World History | Age of Reason | Enlightenment Salon | Socratic Seminar Activity

In this (fully- editable) activity your students will compare the major ideas of 7 Enlightenment (Age of Reason) philosophers, “thinkers”, (Hobbes, Montesquieu, Locke, Wollstonecraft, Rousseau, Beccaria, Voltaire) that subsequently inspired the democratic revolutions and governments in England, the United States, France and Latin America by participating in an Enlightenment Salon discussion (Socratic Seminar Format). Appropriate for grades 7-12!

For the Socratic Seminar Activity your students will:

1) Be assigned a Enlightenment philosopher, or “thinker” (by the teacher) of out 7 (You could easily add to/change the list of Enlightenment Thinkers)

2) Research their assigned thinker and complete the “Student Research” worksheet/ Focus Questions.

3) Using the template provided, cut out and create a name plate for their assigned thinker for the seminar.

4) Examine the grading rubric (included) and be prepared to participate in the salon discussion.

5) Participate in a Socratic Seminar (salon) and will discuss the open-ended questions INCLUDED in this activity.

6) Complete a creative EXIT CARD/ Assessment Activity.

***All student worksheets, handouts, grading rubric, discussion questions, link to online reference material and Exit Card Activity are all INCLUDED!

***Includes a GOOGLE and Traditional version of this activity for your use!