Topic: Foundations of the Commonwealth

Target group

6th‑grade students of elementary school

Core curriculum

X. Beginnings of the Polish‑Lithuanian Commonwealth. Student:

1. characterizes religious and national relations in the Commonwealth; explains the main assumptions of the Warsaw Confederation;

2. explains the circumstances of adopting Henrician Articles and presents the principles of free election; discusses the course and results of the first free election;

General aim of education

The student acquires knowledge and skills about the topics discussed in the classes

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• what the Košice privilege concerned;

• how the rights and privileges of the nobility changed;

• what the Warsaw Confederation was;

• what were the Henrician and pacta conventa articles.

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

Introduction

1. 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.

2. 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.

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. The teacher presents the chronology of events in the form of a timeline. It should be displayed on the board and be visible throughout the entire lesson.

3. Discussing information presented on the timeline. The teacher then divides the class into groups - as many as there are events on the axis. Each team works on one assigned issue, deepening the information contained in the abstract. Then the students present their discussions.

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

5. Students analyze the illustrations and execute Task 2, Task 3 and Task 4. To answer the questions, 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 asks: If there was going to be a test on the material we have covered today, what questions do you think would you have to answer?
   If the students do not manage to name all the most important questions, the teacher may complement their suggestions.

2. The teacher chooses one student by random method and asks him or her to explain in own words the meaning of a given word or concept learned during the lesson.

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

Foundations of the Commonwealth

After the death of the last of the Jagiellons, a decision was made that new kings will be elected by the nobles during free election. The first free election took place in 1573, when Henri de Valois was elected the king. Prior to taking over the throne, he had to sign the so‑called Henrician Articles imposing on the ruler a set of conditions ensuring respecting by him of all the laws of the Commonwealth. Every newly elected king was required to commit to swearing fidelity to them during the coronation. Only after that, the king‑elect became the king. During the convocation sejm in Warsaw in January 1573, the nobles decided to obtain the guarantees of religious freedoms from the candidate for the king. This act was entitled Warsaw Confederation. The provisions of the Confederation were incorporated into the Henrician Articles. The personal commitments of the rulers made during the election were called “contractual pacts” (Latin: “pacta conventa”).