Pre -Seminar Lesson from Classroom Instruction That Works

World History
Political Revolutions
Sixth Grade Standard III, Objective 1: Understand processes of revolution
Indicators: a. Examine social, religious, and economic issues that may lead to revolution. b. Identify and compare how revolutions develop in multiple areas of human life.
Students will be able to compare and contrast the causes and effects of the American Revolution and the French Revolution using a Venn Diagram. (Graphic Organizers for Comparison, pgs. 18-19, Classroom Instruction That Works by Marzano)
Anticipatory Set: Students brainstorm as groups and list as many items as they can remember about the American and French Revolutions. Time them for 5 minutes, then share with the class.
Lesson: Students read the chapter in the textbook dealing with the American and French Revolutions. Use the T-chart organizer to take notes as they read.
Students pair-share their notes from the T-chart.
Divide class in groups and have each group analyze the information from their notes to create a Venn Diagram to show their comparisons.
Closure: Groups present their Venn Diagrams and summarize what they learned for the class.