Abusing Power: Animal Farm and Wicked History

Lesson 3
icon/ela/white

ELA

Unit 3

8th Grade

Lesson 3 of 32

Objective


Identify the events, ideas, and social conditions that led to the Russian Revolution, and explain Stalin’s role in the establishment of a new communist society and government.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Joseph Stalin (A Wicked History) by Sean McCollum  — Chapters 4-6

Fishtank Plus

Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.

Target Task


Writing Prompt

What does the revolution—and its aftermath—reveal about Stalin as a person and as a leader? Provide at least three different pieces of evidence from pages 38-49 to support your answer.

Sample Response

Create a free account or sign in to view Sample Response

Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • Based on the information contained in Chapter 4, create a timeline with the five most important events leading up to the October Revolution, and briefly explain each of these events.

  • Who opposed the rise of the Bolsheviks and communism in Russia, and why? Provide evidence from pages 38-39 to support your answer.

  • How was Marx’s vision of communism different from Lenin’s version? Provide evidence from pages 27 and 41-42 to support your answer.

  • Who was Leon Trotsky? Describe his relationship with Stalin. Provide evidence from pages 39-49 to support your answer.

Discussion Questions

  • Do you think the government Lenin formed was better for the people than the tsarist government?

Exit Ticket

Assess student understanding and monitor progress toward this lesson's objective with an Exit Ticket.

Vocabulary


Text-based

tyranny

n.

(p. 43)

cruel and oppressive government or rule

tyrannical

adj.

using power in a cruel, oppressive way

charismatic

adj.

(p. 46)

possessing an extraordinary ability to attract or charm; inspiring devotion from followers

Homework


To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Book: Joseph Stalin (A Wicked History) by Sean McCollum  — Chapters 7-9

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What was collectivization? What was its purpose?

  • How did many peasants respond to collectivization?

  • What were "kulaks"?

  • What was a "gulag"?

  • Was the Five Year Plan successful, according to Stalin?

  • Why did so many people starve, even as large amounts of grain was produced?

  • What do many Ukrainians believe was the purpose of the Holodomor?

Enhanced Lesson Plan

Fishtank Plus Content

Bring your most engaging lessons to life with comprehensive instructional guidance, detailed pacing, supports to meet every student's needs, and resources to strengthen your lesson planning and delivery.

Common Core Standards


  • RI.8.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
  • RI.8.3 — Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).

Supporting Standards

L.8.6
RI.8.1
RI.8.4
RI.8.10
SL.8.1
SL.8.6
W.8.1
W.8.1.a
W.8.1.b
W.8.4
W.8.6
W.8.9
W.8.9.b
W.8.10
icon/arrow/right/large copy

Lesson 2

icon/arrow/right/large

Lesson 4

Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Request a Demo

See all of the features of Fishtank in action and begin the conversation about adoption.

Learn more about Fishtank Learning School Adoption.

Contact Information

School Information

What courses are you interested in?

ELA

Math

Are you interested in onboarding professional learning for your teachers and instructional leaders?

Yes

No

Any other information you would like to provide about your school?

Effective Instruction Made Easy

Effective Instruction Made Easy

Access rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free