Lesson on Monday, December 12, 2016

Aim: Why did the United States invade Cuba?

Bell Ringer: Review Attachment C5, C6.

Objectives:

1.     Students will explain the motives of the United States’ acquisition of the territories.

2.     Students will examine causes, course, and consequences of the Spanish-American War.

Agenda:

1.     Bell Ringer (10 min)

2.     Write inquiry question on board: Why did the U.S. invade Cuba? In June 1898, the U.S. sent troops into Cuba. Over the next few days, we are going to investigate why. I will play the following movie twice. Both times, listen for all the different possible reasons why the U.S. chose to invade Cuba. The first time, just listen.

3.     Show movie first time while students simply watch. Show movie again. This time when you watch it, take notes about anything that might help you answer the question: Why did the U.S. invade Cuba? (10 min)

4.     Elicit student hypotheses: Ask students to share some of the possible reasons the movie presents for why the U.S. invaded Cuba. List these on board. Ask students to generate additional reasons to add to the list. [Note to teacher: Keep this list of hypotheses in a format that is accessible to students (chart paper, overhead, student notebooks, etc.) You will refer to them throughout this instructional sequence]. By show of hands, elicit which hypotheses students favored. (5 min)

5.     Hand out Spanish American War Graphic Organizer. Show slide #2 from Maine Powerpoint. Ask students to fill in the Graphic Organizer for “Awake! United States.” Discussion question: Which hypothesis does this support? (Students should see that this document supports the hypothesis that the US went to war because of th e explosion of the Maine). (5 min)

6.     Hand out Spanish American War Documents A and B and Guiding Questions. Ask students to answer Guiding Questions for each document, and then to fill in the Graphic Organizer for these sources. (15 min)

7.     Discussion: Look back at the list of hypotheses on the board. Ask students: • How do these sources support or contest any of the hypotheses? • Are any hypotheses more convincing to you now? • Do you think the U.S. invaded Cuba for humanitarian reasons? Why or why not? • Should we add any new hypotheses? Change or eliminate any existing hypotheses? (rest of class)

Home Learning: Journal 41 – Explain how the Spanish-American War changed the United States.