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Michael Kadish
Reflection #3
Teaching history in a multicultural method may come off as an extremely daunting task. How can you teach a near infinite amount of perspectives of a single event, when you don't even have time in the school year to teach the history from one perspective, straight through? It would seem an impossible challenge, and it probably is. However, what can be taught in a history class is that history is not cases of the good guys fighting the bad guys, with one nation morally superior to another. History is a long series of causation, of stimuli and response, and of opposing vectors intervening. I think this can be easily taught. The lesson plan here would work for high school, or for energetic junior high schoolers.
Select nine students, and hand out name tags to them, along with their given instructions. They cannot show these instructions to others.
Francois (France)-- You have been friends with all of the others, but also fought with them. You are rather strong and powerful, have a somewhat recent friendship with Angela, and have vowed to protect Sylvia if anybody decides to attack her, for any reason. You know though, that you need two allies to be in any fight.
Rusty (Russia) -- You've been having problems of late, and are falling apart. You really don't trust Otto, at all. In fact, you know that Otto, who is really on his last legs, has a lot that is up for your grabs. You know though, that you need two allies to be in any fight.
Jenny (Germany)-- You are a small individual, but you have some good method of defense, and have power in your own way, with secret weapons. You have two people who will promise to defend you, Tali and Ozzi. You know though, that you need two allies to be in any fight.
Ozzi (Austria-Hungary)-- You have two allies; Tali and Ozzi, they have agreed to help you if you need to fight anybody. Meanwhile, you love Ferdinand, and would punish anybody who would hurt him, but he cannot fight for you. You know though, that you need two allies to be in any fight. You do not trust Gavril, or Sarah, who loves him.
Otto (Turkey) -- You're insulted a lot, often called nothing more than a sick old man. You've fought everybody here, as everybody has wanted some of your vast holdings. You don't trust any of them too much, and have fought against Sonya and Rusty a lot. You look to get back at one, or both of them. You know though, that you need two allies to be in any fight.
Tali (Italy)--You've agreed, just recently, to assist Ozzi in any fight, but you decide that you'll only join in if they really need you, that it seems it's an important fight. The loss of a loved one is not an important fight. You know though, that you need two allies to be in any fight.
Ferdinand--You fight for, and love Ozzi dearly.
Sarah (Serbia)--Surrounded by bigwigs, you are not really that strong. You have two big friends in Angela and Francois, who have promised to defend you if anything should happen, but you have little strength. You may or may not have feelings for Gavril. You know though, that you need two allies to be in any fight.
Gavril Princip -- You know at this very moment that Ozzi and Ferdinand have mistreated you and your people. When I say "go," you will imediately kill him, then yourself.
For added interest, a "Reporter" can be added in, who can be used to show that history comes out one sided. The Reporter knows none of these details, and only reports what is seen. After a few minutes of this, the plug is pulled, and it is explained the WWI significance of the situation, then it can be alluded to for the rest of the year, to show the significance of individual national motives.