9th Grade Yom Kippur War Lesson Plan Example (Israel)

Topic: Geopolitical aspects of the Yom Kippur War

Objectives & Outcomes

• To understand the geopolitical aspects of the Yom Kippur War

Materials

• Maps of the Middle East in the 1970s
• News articles about the Yom Kippur War
• Handouts with information about the countries involved in the war (Egypt, Syria, Israel, and Jordan)

Warm-up

• Begin the lesson by asking students what they know about the Yom Kippur War. Ask them to name the countries involved in the war and the main causes of the conflict.
• Next, show the class a map of the Middle East in the 1970s and have them identify the countries listed above.

Direct Instruction

• Explain that the Yom Kippur War was a conflict between Egypt and Syria on one side and Israel on the other. It began on October 6, 1973 and ended on October 26, 1973.
• Next, explain the geopolitical factors that led to the war. Ask students to name some countries in the Middle East and have them explain the political relationships between those countries. For example, students might say that Syria is an ally of Iran, which is an enemy of Israel.
• Explain that the main cause of the Yom Kippur War was the desire of Egypt and Syria to regain control of territory that they had lost in the 1967 Six-Day War.
• Next, show the class a map of the Middle East in the 1960s and have them identify the territories that Egypt and Syria lost in 1967. Ask students to explain why these territories were important to Egypt and Syria.

Interactive Teaching

• Divide the class into small groups and assign each group one of the following geopolitical factors that contributed to the Yom Kippur War:
• the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty of 1979
• the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Egypt in 1972
• the powerful Israeli military
• the Arab oil embargo of 1973
• the strong relationship between Israel and the United States
• Have each group discuss their assigned factor and explain how it contributed to the war. Encourage students to use the maps and information they have learned to support their arguments.

As a class, discuss the different factors that contributed to the Yom Kippur War and how they combined to cause the war.

Independent Research

• Assign students the task of researching a specific aspect of the Yom Kippur War that they find interesting or challenging.
• Students should use the internet or other resources to find information on their assigned topic.
• Students should create a poster or presentation to share their findings with the class.
• Encourage students to be creative and use visuals, such as maps and charts, to present their information to their classmates.

Closure

• Ask students to reflect on the Yom Kippur War and its implications for the Middle East.
• Ask students to think about the political ramifications of the war and how it may have affected the relationships between Israel and its neighbors.
• Ask students to consider the human cost of the war and how it affected the civilians who were caught in the crossfire.
• Ask students to consider how the outcomes of the Yom Kippur War may have affected the course of history in the Middle East.

Assessment:

• Observe student participation in class discussions and group activities.
• Evaluate student presentations on their chosen topic.
• Administer a quiz on key events and figures from the Yom Kippur War.