Unit 9

This unit explores the tragic history of genocide in the 20th century, the factors that led to mass violence, and the ways in which developments in multimedia shaped public opinion and political discourse. Students will investigate various instances of genocide across different regions, including Armenia, Uganda, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Darfur, analyzing the political, social, and cultural contexts that allowed these atrocities to unfold. The unit also addresses the global efforts to protect human rights, focusing on international declarations, treaties, and conflicts over human rights protections. Finally, the role of multimedia, including film, radio, and propaganda, will be explored to understand how media influenced individuals and groups during this period. 

9-12  Days

Standards Coding Key: 

Civ= Civics Geo= Geography Eco= Economics His= History Inq= Inquiry

Content Standards

MW.His.4.c. 

Analyze the complex and interacting factors that led to genocide during different historical eras (e.g., Armenia, Uganda, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur). 

MW.His.5.b. 

Analyze how developments in multimedia shaped the perspectives of individuals and groups in the 20th century (e.g., comic books, communication technologies, film, propaganda, public service announcements, radio). 

MW.Civ.14.a. 

Analyze means of protecting or limiting human rights in the 20th century (e.g., Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations Resolution 181, Partition of India, Dirty War in Argentina, Cultural Revolution in China, Khmer Rouge, Stolen Generations in Australia).

Inquiry Standards (all units) 

MW.Inq.1.a. 

Explain how a question reflects an enduring issue in Modern World History.

MW.Inq.1.b.

Explain how supporting questions contribute to an inquiry and how new compelling and supporting questions emerge when engaging sources that represent varied perspectives.

MW.Inq.1.c.

Determine the kinds of sources that will be helpful in answering compelling and supporting questions, taking into consideration multiple points of view represented in the sources, the types of sources available, and the potential uses of the sources.

Aligned to District Vision of a Graduate

An Effective Communicator 

• clearly and concisely conveys information for shared understanding

  • MW.Inq.1.a.

  • MW.Inq.1.b.

  • MW.Inq.1.c.

• command of the language; written and verbal

  • MW.Inq.1.a.

  • MW.Inq.1.b.

Skilled Socially 

• uses effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills

  • MW.Inq.1.a.

  • MW.Inq.1.b.

A Critical Thinker 

• applies unbiased analysis and evaluation

  • MW.His.4.c.

  • MW.His.5.b.

  • MW.Civ.14.a.

  • MW.Inq.1.b.

  • MW.Inq.1.c.

• willing to adapt new information and question things

  • MW.His.4.c.

  • MW.His.5.b.

  • MW.Civ.14.a.

  • MW.Inq.1.a.

  • MW.Inq.1.b.

  • MW.Inq.1.c.

A Problem Solver

• can persevere and adapt

  • MW.His.4.c.

  • MW.His.5.b.

  • MW.Civ.14.a.

  • MW.Inq.1.b.

  • MW.Inq.1.c.

• able to determine the root cause of issues

  • MW.His.4.c.

  • MW.His.5.b.

  • MW.Civ.14.a.

• What factors contribute to the occurrence of genocide, and how can these be prevented?

• How did multimedia developments in the 20th century influence perspectives on political and social issues?

• How have global efforts to protect human rights evolved, and what challenges persist?

• In what ways did the international community respond to human rights violations and genocide in the 20th century?

• Genocide is often the result of a combination of political, social, economic, and ideological factors—including dehumanization, authoritarianism, propaganda, and indifference—which can be mitigated through early intervention, education, and international accountability.

• Advancements in 20th-century multimedia—such as film, radio, television, and the internet—shaped public opinion by making political and social issues more visible, accessible, and emotionally impactful on a global scale.

• The evolution of global human rights protections reflects both progress and struggle, as institutions like the United Nations have established frameworks for accountability, yet enforcement remains uneven due to political interests and limited global consensus.

• The international community’s responses to human rights violations and genocide have varied widely, revealing tensions between national sovereignty, moral responsibility, and the practical challenges of coordinated global action.

MW.His.4.c.

• Genocide

• Causes and contributing factors (political, social, economic, ideological)

• Historical examples:

  • Armenia

  • Uganda

  • Cambodia

  • Bosnia

  • Rwanda

  • Darfur

• State and non-state actors

• Patterns of discrimination and violence

• Human rights violations

MW.His.5.b.

