Simulation/Role Play lesson plan Course: 11th Grade U.S. History Class Length: 50 minutes Lesson Title: The Yalta Conference Teacher: Mr. Schultz Lesson Objective: • Students will understand the specifics of the Yalta Conference and what was involved. • Students will understand how the Yalta Conference affected the important events such as the Iron Curtain and the Cold War. Lesson Rationale: Students will participate in a simulated lesson where they will role-­‐play as the three major figures in the conference: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and General Secretary Joseph Stalin. By simulating the meeting that determined students will understand what factors went into the organization of post-­‐World War II Europe. This simulation will also help set up the foundation into our next lesson, which will deal with the Cold War. Lesson Outline: Characters: • President Franklin D. Roosevelt (United States) • Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Great Britain) • General Secretary Joseph Stalin (Russia/USSR) Scenario: It is February 1945 and the war in Europe is slowly coming to an end. Allied forces are making their way into the heart of Germany and within reach of the capital city Berlin. The leaders of the Allied power, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and General Secretary Stalin, also known as the “Big Three” convene at the Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea to discuss what will happen with Germany and Europe once the war ends. Objective: Throughout the 7-­‐day conference much has been discussed and established on what will happen to the nations of Europe once the war ends. However, there are many factors that are still disagreed upon between the leaders. You’re task, as leaders of the three nations, is to settle the disputes, which will ultimately determine the outcome of Germany and Europe post-­‐World War II. Below are the major tasks that need to be settled before the conference ends. Directions: The class will be divided up in three groups, each representing a country of the “Big Three.” Each country will elect one official to represent as the leader of their country, while the rest of the group will be that leaders supporting staff and provided advice on how to handle certain situations. Tasks: 1. Once Germany surrenders, it was agreed upon by all three nations that Germany and Berlin would be divided into 4 zones. Using the map of Germany and Berlin, determine how much should be divided and who gets what zones. 2. Even though the war will end, Nazi war criminals are assumed to be present in Europe. Determine unanimously how to handle these criminals in a fashion that uphold the rules of war. 3. The war in Europe has cost the continent and its’ countries dearly and needs rebuilding, determine how you will rebuild Europe and Germany. Consider costs, labor, and supplies. 4. Even after the war, Germany’s military and political institutions will still be intact. The Nazi party is the countries current political party and its’ military is strong. How will the “Big three” handle this current situation? 5. The USSR has kept in mind one big factor, Poland. This country has had a historical significance for the country, in which was a corridor for countries to invade Russia. The United States wants a free, democratic Poland, but Russia wants to keep the territory of Eastern Poland already annexed in 1939. Find a way to gain control of Poland with U.S. approval. 6. There is still a war active in the Pacific. The USSR has close proximity to the islands of Japan. President Roosevelt needs to persuade Joseph Stalin to help in ending the war. Find a way in which you can gain the support of the USSR in the war in the Pacific. Discussion: Once the simulation is complete, the class will discuss on if they believed the terms they came up with were suitable and fair. Do you think all the countries believe they achieved the best scenario? Do you think one country received too much when it came to the agreements? Who do you think favored the most? Who favored the least? I will record the terms of the conference as the conference plays out. Once we have discussed what happened, I will provide what really happened at the conference and how it compares to the ones the students created. Since this will be at the our unit on World War II, this will provide a good way for the students to see how the Yalta Conference helped set up the Cold War and Iron Bloc. Maps: Map of Germany Map of Berlin: