“What factors are necessary for a peaceful protest to be successful?” by Kyle Blackiston
High School Inquiry Lessons
What factors are necessary for a peaceful protest to be successful? C3 Framework Indicators
D2.His.15.9-12. Distinguish between long-term causes and triggering events in developing a historical argument. D2.His.4.9-12. Analyze complex and interacting factors that influenced the perspectives of people during different historical eras. D2.His.1.9-12. Evaluate how historical events and developments were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place.
Staging the Compelling Question
Supporting Question 1 What were the motivations and goals of the Leipzig protestors?
Students will lead themselves through a visual tour of prominent locations from the Peaceful Revolution protests in Leipzig (GDR) in the fall of 1989. Based on provided information, it is up to students to decide what factors contribute to a successful protest. Supporting Question 2 What factors affected the government’s decisions?
Formative Performance Task
Formative Performance Task
Students lead themselves through the Google 360 tour of the Peaceful Revolution protest. They will use the information they find to complete the “Peaceful Revolution Outline“ (Handout 1).
Students will work with their table groups to complete the „Erich Honecker Leadership Face Map“ (Handout 2). This will help them understand the relationship between the protestors’ actions and the government’s response.
Featured Sources
Featured Sources
Source A: Peaceful Revolution Outline (Handout 1) Source B: “Peaceful Revolution“ (Reiff) Summative Performance Task
Source A: Erich Honecker Leadership Face Map (Handout 2)
Supporting Question 3 What, if anything, can future protestors learn from the Peaceful Revolution in Leipzig? Formative Performance Task Students should complete a partner reading of the Local article “Over 200 ‘Fridays for Future’ climate demos taking place in Germany.”
Featured Sources Source A: “Over 200 ‘Fridays for Future’ climate demos taking place in Germany“ (The Local)
Argument: Students will construct a written, essay-style argument, or create a digital PowerPoint-style presentation that addresses the compelling question. Extension: Students will complete a “Letter of Advice“ (Handout 3) from the perspective of a German citizen to an American citizen.
Taking Informed Action
Understand: Students will research a recent protest movement in their city, state, or country. Assess: Students will determine which strategies their researched movement has used for their protest, what the government’s response has been, and whether or not they think the protest was/is successful. Act: Students will write a letter to the leaders of the protest offering ideas for success or to the government offering their opinion about the government’s reaction to this protest.
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