The Peace Puzzle: Crafting Post-WWII Peace Treaty
Created byShaun Kelly
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The Peace Puzzle: Crafting Post-WWII Peace Treaty

Grade 9Social Studies5 days
★★★★★
5.0 (1 rating)
In this project-based learning experience, 9th-grade students engage in designing a comprehensive post-World War II peace treaty. Through activities like the 'Peace Treaty Hackathon' and creating a 'Historical Context Collage,' students explore the geopolitical landscape after WWII and the influence of the atomic age on diplomacy. The project emphasizes historical analysis, geopolitical understanding, and creativity in problem-solving, encouraging students to propose innovative solutions for crafting a successful peace treaty.
Peace TreatyPost-WWIIDiplomacyAtomic AgeGeopolitical ContextProblem-SolvingSocial Studies
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How might we design a peace treaty that addresses the objectives, challenges, and historical contexts of post-World War II conflicts, while considering the influence of the atomic age in shaping diplomacy and peace negotiations?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What were the main objectives of peace treaties created post-World War II?
  • How did the outcomes of World War II shape the geopolitical landscape of Europe and Asia?
  • What are the challenges of creating a lasting peace treaty following a major conflict?
  • How does the atomic age influence diplomacy and peace negotiations?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Analyze the causes and consequences of World War II to understand its impact on subsequent global diplomacy and peace treaties.
  • Investigate the influence of the atomic age on diplomatic relationships and peace negotiations.
  • Examine the objectives and challenges involved in creating successful peace treaties post-conflict.
  • Design a comprehensive peace treaty that incorporates historical and geopolitical understanding of post-World War II contexts.

Social Studies Standards

10.2.1
Primary
Understand the causes and consequences of World War II, including the development and impact of the atomic bomb, the advent of the nuclear age, and how this influenced post-war diplomacy.Reason: This standard is directly related to understanding the impact of World War II and the atomic age on post-war diplomacy, which is a key component of the project.
10.4.5
Secondary
Analyze the impact of major geopolitical events post-World War II and the creation of political alliances that shape global relations today.Reason: This standard aligns with examining how post-World War II events influenced global relations, which is crucial for designing a peace treaty in the project.

Common Core Standards

9-10.RH.7
Supporting
Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.Reason: This standard supports students' abilities to interpret and synthesize various forms of information, aiding in their understanding of the historical contexts for the project.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Peace Treaty Hackathon

Students participate in a 'Peace Treaty Hackathon,' where they brainstorm and prototype their own peace treaties using design thinking. Diverse stations provide historical context, stakeholder perspectives, and treaty writing tools, offering pathways for creative problem-solving.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Peace Treaty Blueprint

Students design a peace treaty that addresses post-World War II challenges, incorporating historical and geopolitical knowledge.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Review research and roleplay insights gained from previous activities.
2. Identify key challenges and objectives for a successful peace treaty post-conflict.
3. Draft sections of a peace treaty, including terms for reconciliation, economic policies, and security measures.
4. Peer review treaty drafts to provide constructive feedback.
5. Finalize the treaty blueprint, ensuring all geopolitical aspects are incorporated.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive peace treaty blueprint that considers historical contexts and geopolitical realities.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with learning goals to design a peace treaty using historical and geopolitical insights.
Activity 2

Historical Context Collage

Students create a visual collage that illustrates the causes and consequences of World War II, focusing on its impact on post-war diplomacy and the advent of the atomic age.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research major events of World War II that led to significant geopolitical changes.
2. Identify key historical figures and stakeholders involved in the post-war period.
3. Collect visual and textual materials, such as photographs, quotes, and timelines, to represent your findings.
4. Create a collage using your collected materials that tells the story of the transition from war to diplomatic negotiations.
5. Write a reflection on how the atomic age influenced these changes in your collage.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA visual collage with accompanying reflection summarizing the historical context of post-World War II diplomacy.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with 10.2.1 by helping students understand the impact of WWII and the atomic bomb on diplomacy.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Post-WWII Peace Treaty Design Assessment

Category 1

Historical Analysis and Contextual Understanding

Assessment of students' ability to analyze historical events and understand the geopolitical context of post-WWII diplomacy.
Criterion 1

Historical Accuracy

Measures how accurately students incorporate historical facts and events into their peace treaty design.

Exemplary
4 Points

Incorporates extensive, precise historical facts and events with insightful connections to the post-WWII context.

Proficient
3 Points

Incorporates accurate historical facts and events with a clear connection to the post-WWII context.

Developing
2 Points

Includes some accurate historical facts, with partial connections to the post-WWII context.

Beginning
1 Points

Contains minimal historical facts with unclear or incorrect connections to the post-WWII context.

Criterion 2

Geopolitical Insight

Evaluates the extent to which students understand and integrate geopolitical dynamics into their treaty.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates thorough understanding and integration of geopolitical factors shaping post-WWII diplomacy.

Proficient
3 Points

Shows solid understanding of major geopolitical dynamics and integrates them into the treaty design.

Developing
2 Points

Shows basic understanding of geopolitical factors with limited integration into the treaty.

Beginning
1 Points

Displays minimal or no understanding of geopolitical context affecting treaty design.

Category 2

Creativity and Innovation in Problem Solving

Assesses the creativity and innovation students demonstrate in designing a peace treaty for post-WWII conflicts.
Criterion 1

Creative Problem-Solving

Evaluates students' ability to devise creative solutions for the challenges identified in the peace treaty process.

Exemplary
4 Points

Proposes highly innovative solutions that address treaty challenges effectively and creatively.

Proficient
3 Points

Offers creative solutions that effectively address most treaty challenges.

Developing
2 Points

Suggests basic solutions with limited creativity in addressing treaty challenges.

Beginning
1 Points

Proposes simplistic solutions with little to no creative input in the treaty design.

Category 3

Collaborative Skills and Peer Feedback Contribution

Evaluates students' ability to engage in collaborative processes and contribute constructively to peer feedback.
Criterion 1

Peer Review Engagement

Measures the extent and effectiveness of students' participation in the peer review process.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides insightful and constructive feedback, contributing significantly to peers' treaty refinement.

Proficient
3 Points

Offers valuable feedback that aids in peers' treaty improvement.

Developing
2 Points

Gives basic feedback with limited impact on peers' treaty development.

Beginning
1 Points

Provides minimal or no feedback, with little impact on peers' work.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on how participating in the 'Peace Treaty Hackathon' shaped your understanding of post-World War II diplomacy and peace treaties.

Text
Required
Question 2

Rate your confidence in designing a peace treaty after completing the Peace Treaty Blueprint project.

Scale
Required
Question 3

What were the most challenging aspects of understanding the influence of the atomic age on post-war diplomacy?

Text
Optional
Question 4

Select the historical figure or stakeholder you found most impactful while researching post-WWII diplomacy, and explain why.

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Winston Churchill
Joseph Stalin
Harry S. Truman
Mao Zedong