Lesson # Overview Title
/Standards
World War I: Lesson #5
Treaty of Versailles v. Fourteen Points
SOL US11.5c: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the changing role of the United States from the late nineteenth century through World War I by explaining the reasons for the United States’ involvement in World War I and its international
leadership role at the conclusion of the war.
Big Question for lesson
(from teaching thesis)
What are the similarities and differences between President Wilson’s Fourteen Points and
the Treaty of Versailles?
Specific lesson Objectives (transfer from above).
Content
focused/action verbs
1. Students will be able to explain what terms they believe should have been included in the peace treaty with the Central Powers.
2. Students will be able to describe the similarities and differences between the Treaty of Versailles and
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
3. Students will be able argue for or against the United States’ decision to NOT join the League of Nations.
Assessment of Objective(s)
(you do not need to formally assess all objectives
individually – can do them as a group if appropriate)
Obj. 1 = Just Do It!, Observation, Discussion Obj. 2 = Venn Diagram
Obj. 3 = Closing Activity, Discussion
Brief explanation of scope of lesson (explanation of tasks, and assessments)
When the students arrive, they will see the SmartBoard, directing them to pick a popsicle stick for their groups. After they get with their group members, they will be directed to complete the “Just Do It.” After they finish reading the Smartboard, they will then come up with 5 peace terms. I will transition into the slides after we go over some of their responses. After going over some information, I will hand them their Interactive Notebook notes and they will complete their Venn Diagram on the Treaty of Versailles and the Fourteen Points with help from their group members. I will show them a complete slide after they have finished their own. Then, I will do a brief lecture on the League of Nations, and we will end the class by having the students right their own opinions on whether or not the US should have joined.
How are you trying to motivate students in your opener?
What is your closure?
The “Just Do It!” will have students thinking about what they have learned about WWI and coming up with peace agreement terms. This will make them think and will also provide
background knowledge for the day’s lesson. The closing activity will have them thinking about the League of Nations clause in the Treaty of Versailles, and arguing for or against US
involvement.
Detailed Lesson Plan
Title: Treaty of Versailles v. Fourteen Points
Grade and Subject: 7
thGrade U.S. History 1865 to Present Time Allotted: 42 Minutes
SOL #: US11.5c NCSS Theme: Theme II: Time, Continuity, and Change
Key Concepts (no definition necessary):
• Armistice
• Reparations
• Paris Peace Conference
• Wilson’s Fourteen Points
• Treaty of Versailles
• League of Nations
SWBAT (as many as required by lesson):
#1. Students will be able to explain what terms they believe should have been included in the peace treaty with the Central Powers.
#2. Students will be able to describe the similarities and differences between the Treaty of Versailles and Wilson’s Fourteen Points
#3. Students will be able argue for or against the United States’ decision to NOT join the League of Nations
Materials:
• SmartBoards (Handout for personal use)
• Just Do It! Slips
• Interactive Notebook Information Sheet
• Venn Diagram Worksheets
• Exit Slips Just Do It (hook):
It’s the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month…the fighting has ended, the trenches are empty, and the central Powers have lost. President Wilson said this war was the “war to end all wars!” What now? You are invited to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 to work with other Allied victors to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers. Within your group, you will come up with a list of 10 terms that you want to include in the treaty.
What is the guiding question for this lesson?
Must be presented in the lesson to students
What are the similarities and differences between the Treaty of Versailles and Wilson’s
Fourteen Points?
How will student
understanding be assessed?
-include assessments.
Just Do It!, Observation, Discussion, Venn Diagrams, Exit Slip
Obj # Description of Lesson Procedure Check for Evidence of Understanding 1 After students are assigned to their groups,
pass out Wilson’s Just Do It! worksheets and put the directions on the Smartboard.
Give them enough time to read, collaborate, and write 10 peace treaty terms, and then ask for responses. Write down some of their responses on the blank Smartboard slide (10 minutes)
Just Do It!
Discussion Observation
Transition: Keep the terms you came up with in mind as we learn about two different approaches to peace during WWI… (Go over the day’s schedule and Big Question)
2 Present the informational Smartboard slides and instruct students to listen. Stop
frequently to ask questions. After the
presentation, hand out the typed information sheets for the right side of their notebooks.
