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Lesson 1: Building Background Knowledge: Conditions for Revolution
50 min
California CCSS: Focus Standards
California CCSS: Supporting Standards
ELD Standards
Student Lesson
Lesson 1: Building Background Knowledge: Conditions for Revolution
Student Learning Objectives
1
Content
Students will learn about the concept of political revolution by examining the conditions and problems that led to the Russian Revolution through a gallery walk activity.
2
Language
Students will explain causes of revolution using visual evidence by using cause–effect connectors (because, leads to, results in), descriptive academic language (inequality, oppression, instability), and evidence-based explanation frames (The image shows . . . , This suggests . . .).
Essential Question
Why do revolutions rise, and why do some end up betraying their own ideals?
Connections to
Knowledge-Building:
In studying causes of political revolutions like the Russian Revolution, students build an understanding of how social and economic conditions can lead to a demand for governmental and societal change.
Enduring Understanding:
Political revolutions often begin with unjust and unequal economic and social conditions.
Future Lessons:
In Lesson 2, students will analyze examples of propaganda to understand how messages are crafted to influence belief and behavior. In Lesson 3, students will explore allegory and symbolism to examine how stories can reflect historical events, preparing them to begin Animal Farm in Lesson 4.
Unit Performance Task:
This lesson builds background knowledge about the causes of revolutions, which students will draw on when analyzing and writing about the revolution in Animal Farm.
Lesson Pacing
| Lesson Flow | Purpose of Learning Experience |
|---|---|
Launch15 Minutes | Students will begin investigating the concept of a revolution through a turn-and-talk activity. |
Learning in Action30 Minutes | Learning in Action: Investigating the Causes of the Russian Revolution (SL.8.1, SL.8.2) Students will be introduced to the Essential Questions of the unit and will learn about the conditions that led to the Russian Revolution through a gallery walk activity. |
Look Back5 Minutes | Students will reflect on the gallery walk and their understanding of what led to the Russian Revolution. |
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Addressed in Lesson
- revolution
- a major and often sudden change in a political or social system, usually driven by people who want to replace the existing power structure
- absolute monarch:
- a ruler with complete, unrestricted power over their state and subjects; this type of ruler has no constitutional limits on their power
Vocabulary for Additional Support
- inevitable:
- unable to be avoided or escaped; sure to happen
Material List
- Notice, Wonder, Connect graphic organizer
- Unit 2 Lesson 1 Student Edition
Routines
- Turn-and-Talk
- Gallery Walk
- Quick Write
Lesson Sequence
Lesson Texts
Short-Form Text
Photographs of Pre-Revolution Russian Empire
Library of Congress, adapted by Newsela
Read text
