Lesson Plan
Grade Level:
9th
Estimated duration of lesson:
40 minutes for Intro and Document analysis. Three 40 minutes class including a lab day to complete baseball card project.
History Benchmarks:
A: Explain connections between the ideas of the Enlightenment and changes in the relationships between citizens and their governments.
Enlightenment Ideas 1. Explain how Enlightenment ideas produced enduring effects on political, economic and cultural institutions, including challenges to religious authority, monarchy and absolutism.
Social Studies Skills and Methods Benchmark A: Evaluate the reliability and credibility of sources.
Thinking and Organizing
1. Detect bias and propaganda in primary and secondary sources of information.
2. Evaluate the credibility of sources for:
a. Logical fallacies;
b. Consistency of arguments;
c. Unstated assumptions;
3. Analyze the reliability of sources for:
a. Accurate use of facts;
b. Adequate support of statements;
c. Date of publication.
Summary of the lesson:
This lesson can be used as a capstone project to the study of the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment. Students will research selected figures from the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment using primary sources and other materials. They will then create “baseball cards” on the individuals.
Primary Sources:
Sources for Information:
Instructional steps to implement the lesson:
Divide the class into groups of three.
Give each student a copy of the Instructions & Rubric.
Each student will research three scientists, using the Rubric to guide their research. They should use the primary source links above. The sources for information links are good starting points for research.
The student will report his or her results to the group.
Each student will create a baseball card for each scientist, using his or her own research and the research of their colleagues.
Post-assessment:
Project Rubric
Materials needed by teachers:
Primary sources, 4x6 lined one-side note-cards (9 for each student), color pencils, markers, access to computers, rubric
Materials needed by students:
Primary sources, 4x6 lined one-side note-cards (9 for each student), color pencils, markers, access to computers, rubric
Created by Crystal Bartley, Mohawk High School, Mohawk Local Schools, Ohio