Lesson Plan from Contemporary History

Contemporary History Pre-1900: Enlightenment

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Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify Enlightenment ideas in a modern context.
Length
One 45-minute period
Grade Level
High School

Materials

Homework

Class Plan

  1. (10 Minutes) Debrief Homework, focusing in particular on reviewing and defining the five influential ideas identified in the reading:
    1. Opposition to absolute monarchy
    2. Separation of powers
    3. Liberty and individual rights
    4. Equality
    5. Free-market capitalism
  2. (20 minutes)  A Look at Op-Eds: In groups, have students peruse Op-Ed articles and identify one that argues for (or against!) one of the five influential ideas.
  3. (15 minutes) Activity: Have each group post to a Padlet, Google Jamboard, or similar tool, where they:
    1. Include link to the op-ed article they found
    2. Identify the main argument of the op-ed
    3. Identify which of the five Enlightenment ideas is being discussed
    4. Support these identifications with quotations