Topic: Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth at war

Target group

6th‑grade students of elementary school

Core curriculum

XI. The Polish‑Lithuanian Commonwealth and its neighbors in the 17th century. Student:

1. explains the main causes of the wars with Russia, Sweden and Turkey;

4. situates in time, locates and discusses the most important battles in the 17th century;

5. evaluates the political, social and economic consequences of wars in the 17th century;

General aim of education

The student will review knowledge on armed conflicts in which the Commonwealth took part in the 17th century.

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• with who Poland fought wars in the 17th century;

• how the Polish‑Russian war ended;

• what was the course of the Polish‑Turkish war.

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. Students, using the resources of the Internet and other source materials, gather general information and curiosities regarding the thematic scope of the planned lesson.

Introduction

1. The teacher plays the recording of the abstract. Every now and then he stops it, asking the students to tell in their own words what they have just heard. This way, students practice listening comprehension.

2. Lesson is conducted using the debate method on the Poles in the Kremlin. At one of the previous meetings, the teacher should introduce the students to the topic, assign them appropriate roles and, if necessary, explain the method. During the preparation for the debate, students should use the information contained in the abstract and other sources, as well as collaborate in the preparation of arguments.

Realization

1. Reading the content of the abstract. The teacher uses the text for individual work or in pairs, according to the following steps: 1) a sketchy review of the text, 2) asking questions, 3) accurate reading, 4) a summary of individual parts of the text, 5) repeating the content or reading the entire text.

2. Analysis of the interactive illustration. Participants familiarize themselves with the content presented in the interactive illustration. Then the teacher discusses the issues with the students.

3. The teacher together with the students sums up the current course of classes.

4. Students perform Task 2. They prepare their answer in writing. The teacher controls the correctness of their statements, supplementing it with additional information if necessary.

5. Students analyze the illustration and execute Task 3. To answer the question, they can use Internet sources or other publications. The teacher checks the correctness of the answer and provides feedback to the students.

6. Students in pairs solve the Exercise 1. The teacher checks if the task has been correctly completed and gives feedback to students.

Summary

1. The teacher briefly presents the most important issues discussed in class. He answers the additional questions of the proteges and explains all their doubts. Students complete notes.

2. The teacher discusses the course of the lesson, indicates the strengths and weaknesses of students' work, thus giving them feedback.

Homework

1. Listen to the abstract recording at home. Pay attention to pronunciation, accent and intonation. Learn to pronounce the words learned during the lesson.

2. Make at home a note from the lesson, for example using the sketchnoting method.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth at war

The 17th century was a period of armed conflicts for Poland, which weakened the country.

One of the countries with which Poland waged war was Russia. After the death of Ivan IV the Terrible, a tsar of the Rurik dynasty, Russia faced deep crisis, uprisings and riots. This time was called as the „Time of Troubles”. This situation in the Tsardom of Russia was a consequence of the internal politics of the deceased tsar. In 1598 Tsar Feodor died, thus ending the reign of the Rurikids. The power was then seized by the boyar Boris Godunow, who was accused of murdering tsar Feodor's brother - Dmitry. However, a man calling himself Dmitri and professing to be the rightful heir to the throne returned to Russia in unclear circumstances and took over power. He married a daughter of a Polish magnate, Marina Mniszchówna. His reign had no support from his compatriots, because he did not respect Orthodox customs and surrounded himself with Polish Catholics. This led to riots in which Dmitry was slain.

Power was then seized by the boyar Vasili IV of Russia. During his reign Russia lost to Poland in the Battle of Klushino and the Poles managed to occupy Smolensk and Moscow. Stanisław Żółkiewski removed Vasili IV of Russia from power and proposed the crown to the Polish prince Władysław. However, in order to become a tsar, the prince would have to convert to Orthodoxy, which he did not do. An uprising broke out against Poles, as a result of which they were driven out of Kremlin.

In 1613, Michael Romanov ascended the Russian throne and began the process of state restoration. The stabilization of the situation in the country allowed the tsar to launch a new military intervention in order to try to recover Smolensk. The tsar was defeated and was forced to sign a peace treaty in Polyanovka in 1634. Władysław renounced his claim to the Russian throne, for which he received monetary compensation.

In 1654, the Russian tsar broke the peace arrangements and concluded the Treaty of Pereyaslav with the Cossacks. After many years of war, in 1667, a truce was signed in Andrusovo, under which Russia regained Smolensk and Ukraine got divided between Russia and Poland. In 1686, the Treaty of Perpetual Peace was concluded in Moscow. It confirmed the provisions of the Truce of Andrusovo, ending the Polish‑Russian conflict.

Another country with which Poland waged wars was the Ottoman Empire. Turkey sought to conquer the south‑eastern areas of Ukraine that belonged to Poland. In 1672, Turkey captured Kamianets‑Podilskyi. In the following years of wars with Turkey, the Poles were victorious, e.g. at the battle of Khotyn. In 1683, the army of John III Sobieski defeated the Turks commanded by Kara Mustafa at the Battle of Vienna. The Polish‑Turkish conflict ended in 1699 with the Treaty of Karlowitz, under which Poland regained Podolia with Kamianets‑Podilskyi and the right‑bank Ukraine.