• Multimedia developments (comic books, communication technologies, film, propaganda, PSAs, radio)

• Influence on public opinion

• Perspectives of individuals and groups

• 20th-century social, political, and cultural movements

• Media as a tool for persuasion and control

MW.Civ.14.a.

• Human rights

• Protection mechanisms (e.g., Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UN Resolution 181)

• Violations and restrictions (e.g., Partition of India, Dirty War in Argentina, Cultural Revolution in China, Khmer Rouge, Stolen Generations in Australia)

• Government policies and international law

• Ethical, legal, and social implications

MW.Inq.1.a. 

• Compelling questions

• Enduring issues (conflict, power, inequality, innovation)

• Historical significance

• Continuity and change

• Global connections

MW.Inq.1.b.

• Supporting questions

• Inquiry process

• Sources (primary and secondary)

• Perspectives

• Historical evidence

• Interpretation

MW.Inq.1.c.

• Primary sources

• Secondary sources

• Point of view

• Bias

• Source type (text, image, artifact, map)

• Credibility

• Use of evidence

MW.His.4.c.

• Analyze the interacting factors that led to genocide

• Compare different historical genocides to identify patterns

• Explain cause-and-effect relationships in mass violence

• Evaluate the roles of governments, groups, and individuals

• Use evidence to support conclusions about historical atrocities

• Make connections between political/social conditions and human rights abuses

MW.His.5.b.

• Analyze how multimedia shaped perspectives and beliefs

• Evaluate the effectiveness and intent of media messages

• Compare differing media sources and their influence on groups

• Use evidence to support claims about media impact

• Interpret multimedia as historical sources

• Make connections between media and social/political change

MW.Civ.14.a.

• Analyze ways human rights were protected or limited

• Evaluate the effectiveness of international and national measures

• Explain cause-and-effect relationships between policy and human rights outcomes

• Use evidence to support conclusions about human rights actions

• Compare different historical examples of rights protection and violations

• Make connections between historical events and contemporary human rights issues

MW.Inq.1.a. 

• Explain how a question connects to an enduring historical issue

• Identify enduring issues within historical topics

• Develop compelling questions about world history topics

• Justify why a question is historically significant

• Connect past issues to present-day concerns

MW.Inq.1.b.

• Develop supporting questions that break down a larger inquiry

• Explain how supporting questions guide research

• Revise questions based on new information from sources

• Compare different perspectives found in sources

• Generate new compelling and supporting questions during investigation

MW.Inq.1.c.

• Identify types of sources useful for answering questions

• Evaluate sources for perspective and bias

• Select appropriate sources for specific inquiry questions

• Compare sources representing multiple points of view

• Explain how different sources can be used as evidence

• Justify why certain sources are more useful than others

Assessments:

Formative Assessments: 

REQUIRED:

• CFA - Unit 9

Suggested:

• Annotations and close reading analysis

• Quick writes and on-demand writing samples

• Do Nows/Bell Ringers

• Exit tickets

• 1:1 or small group conferring

Summative Assessments: 

REQUIRED:

• In development 

Suggested:

• Reading written response to text/thinking during reading assessment 

• On-demand writing assessment to revise/add to an existing story using style and craft of the author

• Performance task (see below)

• Independent Reading survey/reflection

• Book club/short story discussion observations

• Genocide

• Propaganda

• Human Rights

• Dehumanization

• Crimes Against Humanity

• Ethnic Cleansing

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

• Censorship

• Ideology

• Persecution

Resources:

Technology:

• https://www.oerproject.com/World-History-1200/Unit-8 

Suggested Texts:  

• OER Project Cold War - Unit 8

• McGraw Hill Textbook Topic 20 

Cross Cycle Tasks:

Suggestions: 

• Have students begin reading a brief connected text at the end of the academic and finish during trade cycle.

• Use Google Forms for a questionnaire or survey about upcoming topic.

• Brief writing task related to end of cycle lesson or as a discussion piece for upcoming lesson.

• Student question development about upcoming topic. Provide question starters: Classroom Question Stems by Cormier; Hess; DOK; Bloom's Taxonomy.

• Quizlet Study Sets activity.

Last day of the Cycle:

• Students meet in small groups to read and discuss upcoming text for next cycle.

First day of the New Cycle:

• Students meet in small groups to discuss reflection, response, and question posts from previous cycle (approx. 15 minutes)

Connecticut Core Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science Technical Subjects

    https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ELA_Standards1.pdf

• Students present their data visualizations and models, linking STEM findings to historical and literary insights. They write reflective essays based on their research. 