Direct the students to fill out their Venn Diagrams using the information (20 Minutes)
Interactive Notebook Info Sheet
Questioning Observation Venn Diagram
Transition: The Treaty of Versailles was the official treaty of WWI. However, both approaches involved the League of Nations… (go into League of Nations Smartboard slide)
3 Show the Smartboard slide dealing with the League of Nations and allow students to ask any questions they may have. Then direct students to the “Exit Slip” directions, and have them complete it in class. Then discuss some of their responses and reasoning. (12 Minutes)
Exit Slip Discussion Questioning Observation
4. Closure (How does this come back to the guiding question):
• I want you to decide whether or not we should have joined the League of Nations at the conclusion of WWI. Write 2 to 3 sentences supporting your argument on the Exit Slip. (Be prepared to share your responses with the class)
• This relates back to the original question by having them think about the League of Nations clause in both the Treaty of Versailles and Fourteen Points, while also analyzing our decision not to join.
Modifications/Differentiation:
• Give handouts of the SmartBoards to students who have trouble viewing the boards.
• Let students represent their learning through drawings, etc.
• Print out complete Venn Diagram
Date________________________
Group Members _____________________
______________________
_____________________ ______________________
World War I was described as the “war to end all wars.”
To ensure that war does not break out again, a peace treaty with Germany must be designed.
Think about the causes of the war, the effects of the war including the massive loss of life, the destruction in Europe and the monetary cost of the war. As a group, consider the questions below and create a list of terms you think should be included in the treaty. Use the
information on WWI in your notebook to help you construct thoughtful responses.
Who should be involved in writing the treaty?
Should the treaty punish the losers or address the issues that caused the war, or both? Explain.
What do you think the terms of the treaty should be? Create a bulleted list.
Name_____________________
Date_____________________
Directions: I want you to decide whether or not the United States should have
joined the League of Nations. Write 2-3 sentences supporting your argument on this Exit Slip. (Don’t forget to add supporting information)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
The Steps to Peace
PRESIDENT WILSON’S FOURTEEN POINTS: In January 1918, ten months before the end of WWI, Wilson delivered an address to Congress outlining possible peace terms between Germany (the Central Powers) and the Allied Powers. He had hoped for “peace without victory”—
ensuring a better post-war world without punishing Germany too harshly.
MAJOR IDEAS IN WILSON’S FOURTEEN POINTS
A no more secret alliances—nations must always negotiate treaties/agreements openly A freedom of the seas for all nations
A reduction of military armaments—stop the race for the largest and most powerful military
A reduce tariffs (taxes on imported goods) and remove other economic barriers to free trade
A self-determination for all peoples—people living in colonies should be allowed to rule themselves and ethnic minorities in Austria- Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Russia should be independent nations
A establishment of an association of nations to keep world peace—The League of Nations (a group that works to solve problems between nations without resorting to war)
REACTION TO THE FOURTEEN POINTS
The allies were supportive but had reservations. They considered Wilson’s ideas admirable but impractical. Many wanted Germany to pay dearly for the war. Groups of people being ruled by foreign countries felt the program would finally give them the freedom they desired. Germany was unwilling to give up territory it had claimed.
ARMISTICE: Germany signs an armistice on November 11, 1918, (at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month) agreeing to the demands of the Allied Powers.
TREATY OF VERSAILLES: From January to June 1919, President Wilson and the European powers met at the Palace of Versailles, outside of Paris, to negotiate peace terms to officially end World War I.
Representatives from over 30 countries attended. However four men, known collectively as the “Big Four,” ultimately negotiated the most important provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. These men were:
President Georges Clemenceau from France, Prime Minister David Lloyd George of Great Britain, President Vittorio Orlando from Italy, and President Woodrow Wilson of the United States. Germany, as the defeated power, was not included in these negotiations.
MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES
A Germany required to admit total blame for World War I (War Guilt Clause) A Germany required to pay reparations (the major cost of World War I)—(War
Reparations Clause)
A Germany’s armies reduced in size; the German naval fleet turned over to the Allies A Germany’s colonial possessions divided among the Allies
A Austria-Hungary Empire divided into four independent nations: Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia.
A Five other independent nations established along Germany’s border with the Soviet Union to prevent the spread of Communism: Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
A Two international peacekeeping organizations were established by the treaty: The League of Nations and the World Court.
The BIG Four
