revolution, including the main events that led to the fall of absolute monarchy and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

2. Explore the developments post-French Revolution, focusing on the National Convention and the Directory, and how these periods influenced European politics, science, and geopolitics.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage critical thinking and comparative analysis between different phases of the French Revolution and their impacts on Europe.
2. Develop skills in argumentation and articulation of ideas when discussing complex themes of political history.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students in the theme of the lesson and to review and consolidate the prior knowledge acquired about the French Revolution. The problem situations encourage students to think critically and apply their knowledge practically, preparing them for deeper discussions during class. The contextualization aims to broaden students' views on the relevance and lasting impact of the French Revolution, connecting the past with the present and demonstrating the transversality of the topic.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are a French citizen in 1789. What would be your main concerns and desires regarding the political and social situation in France at that time?

2. Analyze how the lack of popular support and rising social tensions influenced the transformation from absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in France.

Contextualization

The French Revolution was not just an isolated event in history; it shaped the modern world in profound ways. For example, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789 influenced the creation of constitutions in many countries. Interestingly, the revolution also impacted science, with the creation of the metric system, and geopolitics, such as the expansion of nationalism and the Napoleonic wars. These aspects show how studying the French Revolution is crucial to understanding not only French history but global history and its contemporary implications.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The development stage of the lesson plan is designed to allow students to practically and interactively apply the concepts studied about the French Revolution, the Constitutional Monarchy, the National Convention, and the Directory. The proposed activities are intended to stimulate critical thinking, collaboration, and the application of historical knowledge in scenarios that simulate real situations or reinforce understanding of the historical and geopolitical impacts of these periods.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - The Judgment of the Revolution

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop skills of argumentation and critical understanding of the different roles and ideologies present in the French Revolution.

- Description: In this activity, students will be divided into groups of up to five people, each representing one of the main actors of the French Revolution: monarchists, revolutionaries, Girondins, Jacobins, and peasants. Each group will prepare a defense or accusation based on documents and historical facts about how their group contributed to the evolution or mistakes of the French Revolution.

- Instructions:

• The groups should meet to discuss and prepare their defense or accusation based on study materials about the French Revolution.

• Each group should choose a representative to present the arguments during the judgment.

• Each representative will have 5 minutes to present their defense or accusation, followed by 3 minutes for a round of questions from other groups.

• After all presentations, there will be a vote among the groups to determine which party was most convincing in its argument.

Activity 2 - Interactive Map of Post-French Revolution Europe

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Visualize and understand the geopolitical changes in Europe after the French Revolution, enhancing understanding of the political impact of the event.

- Description: Students, in groups, will use an interactive map to mark territorial changes and political alliances in Europe after the French Revolution. They should correlate these changes with events during the National Convention and the Directory, explaining how these events influenced the European geopolitical configuration.

- Instructions:

• Each group will receive access to an interactive map and a list of post-French Revolution events and treaties.

• Students should mark on the map the territorial changes and political alliances as they discuss and correlate with the listed historical events.

• After marking, each group will present their map and explain the connections between the events and the changes on the map.

• There will be a class discussion to compare each group's interpretations and consolidate collective understanding.

Activity 3 - Diplomatic Negotiation Scenario

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Foster understanding of international relations post-French Revolution and the impact of the Directory on alliances and territories in Europe.

- Description: The groups will take on the role of representatives of different European nations after the French Revolution and during the Directory. They will negotiate treaties, alliances, and territories in a simulated scenario, using historical knowledge to justify their positions.

- Instructions:

• Each group chooses or randomly receives the role of a post-French Revolution European nation.

• Groups should study the historical interests and positions of their nation using provided materials and additional research.

• In a negotiation session, groups will try to reach agreements with other nations, using arguments based on historical facts.

• At the end, each group will present the results of their negotiations and discuss how the simulated event reflects the real events of the time.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial to consolidate students' learning, allowing them to reflect on the knowledge acquired and share insights with their peers. The group discussion helps develop communication and argumentation skills, as well as providing a comprehensive view of the different viewpoints and strategies used during the activities. This exchange of ideas reinforces the understanding of the complex events of the French Revolution and its developments, as well as allowing students to critically assess the impact of these events on European and global history.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, promote a group discussion with all students to share their experiences and learnings. Start the discussion with a general introduction highlighting the importance of teamwork and practical application of historical knowledge. Then, ask each group to present a brief summary of what they discussed, the conclusions reached, and the challenges faced. Encourage students to reflect on how the events of the French Revolution and its developments influenced not only history but also their perceptions of politics, science, and geopolitics.

Key Questions

1. What were the greatest challenges in representing your group in the activity and how did you overcome those challenges?

2. How can the events of the National Convention and the Directory be seen as responses to the problems that arose during the French Revolution?

3. In what way did the internal conflicts in France during the Revolution influence international relations in Europe?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The conclusion stage is designed to consolidate students' learning, ensuring they have a clear understanding of the content covered and how it connects to the current world. Additionally, it serves to reinforce the importance of studying history for the formation of critical citizens who can understand and question the world around them.

Summary

In conclusion, the teacher should summarize the main points addressed in the lesson, recalling the phases of the French Revolution, from the Constitutional Monarchy to the National Convention and the Directory. It is essential to recap the political, social, and international changes that occurred and how these changes influenced European geopolitics and science.

Theory Connection

The lesson was structured to connect theory with practice, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical activities such as simulated judgments, interactive maps, and negotiation scenarios. These activities not only reinforced understanding of historical concepts, but also demonstrated how these concepts are relevant and applicable in real and simulated situations.

Closing

Finally, the teacher should emphasize the importance of the French Revolution and its developments, highlighting how the study of these historical events is fundamental to understanding not only European history but also the modern principles of democracy, human rights, and international relations. This contextualization shows the applicability of historical knowledge in understanding contemporary issues and in forming critical and informed citizens.