World History Lesson Plan
Title: Louis XIV “The Sun King” & Versailles
Date: (Pushed back) March 6, 2014
SOL/CTE Competencies (TLW):
 Describe the Age of Absolutism, including the monarchy of Louis XIV
Related SOLs:
 WHII.6b, WHII.1a, WHII.1d
Essential Knowledge and Skills:
Essential Knowledge
WHII.6b
 Centralization of power
 Concept of rule by divine right
 Louis XIV of France: Palace of Versailles as a
symbol of royal power
Essential Skills
Identify and compare contemporary political boundaries
with the locations of civilizations, empires, and
kingdoms (WHII.1d)
Identify, analyze, and interpret primary and secondary
sources to make generalizations about events and life in
world history. (WHII.1a)
Materials Needed:
 Journal Prompt
 Photo of Louis XIV
 Primary Source Booklet
 Louis XIV guided note sheet w/ map
 iPad
 Computer
 Colored Pencils
Vocabulary:
 New:
o Sun King
o l’état, c’est moi
o TBD
Assessment:
_X_ Self-assessment for students
_X_ Performance tasks
___ Oral reports
___ Essays
___ Forced choice
_X_ Short written response
_X_ Teacher observation
___ Demonstration
___ Rubric
___ Other: _______________
Lesson Overview:
 Beginning: (Activate prior knowledge, provide background information, HOOK the
students)
o Journal: Students will complete the following prompt: “Yesterday we talked about
the English Bill of Rights. Take out your primary source booklet and reread the
new laws being made (hint: right side column). Which law do you think is the
most important? Explain why.”

During: (Strategies/activities to support objectives, provide feedback)
o Students will analyze a portrait of Louis XIV in order to re-familiarize themselves
with the critical attributes of absolutism.
 They will pick out features in the portrait
 Then, students will draw the portrait as best they can on their note sheet,
making sure to include the most important parts of the portrait
o Students will take out their Primary Analysis Booklet and work on the second
source, Bossuet, and annotate and analyze the source using the format provided.
o Students will complete guided notes, as well as a map that shows territorial
expansion under Louis XIV
o Students will conclude the lesson by reading the Saint-Simon source in the
Primary Analysis Booklet
o If time allows, students will watch a short video on Louis XIV