Unit Packs / The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment
Students see how the Scientific Revolution changed ideas about evidence, read Enlightenment writers on knowledge, toleration, progress, and education alongside critics such as Rousseau and Burke, and examine how thinkers argued about the proper limits of political power.
Unit question: Could reason, science, and new knowledge improve human life and government, and who disagreed?
Suggested grades: 8, 10 (adaptable 6-12)
Day-by-day calendar
- Day 1
Launch the unit
TimelineWalk the era timeline; students note three turning points.
MapLocate the places in this unit on the source map.
QuestionPost the unit question: Could reason, science, and new knowledge improve human life and government, and who disagreed? Students write a first-guess answer to revisit on Day 10.
- Day 2
Investigate: How did the new science challenge older authorities?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 7 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 3
Lesson: Hot Seat: Voices of the New Science
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 4
Investigate: Could reason and new knowledge improve society?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 8 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 5
Lesson: Enlightenment Salon: Can Reason Improve Society?
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 6
Investigate: Where should a government's power come from?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 6 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 7
Lesson: Socratic Seminar: Where Should Power Come From?
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 8
Corroborate across sets
OrganizersPairs choose one source from each set and complete the Sourcing, Contextualization, Corroboration organizer: where do the sources agree, and where do they differ?
- Day 9
DBQ workshop
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “How did the new science challenge older authorities?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Could reason and new knowledge improve society?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Where should a government's power come from?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
WorkshopStudents annotate the documents and outline an answer.
- Day 10
Final writing task
Writing taskWrite an argument: Did Enlightenment writers show that reason could improve society, or did their critics raise stronger points? Use at least four sources from at least two sets, and treat at least one critic of the Enlightenment fairly.