Active History: Games for Kids

Causes of the French Revolution

 
 
 
 

Note: A condensed version of the French Revolution Study Unit is also available (designed to take 7-8 teaching hours).

 

French Revolution Worksheets and Lesson Plans

1. Why does the French Revolution Matter? - Teacher PowerPoint Starter
A presentation designed to generate student interest and establish the relevance of the subject.
2. The Fall of the Bastille: Running Dictation Exercise [interactive]
An innovative activity designed to help students learn about the opening stages of the Revolution. There is a worksheet that can be used to accompany the activity.
3. Long-Term Causes of the French Revolution: The Three Estates System (Part 1)
A worksheet designed to be used as a 'back to back' exercise in the classroom. The teacher copy should also be downloaded.
4. Long-Term Causes of the French Revolution: The Three Estates System (Part 2)
A sourcework-based exercise to develop understanding further.
5. Short-Term Causes of the French Revolution: King Louis XVI
A good King? A good man? both? neither?! Students reach their verdict after looking at a variety of primary sources.
6. Short Term Causes of the French Revolution: Marie-Antoinette
The teacher should start by showing students this PowerPoint Presentation of stills from the Kirsten Dunst film to decide what impression is being created.
They then use the worksheet to decide how accurate the interpretation actually is.
Marie-Antoinette
Marie-Antoinette as played by Kirsten Dunst
7. Mid-Term Causes of the French Revolution: War, Economy, Philosophers
Which of these three were the most important? And what nasty "dirt" can we find out on each of these philosophers to minimise the damage to the King?
8. Decision-Making Game: The Causes of the French Revolution: Part 1 [interactive]
Can you help Louis XVI avoid Civil War? A decision-making adventure, complete with sound effects and worksheet tasks.
Students have the ability to proceed straight onto Part 2 of the game when they finish it; I personally prefer not to play the game at this stage, but instead play Part 1 and Part 2 in one go at the end of the study unit as a revision exercise. However, if time is limited (e.g. 30 minute lesson), breaking it into two smaller simulations would be a good idea!
9. Mid-Unit Assessment
Students are provided with a list of possible questions for a GCSE-style test. In a subsequent lesson, the teacher should pick one question at random and the students write their answers in a timed exercise.
10. Essay-Planning Task
This worksheet is designed to be used in conjunction with the mid-unit assessment in this unit. Students compare, contrast and connect 6 key factors to produce a detailed essay plan.

 

End of Unit Interactive Quizzes

1. Interactive Exercise
By C. Warren at Rochester Girls' Grammar

History in the News for Causes of the French Revolution

1. Napoleon... the theme park Plans are afoot to build a theme park based on the life and times of the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte. Can it be a tourist magnet to rival nearby Disneyland Paris?
2. Huge testicular tumour helps identify subject of 19th century portrait | Science | The Guardian Huge testicular tumour helps identify subject of 19th century portrait
3. Essence of Che, Marie Antoinette at 367-Year-Old Candle Maker's N.Y. Shop More than 200 years after Marie Antoinette lost her head, I got a whiff of her from a scented candle in a downtown Manhattan basement...
4. Louis XVI's Blood May Be Hidden Inside Decorated Gourd Dating back to the French Revolution, this gourd is thought to contain the blood of Louis XVI, collected shortly after he was executed.
5. Rare Napoleon memorabilia, including a lock of his hair, sold in New Zealand auction Rare memorabilia of former French Emperor Napoleon 1st, including a lock of hair cut from his head after he died in exile in 1821 on the remote island of St. Helena, have fetched 140,000 New Zealand dollars ($97,000) at auction.
6. Napoleon 'hoped to conquer Britain from St Helena' Napoleon Bonaparte still harboured ambitions of invading Britain even as he was sailing to St Helena where he was exiled, according to a previously unseen diary.
7. Napoleon - the greatest movie never made?  
8. Carla Bruni attacked as new Marie Antoinette of France by magazine  
9. Louis XVI's final testament discovered  
10. A tale of romance by the king of chick lit: Napoleon Bonaparte  

History weblinks for Causes of the French Revolution

1. Why the guillotine was the first egalitarian execution method  You've probably seen the guillotine in historical epics and Dickens adaptations. But were you aware that it struck a blow for egalitarianism in more than one way? The French believed the guillotine's angled blade was both a scientific and social innovation. Here's why.
2. Bastille Day: Unintended Consequences : Discovery News   
3. Zhou Enlai's Famous Saying Debunked | History Today   
4. Marie Antoinette Online   
5. French Revolution History and Biographies Summarized | Bastille Day   
6. Imaging the French Revolution   
7. Marie Antoinette: Crown Without a Head   
8. Marie-Antoinette: The Story Behind The Movie   
9. Marie Antoinette | PBS   
10. Marie Antoinette - Official Site   
11. French Revolution resources - Role Play   
12. The French Revolution   

 

 

 

 
 
 
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