Bring the story of the International Brigades to your classroom! Using the C3 Inquiry Design Model, this adaptable lesson plan uses MSI’s Stories from the Spanish Civil War website to lead students through an investigation about American volunteers in the International Brigades.

By the end of this inquiry, students will be able to:

• Identify the leading causes and understand the global significance of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

• Analyze the multiple factors that motivate someone to engage with a political cause

• Critique the usefulness of historical sources for a specific historical inquiry based on their maker, date, place of origin, intended audience, and purpose

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Teachers can use this lesson in a middle or high school World History class during a unit on the Interwar Period or World War II, or in a US History class during a unit on the Great Depression, the Interwar Years, or World War II. Students will gain valuable content knowledge about this global historical event, develop historical thinking skills, and engage with civic action ideas. 

Credits

This lesson plan was created by students in the Secondary History and Social Studies BSEd program at Northern Arizona University: Olivia Hall, Matthew Lankton, Meagan Engels and Fredreka Wheeler, in collaboration with Dr. Lauren Lefty, Dr. Bjorn Krondorfer, and Dr. Foster Chamberlin.