This inquiry leads students through an investigation about International Brigade volunteers during the Spanish Civil War. To do so, it relies on the digital history exhibit Stories from the Spanish Civil War, created by the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Martin-Springer Institute (MSI). Teachers can use this lesson in a middle or high school World History class during a unit on the Interwar Period or WWII, or in a US History class during a unit on the Great Depression, the Interwar Years, or WWII.
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About the inquiry
Compelling Question
What can a simple fan tell us about war?
Staging Question
“See, Think, Wonder:'' Invite students to observe and answer questions about images of the fan and photographs from the NAU Martin-Springer Institute website Stories from the Spanish Civil War.
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Supporting QuestionWhat caused the Spanish Civil War and why was it globally significant?
Formative TasksStudent Webquest Packet: Complete guided notes based on information from a video, article, the website, and/or a slide deck.
SourcesSource A: 3-min video “European Context,” excerpt from the documentary The Spanish Civil War (Granada Television)
Source B: “Spanish Civil War Summary,” The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives
Source C: “History” section of MSI’s Stories of the Spanish Civil War
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Supporting QuestionWhat would motivate a person to fight in another nation’s war?
Formative TasksStudent Webquest Packet: Complete questions as they engage in a webquest.
SourcesSource A: “History - Spanish Civil War” section of MSI’s Stories of the Spanish Civil War website
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Supporting QuestionHow does one’s identity motivate political action?
Formative TasksStudent Webquest Packet and Wrap-Up Discussion
SourcesSource A: “Stories - U.S. Volunteers” section of MSI’s Stories of the Spanish Civil War website.
Summative Performance Task
Argument: What can a simple fan tell us about war? Students will create one-page graphic biographies [or diary entries] based on the individuals who signed the fan. After participating in a small group share-out or “speed dating” activity exploring other biographies, students will participate in a wrap-up discussion to summarize their learning and analyze the essential and supporting questions of the lesson.
Extension: In this optional activity, students take on the persona of International Brigade volunteers and interviewers to explore the lesson’s compelling and supporting questions. Students are tasked with writing a script and recording an episode, then listening to their peer’s episodes.
Taking Informed Action
Understand: Explore the political afterlives of International Brigade volunteers
Assess: Invite students to evaluate the rise of authoritarian and/or dictatorial regimes in today’s world.
Act: Discuss ways that students can volunteer their time and effort to causes they case about, locally and globally.