Topic: Town Park Debate over the use of community land
Theme & Core Questions:
- How do political decisions reflect community input?
- What are the economic impacts (both positive and negative) of conflicting interests within a community
on the average citizen?
- How do the five themes of geography (location, place, human & environmental interaction, movement,
and region formation) shape the decisions made by citizens during these conflicts?
Overview: These lessons simulate a scenario in which the municipal government is planning
to sell a neighborhood park to the major company in town. Members of the community both oppose and support the plan,
and debate each other.
Time Required: 1 class period or 45 minutes
Suggested Grade Levels: Grades 6–12
Interdisciplinary Applications: Social Studies
NJ Core Content Standards: 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6, 6.9
Instructional Objectives: Students will use role-playing skills to experience social conflict.
Students will use critical thinking skills to take a position on a social issue. Students
will use debate skills to defend a position on a social issue. Students
will use presentation skills (public speaking) in discussing a social issue.
Strategies:
- Power Point presentation on town park debate - “Conflict Hits Home”
- Students will individually take a position and write their reason.
- Divide class according to which side they are on, if teams are uneven try to recruit some students
to take the position they oppose.
- The teacher should mediate the debate
- Students will individually present their view with reasons.
- As each student presents a view, one student from the opposing side may respond.
- Repeat until every student has expressed a view.
- After the debate, student teams will compose a final statement on the issue.
- Each group will present their statement.
- Students will return to their usual seats.
- Present Power Point slide of follow up questions.
- Class discussion on follow up questions and bridge to civil war.
- Students should respond in writing to these questions for homework.
Materials:
Power Point presentation on town park debate - “Conflict Hits Home”
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