Lesson # Overview
Title
/Standards
Big Question for
lesson
(from teaching
thesis)
Specific lesson
Objectives (transfer
from above).
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.
What are the similarities and differences
between President Wilson’s Fourteen Points and
the Treaty of Versailles?
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
Content
focused/action verbs 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
Obj. 1 = Just Do It!, Observation, Discussion
Objective(s)
Obj. 2 = Venn Diagram
(you do not need to
Obj. 3 = Closing Activity, Discussion
formally assess all
objectives
individually – can do
them as a group if
appropriate)
Brief explanation of
scope of lesson
(explanation of
tasks, and
assessments)
How are you trying
to motivate students
in your opener?
What is your
closure?
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.
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: 7th Grade U.S. History 1865 to Present
Time Allotted: 42 Minutes
SOL #:
US11.5c
NCSS Theme:
Theme II: Time, Continuity,
and Change
What are the similarities and differences
between the Treaty of Versailles and Wilson’s
Fourteen Points?
What is the guiding
question for this lesson?
Must be presented in the
lesson to students
How will student
Just Do It!, Observation, Discussion, Venn
understanding be assessed? Diagrams, Exit Slip
-include assessments.
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.
Obj #
1
Description of Lesson Procedure
Check for Evidence of
Understanding
Just Do It!
Discussion
Observation
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)
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 Interactive Notebook
and instruct students to listen. Stop
Info Sheet
frequently to ask questions. After the
Questioning
presentation, hand out the typed information Observation
sheets for the right side of their notebooks. Venn Diagram
Direct the students to fill out their Venn
Diagrams using the information (20
Minutes)
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 Exit Slip
League of Nations and allow students to ask Discussion
any questions they may have. Then direct
Questioning
students to the “Exit Slip” directions, and
Observation
have them complete it in class. Then discuss
some of their responses and reasoning. (12
Minutes)
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 AustriaHungary, 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.
The BIG Four
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.