Topic: The Polish Cause in 1917

Target group

7th‑grade students of elementary school

Core curriculum

7th‑grade students of elementary school

XXVI. Polish case during the First World War. Pupil:

2) discusses the internationalization of the Polish cause: the act of November 5, 1916, the role Of the United States and the Russian Revolutions, declaration of June 3, 1918;

3) evaluates the Polish armed and diplomatic effort, lists the work state‑forming during the war.

General aim of education

The student learns and describes the views of supporters of various political orientations and learns about the international conditions of the Polish cause.

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• to characterize the views of the supporters of various political orientations;

• to esplain the international context of the Polish cause;

• to describr the causes and effects of the Oath crisis.

Methods/techniques

• expository

  • talk.

• activating

  • discussion.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers.

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

1. The teacher asks students to do Task 1 in the e‑textbook.

Introduction

1. The teacher asks students to do **Task 1**. Students read a fragment of Witold Witos's memoirs and on their basis evaluate the attitude of central states to Poles.

2. The teacher states the subject of the lesson, explains the aim of the lesson and together with students determines the success criteria to be achieved.

Realization

1. Students listen to the teacher's ministry and record the most important information about the position of the United States and European countries (states of entents and central states) against the Polish cause in 1917. The teacher explains the policy of President Wilson as a response for the votes of the American Polonia.

2. Next, the students on a large sheet of paper in a drawn table compile - using notes from the mini‑report and from English‑language materials on the Internet - proposals and expectations of central states, entents and the USA on the Polish issue in 1917. They compare them and discuss conclusions with the teacher.

3. The teacher explains to them the role of the Polish National Committee and the significance of the „oath crisis”, the political consequences of Piłsudski's decision - the reaction of Germany.

4. Students do **Exercise 1** and **Exercise 2**. The teacher checks if the tasks have been correctly completed and gives feedback to students.

Summary

1. The teacher asks to analyze source materials at home: two leaflets from the times of the World War I, fragments of Władysław Grabski and Józef Piłsudski (**Task 2, Exercise 3, Task 3**). The aim of the task will be to present Polish reactions to the person and military activity of Józef Piłsudski as well as an oath crisis.

Homework

1. Homework (note, homework is not an obligatory part of the scenario): Students can make a multimedia presentation, summing up the conclusions from the analysis of source materials included in the lesson.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

The Polish Cause in 1917

At the beginning of the war, the Partitioning states did not raise the question of Polish independence. It was only the stance of the United States that made a breakthrough. On 22 January 1917, President Wilson addressed the Congress, stating that an united, independent, “autonomous” Poland needed to be created. A great role in this was played by the exceptional Polish pianist and politician, Ignacy Jan Paderewski. As a consequence of the Act of 5th November, the Provisional Council of State (TRS) was instituted in the Kingdom of Poland on 14 January 1917. German authorities agreed to create a new military formation under the name Polnische Wehrmacht (Polish Armed Forces). As a condition for one to enter their ranks, he had to swear an oath. In July 1917, Piłsudski refused to swear the oath of loyalty to the German Emperor. This event became known in history as the Oath crisis. In August 1917, the official Polish representation – the Polish National Committee – was created in Lausanne (in neutral Switzerland), with Roman Dmowski as its chairman. Paderewski became his close collaborator. The Polish National Committee commenced endeavors to create Polish units in France.