Lessons for children from world core curriculum: You choose the
rules!
from Lyn Stuter
10/25/02
Someone in Texas sent out the URL for a lesson plan for children
from the
"Project Vote" page on the state website.
Following is one of the lesson plans for children from the "Project
Vote"
page in Washington state. I think you can see that although not the
same,
the effect is. I would bet that most every state as a "Project
Vote" page
with a similar lesson plan.
http://www.vote.wa.gov/outreach/Key_Into_Freedom/curriculum/lesson_2/display
_page.tpl?P=3&T=3
UNITED STATES AND WORLD CURRICULUM GRADES 8-12
STUDENT HANDOUT, LESSON 3THEME: YOU CHOOSE THE RULES! WHICH RIGHTS
ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?
ACTIVITY: Theater of the Mind
In a land not so far away, and not so long ago, there lived people
in a
small, democratic nation with a Constitution like ours. However, that
nation has just been taken over by a coup d'etat, and is now a dictatorship
of one.
Not wanting to alienate the people totally, the new leader has
announced that ALL prior protected liberties will be removed in the
new
Constitution, ALL EXCEPT ONE, which the ruler will honor. It is up
to the
people to tell the ruler which right to retain.
Each region of the nation is sending a delegation to a conference;
the delegates will vote on which right to protect based on the best
argument. The people of your region have chosen your group to represent
them and trust your judgment.
Your task is to decide, as a delegation, what liberty or right you
LEAST
want every citizen to lose. Prepare a case for why that freedom is,
in your
view, the most essential to protecting the people from absolute dictatorship.
Be prepared to present this argument to the conference (class) as
a whole
in a 4-5 minute oral argument. The use of examples from history is
encouraged, as is the use of supportive materials of your own creation
(audio or videotapes, overheads, posters, banners, handouts, slides,
etc.).
When each delegation has presented its case, the conference will
deliberate
aloud on the merits of each case and then vote on which liberty/right
AND
supportive arguments it chooses to present to the new government.
Be sure
that all in your delegation have a chance to share opinions before
deciding
on one liberty/right. Take care that the group decision truly represents
the group. Should you choose a group facilitator and a recorder?
You will have to decide how best to present your case to the conference
in
the time allowed. Will you have each member present a part of your
case or
have one person do it all?
Summon up your imagination, put on your best role-playing skills,
and
prepare to present a compelling case!