​rethink.

Sarah

 

·  Lesson Overview:

  After learning about Christopher Columbus, the students will participate in a debate to demonstrate all that they have learned so far.  The class will be randomly split in half.  One half will be members of Juan Quick-to-See Smith’s tribe, and the others will be textbook manufacturers.  The purpose of this debate is to show students that there is always more than one way to look at something.  Even in history, sometimes our textbooks don’t always reveal the many different perspectives.  It is not to show that one side is right and the other is wrong, but there can be more than one true story.  In order to participate in the debate, students will have to have a deep understanding of both sides.  The will have to take the perspective of both teams in order to make a good argument.  

 

Preparation:

The teacher should split up the two teams randomly by distributing pieces of paper with their assigned teams - marked as 1 or 2.  Students will immediately meet with their teams and have 25 minutes to come up with a list of five main argument points.  They will be permitted to use this sheet of notes during the debate.  The students will already have learned about the two different viewpoints in the previous lessons. This lesson is designed to be an assessment of all that they learned thus far.  The classroom will be set up so that there are two rows of desks in the middle of the classroom that face each other.  

 

·  Instruction

    As students enter into the classroom, the teacher will randomly distribute pieces of paper that will have their assigned teams, marked by “1” or “2.”  Once everyone is sitting together with their team, the teacher will announce what side(members of Juan Quick-to-See Smith’s tribe or textbook manufacturers) each team will be.  The two teams will then have 25 minutes to work together to come up with a list of 5 main argument points that they can refer to during the debate.  The teacher will then explain the rules for the debate to students.  To determine which team gets to present their first argument, the teacher will flip a coin.  After the first team presents their argument, the opposing team will get to rebuttal.   Following the rebuttal, that team will get to present their argument and then it will go back to the other team for the rebuttal. This will go on until both teams have presented all of their main arguments.  Each student will be assessed based on their participation.  The goal is for each child to speak at least once.   

 

·  Standards

• 1.6.3.A:

Listen critically and respond to others in small and large group situations.

       - Respond with grade level appropriate questions, ideas, information, or opinions.

• 1.6.3.B: Use appropriate volume and clarity in formal speaking presentations.