Inquiries Filed Under:

Spanish Civil War

About the inquiry

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.

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.

Supporting Question

What caused the Spanish Civil War and why was it globally significant?

Formative Tasks

Student Webquest Packet: Complete guided notes based on information from a video, article, the website, and/or a slide deck.

Sources

Source A: 3-min video “European Context,” excerpt from the documentary The Spanish Civil War (Granada Television)<br /> Source B: “Spanish Civil War Summary,” The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives <br /> Source C: “History” section of MSI’s Stories of the Spanish Civil War

Supporting Question

What would motivate a person to fight in another nation’s war?

Formative Tasks

Student Webquest Packet: Complete questions as they engage in a webquest.

Sources

Source A: “History - Spanish Civil War” section of MSI’s Stories of the Spanish Civil War website

Supporting Question

How does one’s identity motivate political action?

Formative Tasks

Student Webquest Packet and Wrap-Up Discussion

Sources

Source 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.

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