Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: The Rise of Totalitarianism

Name: Perry Robinson

Content Area: History

Grade Level: 10

CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):

10.7 Students analyze the rise of totalitarian governments after World War I.
Big Ideas/Unit Goals:
Big Ideas: How Democracies Die/How Totalitarian States Arise.
Unit Goals: Students will be able to demonstrate both formally and informally an understanding of the causes of the Russian
Revolution and the rise of Totalitarian governments in Europe. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the
differences and similarities between the two forms of Totalitarianism, Communism and Fascism and Liberal Pluralism. Students
will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of these forms of governments and the causal
role they played that led to World War II.

Unit Summary:
This unit covers the aftermath of the First World War, focusing on the causes of the Russian Revolution, the formation of the
Soviet Union and the rise of other Totalitarian states. The unit covers the effect of the Great Depression in the US and in Europe,
the Dust Bowl, and the effects of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany specifically. The unit overs the major events leading to and
constituting the Russian Revolution.

Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level: Review background
information, check for background
knowledge using informal questioning.
Break students into heterogeneous
groups to share background information
and report back to the class.

Formative: Graphic organizers (concept

maps, cause & effect, flow charts, etc.)
are modeled and then utilized by
students for key concept vocabulary.

Summative: Class divided into three

heterogeneous groups-each group argues
for their assigned political ideologyCommunism, Fascism and Liberal
Pluralism in a class presentation that
they construct. Each group is divided by

Heterogeneity is based on instructor

student list. Student groups enact
student anticipatory activity to illustrate
totalitarian control.

Jigsaw. Jigsaw groups construct/write a

general description of the ideology, give
two reasons why it should be favored and
address two criticisms/claims of
weaknesses, one from each of the other
ideologies.-Each student submits their
own 1 page essay for their group.-Each
group submits subgroup notes, and
completed written presentation.

Lesson 1
Student Learning
Objective:
Students will be able
to identify the
events/causes of the
Russian Revolution
and the rise of
Totalitarian
governments.

Lesson 2

Acceptable Evidence
(Assessments):
Students successfully
identify and organize
events that lead to
the Russian
Revolution and the
rise of other
Totalitarian states on
graphic organizer
(flow chart).

Lesson Activities: Check for background knowledge on pre-Revolution Russia and the
Kaisers of Germany through questioning. Check for background knowledge on the
Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression/DustBowl. Facilitate class discussion
on these topics. Model and distribute flow chart on Russian Revolution.

Student Learning
Objective:
Students will be able
to identify the
differences and
similarities between
the forms of
Totalitarianism,
(Communism and
Fascism) and Liberal
Pluralism.

Acceptable Evidence:
Students successfully
compare and contrast
Communism, Fascism
and Liberal Pluralism
on graphic organizer
(ven diagrams).

Lesson Activities: Check for background knowledge on ven diagrams. Check for
background knowledge on key vocabulary (liberal, pluralism, etc.) through
questioning. Model and distribute graphic organizer (concept maps) for the three
types of governments (Communism, Fascism and Liberal Pluralism).

Acceptable Evidence:

Lesson Activities: Students are grouped heterogeneously and assigned different

countries/ideologies to represent. Students work in groups writing three reasons
why their ideology should be favored and address at least one criticism from each of
the other two ideologies. Students include relevant information in their argument
(Great Depression, Treaty of Versailles, Serfdom)

Lesson 3
Student Learning
Objective:
Students will be able
to assess and
understand the
strengths and
weaknesses of these
forms of governments
and the causal role
they played that led
to World War II.

Students successfully
articulate and write
accurate
representations of the
ideologies and
integrate the major
events that lead to
the rise of Totalitarian
states and World War
II.

Unit Resources:

BBC-The Great Depression

A video documentary on the Dust Bowl
Understanding Hyperinflation in Germany
BBC-Lenin, the Early Days
BBC- A documentary on Stalin's Purges
A video documentary on the Ukrainian famine
BBC-A helpful summary of Fascism
BBC-A video documentary on the end of WWI and the rise of the Nazi party
BBC-A video documentary on the Nazi Rise to power.
www.euratlas.com/Euroatlas has helpful maps and other interactives to understand the period.
http://www.thegulag.org/

Useful Websites: