Yalta Conference Simulation
Driving Question: How did the decisions at the Yalta conference come to be? Which countries benefitted more than others?
Goals and Objectives:
- Students will understand how post war decisions benefitted certain countries over others.
- Students will be able to communicate verbally the main political ideals of Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt.
- Students will be able to list the main political and ideological priorities of the superpower nations (USSR, United States, Britain) at the end of WW2.
Content Standards:
10.9 Students analyze the international developments in the post–World War II world. 1. Compare the economic and military power shifts caused by the war, including the Yalta Pact, the development of nuclear weapons, Soviet control over Eastern European nations, and the economic recoveries of Germany and Japan. Common Core Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.6 Compare the point of view of two or more authors for how they treat the same or similar topics, including which details they include and emphasize in their respective accounts. |
Vocabulary:
|
Lesson Introduction: (8-10min)
Students will be asked to predict what issues the world leaders will need to discuss at the Yalta Conference. In roughly (3-5 minutes) the pairs will come up with at least two issues or questions and place them on the whiteboard in one of three categories.
The categories will read:
Economic Security National Security National Pride
Once the post it notes are placed on the board there will be a short ( 5 min max) class discussion on which category will have the most importance at the conference.
Students will be asked to predict what issues the world leaders will need to discuss at the Yalta Conference. In roughly (3-5 minutes) the pairs will come up with at least two issues or questions and place them on the whiteboard in one of three categories.
The categories will read:
Economic Security National Security National Pride
Once the post it notes are placed on the board there will be a short ( 5 min max) class discussion on which category will have the most importance at the conference.
Content Delivery:
The teacher will deliver a short lecture using PowerPoint speaking to the end of World War Two and the lead up to the Yalta Conference. The teacher will re-introduce key players with photographs. The teacher will assign groups of three and give the students a goal of 30 seconds to move to their group's assigned desks. The teacher will take time to orally present the written directions for the activity and pause for student questions. Student Engagement: Students will be assigned groups of three in which each member will be assigned the roll of either WInston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, or Joseph Stalin. During the first class period the students will be a "character card" to study which provides information on their characters background, experiences, goals, and motivations (See lesson plan below). The students will be asked to read about their character and create a cheat sheet for themselves. Students will be able to use this cheat sheet during the simulation. On the second day of class, students will return to their assigned groups and begin the simulation. Each student must introduce themselves to their group and state one main goal that their character would pursue at the Yalta Conference. Students will be handed a table of issues and options to be discussed (See lesson plan below). The students will debate the choice they feel like would most benefit the world leader they are portraying. The simulation will conclude once all of the issues have been resolved in the groups. Once the simulation is complete the teacher will lead a class discussion where the true results of the conference will be shared with the groups in order to compare and contrast the simulation to the real Yalta Conference. |
|
Lesson Closure:
Students will complete an exit slip in which they answer the prompt:
"Do you think the Yalta Conference was a success? Why or why not?
Were the results in equal favor of every country involved? If not, who benefited the most?
Students will turn in the exit slip to the teacher as they leave the classroom.
Assessments:
Formative: The students will be assessed as they orally debate with their group mates. The teacher will be able to assess if each student has an understanding of their characters goals and motivations.
Summative: On the Unit exam directly following this lesson, the students will answer a free response question which will instruct them to construct a paragraph connecting a decision made at the Yalta Conference and an event (positive or negative) that affected the world in the post war period.
Accommodations:
LEP students as well as striving readers will be given a graphic organizer to complete as their "cheat sheet" in order to allow them to visually organize the information. Sentence starters will be provided via the projector in the front of the room to support language learners as well as any one else who needs them.
Students who have difficulty working in groups will have the opportunity to choose their group mates (with the teacher before class) or complete an alternate individual assignment.
Resources:
Textbook
Youtube Video (See below)
Students will complete an exit slip in which they answer the prompt:
"Do you think the Yalta Conference was a success? Why or why not?
Were the results in equal favor of every country involved? If not, who benefited the most?
Students will turn in the exit slip to the teacher as they leave the classroom.
Assessments:
Formative: The students will be assessed as they orally debate with their group mates. The teacher will be able to assess if each student has an understanding of their characters goals and motivations.
Summative: On the Unit exam directly following this lesson, the students will answer a free response question which will instruct them to construct a paragraph connecting a decision made at the Yalta Conference and an event (positive or negative) that affected the world in the post war period.
Accommodations:
LEP students as well as striving readers will be given a graphic organizer to complete as their "cheat sheet" in order to allow them to visually organize the information. Sentence starters will be provided via the projector in the front of the room to support language learners as well as any one else who needs them.
Students who have difficulty working in groups will have the opportunity to choose their group mates (with the teacher before class) or complete an alternate individual assignment.
Resources:
Textbook
Youtube Video (See below)