WWII Peace Treaty Conference Simulation
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WWII Peace Treaty Conference Simulation

Grade 7History3 days
The WWII Peace Treaty Conference Simulation project for 7th-grade history students involves a detailed and interactive learning experience centered on simulating the complex negotiations of a World War II peace conference. Students engage in activities such as researching WWII conflicts and alliances, creating visual maps, writing country position papers, and participating in negotiation strategy workshops to gain insight into historical perspectives and the intricacies of treaty-making. The project culminates in a simulated peace conference where students apply negotiation strategies and collaborate as country delegations to draft treaties, encouraging them to draw connections between historical events and modern global relations.
WWII SimulationPeace TreatyNegotiation StrategiesHistorical ResearchRole-playGlobal RelationsCollaborative Learning
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we simulate a WWII peace conference to understand the complex negotiations behind treaty-making and apply these insights to current global relations?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What were the major conflicts and alliances during WWII?
  • How did different countries' interests influence the outcome of peace negotiations?
  • What strategies are involved in successful negotiation and treaty making?
  • How do historical events like WWII shape current global relations and stability?
  • What are the long-term consequences of the treaties established at the end of WWII?
  • How can understanding past conflicts help us create a more peaceful future?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will understand the major conflicts and alliances during WWII, including the interests of different countries.
  • Students will learn negotiation strategies and apply them in a simulated peace conference setting.
  • Students will analyze the long-term consequences of WWII treaties and their impact on current global relations.
  • Students will develop skills in writing arguments and supporting claims with evidence during negotiations.
  • Students will engage in collaborative discussions, simulating historical peacemaking processes.

Provided Academic Standard

7.H2.2
Primary
Compare the multiple causes and effects of conflict and approaches to peacemaking. Assess the long-term impact of WWII on a global scale.Reason: This standard is directly relevant to understanding the causes, effects, and peacemaking strategies involved in WWII, which is crucial for simulating a WWII peace treaty conference.

Common Core English Language Arts

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.1
Secondary
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.Reason: Students will need to articulate their country's position and negotiate treaties during the simulation, requiring them to write and present arguments.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1
Secondary
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.Reason: The project involves collaborative discussions and negotiations, simulating a peace conference scenario.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1
Secondary
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.Reason: Students will need to research and reference historical facts and documents in their negotiations.

C3 Framework for Social Studies

D2.His.14.6-8
Primary
Analyze multiple factors that influenced the perspectives of people during historical eras.Reason: Understanding multiple viewpoints during WWII will be key to simulating the negotiations and understanding their complexity.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Choose Your Own Adventure: Future Peace

Students engage in an interactive story where they make key decisions affecting global peace over the years following WWII. This encourages exploration of the 'what ifs' and critical thinking about the outcomes of peace decisions made at the conference.
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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

Conflict and Alliance Map Creation

Students create a visual map detailing the major conflicts and alliances during WWII, delving into each country's interests and objectives.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research major WWII conflicts and alliances, focusing on key players and their interests.
2. Use online tools to create a visual map illustrating these conflicts and alliances.
3. Include information on each country's objectives and the outcomes of their alliances.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed visual map that showcases major WWII conflicts, alliances, and interests of different countries.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with standard 7.H2.2 as it helps students compare the causes and effects of conflict and prepare for peace negotiations.
Activity 2

Negotiation Strategy Workshop

A workshop where students learn and practice negotiation strategies essential for treaty-making and diplomatic discussions.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research various negotiation strategies used historically and in modern contexts.
2. Role-play different negotiation scenarios to practice and evaluate these strategies.
3. Discuss and reflect on which methods were most effective and why.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA portfolio of tested negotiation strategies and reflections on their effectiveness.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports 7.H2.2 by exploring approaches to peacemaking and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1 by engaging in collaborative discussions.
Activity 3

Country Position Papers

Students write detailed position papers representing their assigned country's stance in the peace conference.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research the historical context and current interests of the assigned country during WWII.
2. Draft an argument supporting their country's goals and strategies for the peace conference.
3. Revise and polish the position papers to ensure clarity and persuasiveness.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA well-argued position paper articulating the assigned country's goals and strategies.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.1 by requiring argument writing and D2.His.14.6-8 by analyzing historical perspectives.
Activity 4

Simulation Role-play Preparations

Prepare students for the peace treaty conference simulation by organizing them into country delegations and clarifying their roles and objectives.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Assign students to country delegations based on their interests and research outcomes.
2. Ensure each student understands their role, objectives, and the dynamics within their delegation.
3. Conduct mock negotiations to refine skills and understanding of each delegation's position.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityPrepared country delegations ready to engage in a realistic peace treaty simulation.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsReinforces CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1 through collaboration and clarifies the learning goal of applying negotiation strategies.
Activity 5

