Luke Witham

Dr. Rybakova

ED 312

3 February 2020

Ideas of Revolution and Change

Throughout all of history there as been great empires and families that rule for
hundreds of years and leave their mark on the world. However, there has been an
equal amount of revolution in these great empires and it comes in many forms,
some violent, some entirely political. Some say that history is written by the victors.
I do not disagree with that statement; however, I find it incomplete. All over the
world, through thousands of years, small bands of angry farmers or oppressed
people living in slavery have also been making history. Whether it is the Athenian
people in 508BCE or the oppressed women of 20th century America. In this reading
ladder I will use various forms of texts that highlight the theme of revolution and
rebellion.

Texts Form Summary Rationale

Civil Disobedience Essay/ Civil Disobedience is Civil Disobedience serves
Henry David Video an essay written by many purposes in the
Thoreau. early American social studies discipline.
Civil Disobedience transcendentalist Through the course of
YouTube Video Henry David World and US history,
Thoreau. Civil things such as oppression,
“On the Duty of Disobedience is slavery, abuse but also
Civil meant to highlight ideas like revolution,
Disobedience.” the need of a revolt, wars, and
The Project countries citizens to overthrows. Because of
Gutenberg EBook maintain and enforce these reoccurring topics I
of On the Duty of there right for civil felt it was important to
Civil disobedience. In this also talk about the
Disobedience, by piece he draws on life philosophy written
Henry David experiences to justify around these central
Thoreau, his civil disobedience. themes. Also, part of the
www.gutenberg.o He also, outlines the state and national
rg/files/71/71- basic rules for which curriculum for social
h/71-h.htm. everyone should live studies is informing
by. The YouTube students of their civil
video is meant to liberties and their civic
serve as a layman’s duty.
guide.
Luke Witham

Dr. Rybakova

ED 312

3 February 2020

Animal Farm Novel In this young adult I chose to use Animal

By: George Orwell Or novel George Orwell Farm because it highlights
Graphic tells the story of the the main themes of
Novel Manor Farm. On this rebellion, but it takes
farm the animals different points of view
unite under the idea then the other texts I’ve
of an independent chosen. This text is unique
animal society where because it also talks about
no animals are ruled the main themes from the
by humans. Three oppressors. I also think
pigs; Snowball, this novel is important
Napoleon, Squealer because it is a middle of
take over and form a the road reading level and
plan to create this it should be no problem
perfect life. Soon all for a grade level high
of the other animals takes the central ideas of
are on board, and the this reading ladder and
work begins. presents them in a
Throughout the novel different manner. Rather
the pigs in charge than the setting being an
soon become over oppressive regime, the
zealous and soon books starts with the
become a animals being oppressed,
dictatorship. then an overthrow, then a
second bout of
oppression. Also, George
Orwell has an excellent
writing style and it makes
a good segue into a higher
level of reading. It also
acts to even further
narrow the path to the
main theme, this time the
students will read about a
fictional first hand
account of what it is like
to live in the oppressed
societies that they have
read about up to this
point.
Luke Witham

Dr. Rybakova

ED 312

3 February 2020

X-Men: God Loves, Graphic X-Men: God Loves, I choose this graphic novel
Men Kill. Novel Men Kill. This graphic for a few reasons. One of
By: Chris novel is set in the DC the biggest reasons is
Claremont Universe containing because it is easily
the X-Men. This relatable for the students.
graphic novel follows Even if they do not like
the X-Men and their graphic novel or have
quest to find the never heard of the X-Men,
person who because it is fictional and
murdered two students have the ability
mutant children. to make their own
Throughout this connections to something
graphic novel and the entirely new it will help
other X-Men graphic them build connections.
novels there is a Because of the fantasy
constant threat to the nature of the graphic
mutant population. In novel, students do not feel
this universe and the pressure of trying to
series the mutant memorize names, dates,
population is always and places; or the
fighting for their pressure of trying to make
lives. connections that fall into a
predetermined mindset.
Another reason, and
probably the most
important reason, this is
the first exposure the
students would have to
oppression based on
something the oppressed
have no control over. This
could be used to relate to
themes of racism and
sexism. In addition, this
graphic novel takes on
many and portrays
scenarios of like
oppression and abuse,
eventually it even reaches
revolution and rebellion.
Luke Witham

