Lesson Four

Inquiry Question: Who controlled the government after the 1953 Coup?

Texts/Materials:
Text D- National Security Council Assessment of the Situation in Iran, Nov. 20, 1952
Student Interactive Notebook

Activities
1. Individual think-writeTC_Bubble
Silently read the questions below. Then, write notes on this page about your thoughts, any connections you make to what you know, and any questions you have.

  •  As a historian, how do you use primary sources to understand what happened in the past?
  •  When evaluating a source, what factors should you keep in mind that might affect your understanding of that source?
  •  When evaluating multiple sources, what are some strategies to sort out conflicting evidence?

2. Teacher modelTC_Bubble
Your teacher will briefly model historical thinking with Text D. Pay close attention to the ways in which he/she evaluates the source. Write down anything your teacher does or notices that help him/her understand the source and text more deeply.
3. Individuals readTC_Bubble
Continue reading Text D. While reading, make your thinking (both comprehension and historical thinking) visible by Talking to the Text.

4. Pair shareTC_Bubble
With a partner, go through the text sentence by sentence (or paragraph by paragraph) discussing your reading. Take turns sharing and listening.

  •  Help each other with roadblocks and clarifying questions
  •  Share additional notes that represent your evaluation of the sources and historical thinking.
  •  Note your new insights.

Then, look over your notes from your pair-share and choose one question or piece of thinking that addresses sourcing or other historical thinking and prepare to share out to the whole group. You can record it in your interactive notebook in the space provided on page 12.

5. Whole group share outTC_Bubble
Share out your thinking to the whole group. Record at least one additional note from the group discussion you heard that furthered your own understanding about sourcing and historical reasoning.

6. Individual think-write
Reviewing what you’ve noted about the source as well as information presented in the text, write a “This is about…” for Text D in your interactive notebook.

7. Teacher modelTC_Bubble
Your teacher will briefly model how to use the 1953 CIA-Sponsored Coup notetaker. You will be using this notetaker to collect information about the reasons, plan, events, and result of the coup. As your teacher works through the document, take notes on your notetaker. When your teacher has finished, complete the notetaker with your partner for Text D.

8. Partner discussion and notesTC_Bubble
From the perspective of the National Security Council, does a government led by Mossadegh and the National Front create a more or less just society in Iran? Explain.