WWII Peace Treaty Simulation

Conduct the WWII peace treaty simulation where students enact the roles of country negotiators, implementing learned strategies and positions.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Students simulate the peace conference, debating and negotiating treaty terms based on their position papers.
2. Use elements like time limits and unforeseen events to simulate real-world conditions and challenges.
3. Guide students through treaty draftings and final negotiations until a simulated agreement is reached.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA simulation document summarizing treaties and agreements reached, reflecting joint diplomatic efforts.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsFully embodies 7.H2.2 by comparing multiple causes and effects of conflict and understanding peacemaking.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

WWII Peace Treaty Conference Simulation Assessment Rubric

Category 1

Historical Understanding

Assessment of students' grasp of major WWII conflicts, alliances, and how countries' interests influenced peace negotiations.
Criterion 1

Research and Analysis

Evaluation of students' research on WWII conflicts, alliances, and historical context.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of WWII conflicts and alliances with detailed analysis of countries' interests and outcomes.

Proficient
3 Points

Shows thorough understanding of major WWII conflicts and alliances, with a clear analysis of countries' interests.

Developing
2 Points

Offers a basic understanding of some major WWII conflicts and alliances with limited analysis of countries' interests.

Beginning
1 Points

Demonstrates minimal understanding of WWII conflicts and alliances, with little to no analysis of countries' interests.

Criterion 2

Visual Map Creation

Assessment of the visual representation of WWII conflicts, alliances, and countries' objectives.

Exemplary
4 Points

Creates a highly detailed and accurate visual map that clearly illustrates major conflicts, alliances, and countries' objectives.

Proficient
3 Points

Develops a detailed visual map illustrating major WWII conflicts, alliances, and countries' objectives clearly.

Developing
2 Points

Produces a visual map that includes some major conflicts and alliances but lacks detail or clarity about countries' objectives.

Beginning
1 Points

Attempts to create a visual map with minimal depiction of conflicts, alliances, and little clarity on objectives.

Category 2

Negotiation Skills

Evaluation of students' ability to learn and practice negotiation strategies during the simulation.
Criterion 1

Strategy Application

Assessment of students' ability to apply learned negotiation strategies effectively.

Exemplary
4 Points

Consistently applies advanced negotiation strategies resulting in effective and innovative solutions during the simulation.

Proficient
3 Points

Applies effective negotiation strategies that facilitate successful outcomes most of the time.

Developing
2 Points

Applies basic negotiation strategies with varying degrees of success and consistency.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to apply negotiation strategies effectively, needing significant guidance.

Criterion 2

Collaborative Discussions

Evaluation of engagement and contribution during group discussions and simulation activities.

Exemplary
4 Points

Shows leadership during collaborative activities, facilitating discussions, and driving group success.

Proficient
3 Points

Participates actively in collaborative discussions, contributing valuable insights and ideas.

Developing
2 Points

Engages in collaborative discussions with encouragement, offering basic insights.

Beginning
1 Points

Participates sporadically in discussions, requiring support to engage meaningfully.

Category 3

Argument Writing

Assessment of students' ability to articulate and support their country’s position and goals.
Criterion 1

Position Paper Clarity

Evaluation of the clarity, relevance, and persuasiveness of the country’s position paper.

Exemplary
4 Points

Crafts an exceptionally clear, well-reasoned, and persuasive position paper supported by strong evidence.

Proficient
3 Points

Develops a clear and persuasive position paper with relevant supporting evidence.

Developing
2 Points

Presents a partially effective position paper with some clarity and supporting evidence.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to articulate a clear argument with minimal evidence in the position paper.

Reflection Prompts

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

Reflect on the process of preparing for and engaging in the WWII peace treaty simulation. What did you learn about the complexities of international negotiations and the impacts they can have on global relations?

Text
Required
Question 2

On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident do you feel in your ability to participate in real-world negotiations after completing this simulation?

Scale
Required
Question 3

Choose which skill you believe is most important for successful treaty-making and negotiation: a) Understanding historical context, b) Articulating clear arguments, c) Engaging in collaborative discussion, or d) Analyzing multiple perspectives. Explain your choice.

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Understanding historical context
Articulating clear arguments
Engaging in collaborative discussion
Analyzing multiple perspectives
Question 4

How has your understanding of WWII treaties and their global impacts evolved throughout this course?

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Required
Question 5

Reflect on the influence of historical events like WWII on current global relations and stability. How can we use history to create a more peaceful future?

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Required