• Have students write essays or speeches comparing the ideals in these documents with issues, fostering analytical and persuasive skills.

Connecticut Secondary Social Studies Standards: Social Studies Inquiry Arc

Mathematical Practice Standards

Next Generation Science Standards 

    Standards for students that are aligned to priority standards

    https://www.nextgenscience.org/search-standards

• Collect qualitative data from historical documents and speeches.

• Use spreadsheets or software to chart trends.

• Construct decision trees or flowcharts.

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 

    Standards for students that are aligned to priority standards

    https://iste.org/standards/students

Arts

• Creative Projects: Encourage students to create multimedia presentations or artistic works expressing their understanding of world history inspired by these texts.

CTE Competency Standards

• Utilizing tasks, projects and assignments that connect to trade technologies:

  • Aerospace Manufacturing

  • Architecture

  • Automotive Technology

  • Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing

  • Bioscience and Environmental Technology

  • Biotechnology

  • Building and Civil Construction

  • Culinary Arts

  • Criminal Justice and Protective Services

  • Digital Media

  • Diesel and Heavy - Duty Equipment Repair

  • Electrical

  • Graphic Design

  • Heating

  • Ventilation and Air Conditioning

  • Health Technology

  • Hairdressing and Cosmetology

  • Information Technology

  • Landscape Design

  • Installation and Equipment

  • Masonry

  • Mechanical Design and Engineering Technology

  • Precision Machining Technology

  • Plumbing and Heating

  • Plumbing, Heating and Cooling

  • Robotics and Automation

  • Tourism

  • Hospitality and Guest Services Management

  • Veterinary Science

  • Welding and Metal Fabrication

Components of Social, Emotional, and Intellectual Habits 

• Develop logic and reasoning/Critical and analytic thinking

• Use evidence and critical thinking to support claims, make arguments and critique the reasoning of others; explain own thinking and responds to others’ thinking 

• Develop logic and reasoning/Applying known information to new experiences

• Compare, contrast and evaluate experiences, tasks and events building on prior knowledge 

• Develop logic and reasoning/Reasoning and problem solving

• Analyze attributes to classify, compare and contrast objects, events and experiences (similarities, differences and associations) 

• Develop a positive attitude toward learning/Cooperation during learning experiences

• Listen, discuss, and negotiate ideas in order to discover new learning with peers

Project Based Learning: 

Use these reflective questions to enhance critical consciousness for diversity and equity for both educators and students.

• Why is it important for me and my students to be critically conscious for diversity and equity?

• How do I define diversity? How do my students define diversity? What do I need to learn? What do my students need to learn?

• How do I define equity? How do my students define equity? What do I need to learn? What do my students need to learn?

• How does my identity and my students’ identities impact my teaching and classroom practices? How does it impact my students’ learning and engagement?

• What do I know about various aspects of identity? What do I need to learn?

• What do my students know about various aspects of identity? What do they need to learn?

In developing our social studies curriculum, we place a strong emphasis on cultural relevance to captivate and empower our students. It’s important to create inclusive spaces for meaningful dialogues where students not only engage with previous lessons but also share their unique life narratives, contributing to a collective awareness of diverse perspectives. The aim is to thoughtfully integrate the rich cultural tapestry of students' homes into the social studies classroom, mindful of the multifaceted diversity within our communities. 

Cultivate authentic connections with families through reciprocal conversations that honor their cultures as invaluable assets for promoting both equity and learning. This approach prioritizes experiences that place students at the forefront, ensuring activities not only mirror their lives but also provide windows to a broader understanding of an equitable world. 

One crucial context, language serves as a powerful conduit to students' diverse cultural backgrounds. Embrace a translanguaging approach, recognizing and appreciating the varied linguistic repertoires our students bring to the social studies classroom. This approach acknowledges that individuals draw upon diverse languages and language varieties, such as English and Spanish, to construct a meaningful understanding of equity and diversity in their educational journey. 

For information on how to support English Learners in this unit, refer to the Connecticut English Language Proficiency (CELP) Standards with Correspondences to the K-12 Practices and Connecticut Core Standards. 

Use the EL Strategies Desk Cards (Tip Sheets for ALL Classroom Teachers) for specific questioning techniques and teaching strategies to support students’ learning.