Fernando M. Reimers et a1.

Activity 5.3.3

“L’Etat, C’CSt MOI!”

In this activity, students will learn about Louis XIV. They will read pages
156—158 of What Your Fifi/7 Grader Needs to Know.“ Once they have read
these pages, the teacher will ask the class what Louis XIV did that was good
for France. They may say, “He built a magnificent palace,” “He made France
powerful,” and “He commissioned plays and concerts,” for example. The
teacher lists these in a column on the board. Next the teacher asks what
Louis XIV did that angered the people. They may say, “He made France
poor,” “He spent money on plays but not on his people,” and “He did not
share any power or wealth with anyone, including the third estate.” Next,
they will talk about the role of government in people’s lives, how govern-
ment can help people, and how it can hurt people. The class will create a
third list of the things that they would want their government to do for
them.

They will next analyze the symbol of the sun and the saying “L’état, c’est
moi” and compare those to the symbols and slogans of the Revolution—
for example, the Bastille, La Marseillrzz'se (national anthem), and the saying
“Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.” This connects to the previous unit on
the American Revolution, particularly to lesson 5.2.6. They will next look
at other governmental figures’ symbols (e.g., symbols from Obama’s 2008
campaign and the US national anthem). Finally, each student (or pairs of
students) will be tasked with making a symbol for their ideal government
and writing a paragraph about what the symbol represents to them.

4 Hirsch, ED. Jr. (ed) (1993). What Your Fifth Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals ofa
Good Fifth—Grade Education. New York, NY: Dell Publishing. [ISBN 978-0385411196]