Topic: The Beginning of the Reign of the Last King

Target group

6th‑grade students of elementary school

Core curriculum

XVI. Commonwealth in the Stanisławów era. Pupil:

1) gives examples of state repair under the reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski, including the achievements of the National Education Commission;

XVII. The struggle to maintain independence in the last years of the 18th century. Pupil:

1) situates during the first, second and third partition of the Republic and indicates on the map territorial changes after each partition.

General aim of education

The students get acquainted with examples of state reforms under the reign of Stanisław August and the causes and consequences of the first partition of Poland

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• to characterize the achievements during the first period of the reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski;

• to explain the circumstances, process and effects of the First Partition of Poland;

• to describe examples of „civil resistance”.

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 to read the section „Śmierć Augusta III i różne plany elekcyjne”. Students should answer the following questions: List the candidates who were chosen during the last free election. List the factors that determined the prevalence of Stanisław Poniatowski during the last free election.

Introduction

1. The teacher gives the students the purpose of the lesson and the criteria for success.

2. The teacher asks students to do Task 1 - to listen to the secret instruction of the Empress Catherine II. Then, on the basis of homework and broadcast, the students talk with the teacher about the circumstances of elevation to the throne of Stanisław August Poniatowski.

Realization

1. Students do Exercise 1, indicating various types of Sejm. Next, the teacher introduces students to the decisions of the convocation sejm of 1764 and the first reforms of Stanisław August Poniatowski. Students do Exercise 2. They discuss with the teacher the foreign conditions of the king's rule, referring to his knowledge of the international situation in that period. The teacher complements students' knowledge about the issue of dissidents and dyżunitas. He also talks about the internal conditions of the king's rule, the position of the political forces of the Republic towards him. The teacher talks of the issue of the Bar Confederation. Students analyze the map of Poland during the Bar Confederation, published in the textbook. Working in pairs, they write down the conclusions resulting from this analysis. They discuss them with teachers on the class forum.

2. The teacher explains students the reasons for the first partition of Poland in 1772. Students do Exercise 3. They analyze the map, showing the first partition of the Republic in 1772. Then they complete the sentences in the exercise. The teacher makes sure that the task has been correctly completed and gives feedback.

3. The teacher tells students about the Partition Sejm. The students note that the reforms beneficial for the country were introduced during the session of the Partition Parliament.

Summary

1. The students sum up the achievements of the first period of the reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski, i.e. to the partition partition of 1772 inclusive. To this end, they elaborate - using a decision tree scheme - the question: What position could Stanisław August Poniatowski take on the postulate of the reform of the Polish state on the eve of the first partition of Poland? Conclusions are noted on a blackboard or specially prepared sheets.

2. The teacher assesses the students' work during the lesson, taking into account their input and commitment. For this purpose, he may prepare an evaluation questionnaire for self‑assessment and evaluation of the teacher's work and other students.

Homework

1. The teacher sets homework (it is not an obligatory part of the script): The teacher asks for an analysis of the picture of Jan Matejko, Rejtan - the fall of Poland, published in the e‑textbook. The student also listens to the mini‑reviews of the Bar Confederation and the Reception of the Bar Confederation in neighboring countries, published in the e‑textbook. Why did Rejtan become a symbol of civic opposition? Can the Bar Confederation be regarded as such?.

2. The result of the work may be an essay on the subject: *Civic disobedience in the early Stanisławów era.* or *Cincinnatus and Rejtan. Characterize two patterns of civic activity and their advantages and disadvantages.*.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

The Beginning of the Reign of the Last King

The Familia decided to use favor with Russia for the introduction of changes in Poland, so the Confederated Convocation Sejm in 1764 could begin the process of recovery. Rules of procedure in the Sejm were adopted, and the concept of majority rule in financial matters was also adopted, the oath of office for deputies was abolished instructions, the Liberum Veto was abolished in Diet Councils. In 1764, Stanisław August Poniatowski, the last elected king was on the throne, who was associated with the Czartoryskis. Due to fears that the power of the king was too great, numbers of dissenters grew and there were fears of excessive Russian influence. The Polish nobility formed the Bar confederation, which led to an outbreak of civil war. The weakened Commonwealth became easy prey for its neighbours. In 1772 the First Partition of Poland tool place, by Russia, Prussia and Austria.