Dr. Rybakova

ED 312

3 February 2020

My Brother Sam Is Young This book is a I chose this book for this
Dead Adult historical fiction position on the ladder
By: James Lincoln Literature. drama novel about a because of it low reading
Collier, young boy’s life level. It will be a short but
Christopher Collier during the American interesting read for the
(1974) Revolution. When students, there is plenty of
Tim’s older brother action and suspenseful
Sam returns home for moments. Another reason
college, Sam declares I chose this book is
he is going to join the because it highlights the
rebel army and fight transition on this ladder
against the British. from overviewing
Even though his revolutions to giving a
parents protest, Sam “first hand account” of
steals his father’s gun someone living through a
and leaves home. revolution. It highlights
After months of his the oppressive nature of
older brother being the corrupt government
gone Tim grows to ruling over the American
want a piece of the colonies, and tells the
adventure. However, story of the atrocities that
he is forced to stay happened in colonial
home with his America. This book acts a
mother and become transition point for the
the man of the house. students, this is the first
The rest of the book time they have to read a
follows Tim’s journey book on this tree and it is
through the American also historically relatable.
Revolution.
Reform and YouTube This YouTube video My reasoning for choosing
Revolution 1815- Video talks about political this video is because the
1848: Crash and social reform narrators style is one that
Course European around the world, is easy to listen to but
History #25 mainly focusing on style informative, he uses
the years; 1815-1848. appropriate humor to
By: CrashCourse The narrator, John help the information flow.
https:// Green, goes on to Also, this piece fits in
www.youtube.co explain in detail, but nicely after the first article
m/watch? not a “information the students will read.
v=_uKp4FHPjHU& dump” about various Essentially this video puts
Luke Witham

Dr. Rybakova

ED 312

3 February 2020

list=PL8dPuuaLjXt rebellions and names to all of the faces, it

MsMTfmRomkVQ reformations that goes in depth about
G8AqrAmJFX&ind happened either different revolts and
ex=27&t=0s during The rebellion and why they
Enlightenment or as a happened. In addition, it
direct consequence of works as a building block
it. for the students. This
video can act as a real
world description of
revolutions, it is slowly
narrowing down the
information and growing
closer to the main theme
of the reading ladder
“Revolution”.
What Was the Online The article What Was My Rationale for choosing
Enlightenment? Article. the Enlightenment?, this article is fairly simple.
By Owen Jarus - Author Owen Jarus, The article itself is not
Live Science breaks down the very long. It is written in
Contributor period of an easily comprehendible
September 12, enlightenment in the style. Also, this article
2019 18th century. This covers the very basis of
article is broken revolution, most people
down into several don’t understand that the
https:// different subtitles. history of modern
www.livescience.c The first subtitle, and revolutions start in The
om/55327-the- topic covered, is the Enlightenment. Because of
enlightenment.ht Big Ideas behind this this I wanted to start with
ml time period. It talks covering it so the students
about many of the have a baseline
new social and knowledge of the starting
political beliefs of the point. Everything after
time and how things this will focus on
were changing from independent cases of
the typical European rebellion, and why it is
Monarchy. Next it happening. We will finish
talks about the mass the ladder with Civil
slavery in Europe and Disobedience by Thoreau
around the world, because it goes in depth
also the various types and explains why civil
Luke Witham

Dr. Rybakova

ED 312

3 February 2020

of slavery. Whether it disobedience can be

was indentured important in a society.
servitude or forced
labor. The last topic is
The Terror, which
happened during the
French Revolution.