Unit Packs / The Age of Revolutions
The Age of Revolutions
Students read the Enlightenment debate over power, follow the French Revolution from its ideals to the Terror, compare paths for Latin America, and weigh competing ideas of what makes a nation.
Unit question: Where should government power come from, and did the revolutions of 1789 to 1900 deliver on their promises?
Suggested grades: 9, 10
Day-by-day calendar
- Day 1
Launch the unit
TimelineWalk the era timeline; students note three turning points.
MapLocate the places in this unit on the source map.
QuestionPost the unit question: Where should government power come from, and did the revolutions of 1789 to 1900 deliver on their promises? Students write a first-guess answer to revisit on Day 11.
- Day 2
Investigate: Where should a government's power come from?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 6 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 3
Lesson: Socratic Seminar: Where Should Power Come From?
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 4
Investigate: Did the French Revolution live up to its own ideals?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 7 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 5
Lesson: Hot Seat: Voices of the Revolution
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 6
Investigate: Who should shape Latin America's future?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 7 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 7
Lesson: Plan Sort: Mapping Latin America’s Futures
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 8
Investigate: What makes a nation?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 7 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 9
Lesson: Four Corners: What Makes a Nation?
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 10
DBQ workshop
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Where should a government's power come from?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Did the French Revolution live up to its own ideals?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Who should shape Latin America's future?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “What makes a nation?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
WorkshopStudents annotate the documents and outline an answer.
- Day 11
Final writing task
Writing taskWrite an argument: Did the revolutions of this era live up to the Enlightenment ideas that inspired them? Use at least five sources from at least three sets, including one critic of revolution.