Mar 5 / 6

A Rising Threat, Parts I

Liam Casteel
Objectives:
Students will be able to analyze the Versailles conference by actively attempting to write a treaty with
vastly different national goals.
Students will be able to describe how the Great Depression helped lead to the rise of Fascism by
answering the questions associated with The World Wars video.
Students will be able to analyze the rise of Hitler and Nazism through the modern example of Star Wars.

State Standards:
7.4: Students will describe the causes of World War II, including the legacy of World War I and the rise of
totalitarian states by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills.

Materials:

Video projector
Instructions for the Versailles Conference
Permission Slips from all students for the video (already obtained)
The World Wars video
Pre-selected Star Wars clips

Plan:
I.
II.

Discuss the Agenda / QUICK Good News (5 Min)

Activity: Signing the Treaty of Versailles (30 Min)
a. Students will be in groups of up to 6, and each group will be assigned one of the
following countries:
i. United States
ii. Great Britain
iii. France
iv. Italy
v. Japan
vi. Germany
b. Each table / country will be given the countrys aim for the conference. Germany is not
invited and must watch.
c. Each nation will have about 10 minutes to discuss their aims and strategy.

III.

IV.

d. One representative for each country will come to the front of the room to try to
persuade the other leaders to sign their version of the treaty. Leaders may request help
from their table to enhance their debate. The debate will last no more than 20 minutes.
The World Wars: A Rising Threat Part I (25 Min)
a. Alternate assignment:
i. Chapter 30, Section 1
1. 2, 3, 5
ii. Chapter 30, Section 4
1. 1, 4, 6
iii. Critical Thinking
1. How did Britain and France emerge from World War I as both victors
and losers?
2. Both Stalin in the Soviet Union and Hitler in Germany instituted ruthless
campaigns against supposed enemies of the state. Why do you think
dictators need to find scapegoats for their nations ills?
Rise of Nazism through Star Wars (20 Min)
a. Utilizing a contemporary example, we will discuss the rise of Nazism. Analogies include:
i. Election of Hitler and Palpatine as Chancellor
ii. Rearmament
iii. Night of the Long Knives compared to Order 66
iv. Scapegoating of the Jews compared to scapegoating of the Jedi
v. Republic turned into single party dictatorship
b. Display the first example, then provide half of the example and ask students to fill in the
blank space. For instance, the students would be given Order 66 and asked to define the
event that is most analogous (Night of the Long Knives, which is shown in the video for
the day).

Assessments:
Students will actively demonstrate their understanding of the Versailles conference. Students will
complete a worksheet with the film, along with several critical thinking questions designed to enhance
learning from the day. Students will help create the comparisons between Nazism and the building of
the Star Wars Empire.

Rationale:
The Versailles conference is the key failure that ensures that the era of conflict is not complete at the
completion of World War I, and must be discussed beyond what has already been shown in The World
Wars video. Furthermore, doing this at the beginning of class ensures that the information is reinforced
from the previous lesson. The film segment is an ongoing lesson that connects the World Wars unit
through the people involved. Discussing the rise of Nazism through the eyes of Star Wars is a
contemporary example and I would like to see if this leads to student engagement of the material.