Contextualization

In the 18th century, France, one of the most powerful nations in the world at the time, underwent a series of profound political and social transformations that still have a profound influence on the shaping of the modern world. This period of history is known as the French Revolution. It is one of the most studied events in history, and its impact goes beyond French borders or even European ones.

The French Revolution began in 1789 and is marked by the end of the absolute monarchy and the rise of popular power. It is important to note that the French Revolution was not a homogeneous and linear process, but rather complex, with advances and setbacks, victories and defeats, marked by intense and often violent struggles.

The study of the French Revolution is important not only to understand the transition from the old regime to modern republics but also covers topics such as Enlightenment, democracy, political violence, human rights, and nationalism. In addition, the French Revolution marked the end of feudalism, established the separation of powers, and influenced the fall of monarchies throughout the European continent.

Students can start their research with the following reliable and in-depth sources on the French Revolution:

1. World Digital Library: French Revolution
2. Educational Channel: French Revolution
3. World History: French Revolution
4. Manual do Mundo: French Revolution
5. Teacher's Portal: French Revolution

Practical Activity

Activity Title:

Reliving the Revolution: An Interactive Board Game about the French Revolution

Project Objective:

This project aims to promote a deeper and integrated understanding of the French Revolution through the creation and execution of an interactive and educational board game.

Detailed Project Description:

Students will divide into groups of 3 to 5 people. Each group will be responsible for creating a board game about the French Revolution, which should address the main events, characters, and themes of this period. The execution of this project should take between five to ten hours per student, with the total time for project delivery being one month.

In addition to building the board, the game rules should reflect the events and characteristics of the French Revolution. Students must conduct detailed historical research to ensure the accuracy of the game and the relevance of the elements of the theory of the French Revolution. The game should be designed to be played and understood by the other classmates.

Required Materials:

1. Cardboard, paperboard, or similar material (for the base of the board)
2. Colored paper, markers, colored pencils, and/or paints (for board decoration)
3. Game pieces (small figurines, buttons, clips, etc.)
4. Dice
5. Students' research notes (for creating game rules, event cards, etc.)

Step by Step:

1. Initial Research: Conduct detailed research on the main events, characters, and themes of the French Revolution from the provided bibliographic sources. Take note of any information that may be useful for the game design.

2. Game Brainstorming: As a group, decide on the basic format of your game. Will it be a strategy game, a luck-based game, or a mix of both? What will be the basic rules? How will you represent the different events and characters of the French Revolution?

3. Board Design: Sketch the basic layout of the board on a draft. Once satisfied with the design, transfer it to the cardboard or other chosen material.

4. Creation of Game Rules and Components: Create the game rules, as well as any event card, game piece, or other necessary components. Ensure that each game element somehow reflects the history and theory of the French Revolution.

5. Game Testing: Play a few rounds of the game to ensure that the rules work and that the game is fun.

Project Deliverables:

At the end of the project, each group must deliver:

1. The Board Game: The complete game, including board, game rules, pieces, cards, and any other components.

2. A Written Report: This document should be structured in four parts:

   a. Introduction: Provide context on the French Revolution, its relevance and real-world application, as well as the objective of this project.

   b. Development: Discuss the theory behind the French Revolution, explain the activity in detail, indicate the methodology used, and finally present and discuss the results obtained.

   c. Conclusions: Conclude the work by summarizing its main points, explaining the learnings obtained, and drawing conclusions about the project.

   d. Bibliography: Indicate the sources used to work on the project such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

Each game element (board, rules, pieces, cards) should be explained in the report, indicating how it relates to the learned theory of the French Revolution. Additionally, students should discuss how group work influenced the game creation and what socio-emotional skills (time management, communication, problem-solving, creative thinking, proactivity, etc.) they developed in the process.