Diamond 9: Why did Britain follow a policy of appeasement in 1938?

This diamond 9 activity has been designed by experienced teachers to help provide stretch and challenge for middle and ability students studying why Britain followed a policy of appeasement in 1938. The key theory underpinning this strategy is that when we rank items, either statements, objects or images, we are required to make explicit the over- arching relationships by which we organise our knowledge and connect our learning. It can also be used as a starter, plenary, revision or as a focus for an assessment activity.

The resource includes nine diamond shaped cards which include a range of factors to explain why Britain followed a policy of appeasement in 1938. The document is provided in Microsoft Word so you can edit the resource if you wish to customise it further. Once students have cut the cards out they are set three tasks including:

1. Remove any reasons you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them.
2. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between the different reasons. Record and explain your reasons.
3. Make a smaller diamond shape using what you think are the four most important reasons why Britain followed a policy of appeasement in 1938.

At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop their thining skills as well as their understanding of the topic.

The aims and objectives for this lesson are:

Theme: Causes of the Second World War 1939 - 1945
Know: What was the policy of appeasement?
Understand: What arguments were put forward both for against this policy in 1938?
Evaluate: Why did Britain support a policy of appeasement?

WILF - What Am I Looking For?
Identify and describe: The policy of appeasement?
Explain: Both the arguments four and against the policy of appeasement?
Analyse: Why did Britain follow a policy of appeasement in 1938?

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Kind Regards

Roy