Both the Age of Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution provoked strong reactions from citizens and institutions. It is essential to understand the scope of these reactions, as they are clear evidence of just how powerful and revolutionary these new political and scientific ideas were.
Have students create a T-Chart that explains the reactions that individual and institutions had to the Enlightenment and new scientific thought. The storyboard should explain the ideas in one column and the reactions in the second column. Here are some examples to consider:
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
An easy extension of this activity would be to ask students, “What recent political, social, or scientific ideas have provoked strong reactions in the past ten years?” This could be a prompt for a discussion, a written assignment, or another storyboard!
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Student Instructions
Create a T Chart identifying the reactions that individuals and institutions had to new scientific thought and the Enlightenment.
Using authentic documents like letters, speeches, or images from the Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution helps students connect with history. Primary sources provide first-hand perspectives and make abstract ideas more concrete, enhancing engagement and critical thinking skills.
Choose short excerpts from letters, trial transcripts, or pamphlets that fit your students' reading levels. Preview materials to ensure they are accessible and relevant, so all students can participate meaningfully in the lesson.
Encourage students to identify who wrote the source, when it was written, and why. This helps them understand context and analyze whether the reaction to new ideas was supportive, fearful, or resistant.
Have students share their findings with peers and discuss how different individuals or institutions responded to new scientific or political ideas. Collaborative discussions help deepen understanding and promote multiple viewpoints.
Ask students to add evidence from the primary sources to their T-Charts, linking specific reactions to historical documents. This grounds their analysis in real history and strengthens their critical thinking skills.
Common reactions included both support and resistance. Many religious and political institutions opposed new ideas, fearing loss of authority, while others embraced change, fueling progress and reform.
Have students create a T-Chart with one column for Enlightenment thinkers or scientists and their new ideas, and a second for individual or institutional reactions. Encourage illustrations for deeper understanding.
The Church condemned Galileo for supporting heliocentrism, placing him under house arrest and labeling his ideas as heresy, highlighting the conflict between science and religious authority.
Collaboration helps students deepen understanding, improve communication, and solve problems together. Working in groups on storyboards can also speed up completion and spark richer discussions.
Ask students to identify recent political, social, or scientific ideas that have sparked strong reactions. This can lead to discussions, written assignments, or new storyboards connecting past and present.