Week 13 (05/11-05/15)

05/11/09

Aim: How are issues related to the recognition of religious holidays, inclusion of religion in curriculum, prayer, and religion-based extracurricular groups and activities manifest in our school?

Do Now:

• Copy Word of the Day (brief definition, partsof speech, and the example sentence)
• Copy Daily Test Prep( question and answer)
• Read and copy ONE news summary
• On this Day in History ( after reading, copy down one snippet of On this Day in History )

Activites:

1. Journal #37 Choose one to respond and explain your answers:

a. HOLIDAYS- What religious holidays are recognized in your school throughout the year, and how? Do you think that all religions are equally represented?

b. CURRICULUM- In class, how are various religions explored through the curriculum?
c. PRAYER- Is there any time of the day that seems related to prayer, and if so, how?
d. EXTRACURRICULAR- Are there any extracurricular activities or groups in your school that have a religious focus?

e.Does religion play a role in larger activities, such as assemblies and sporting events?"

2. Read Seeking a Role for Religion on Campus and discuss-

a. Who is David K. Scott, and what "fear" does the article state he had with regards to the role of religion in public universities?
b. What does "ghettoize" mean? How might the study of religion be "ghettoized" on college campuses?
c. What in Mr. Scott's background has influenced his views on this topic?
d. Of what "movement" is Mr. Scott a leader? What conference did he recently hold, and what do you think was discussed there?
e. What do you think a "transrational" or "integrative" university is?
f. Who is David Schimmel, and what is his view on Mr. Scott's ideas?
g. What are some reasons why some people oppose Mr. Scott's ideas?
h. Who did Mr. Schimmel successfully lobby to participate in Mr. Scott's spirituality conference? What are the views of these groups regarding issues of religious freedom and the separation of church and state?
i. What are some of Mr. Scott's specific ideas, and in what ways have they become realities on some college campuses?
j. Who is Charles C. Haynes, and what are his concerns regarding these ideas? How do you interpret the various quotations from him used in the article?
k. Mr. Scott says that "by clinging to a view of the Constitution that interprets a prohibitions against fostering particular religions as a prohibition against fostering any kind of religion, universities tend to drive people into extreme camps with rationalists on one side and fundamentalists on the other." Do you agree or disagree, and why? What does he propose as the "antidote" for this?
l. How does Mr. Scott's wife weigh in on her husband's ideas?

HW #48

• Complete the journal entry (#37)
• Read the article "Seeking a Role for Religion on Campus" and underline three statements and respond to them whether you agree or disagree. Explain briefly.

Resources for the lesson

05/12/09

Aim: What does "freedom" mean? Do you think that people in the United States are completely free? Why or why not?

Do Now:

• Copy Word of the Day (brief definition, partsof speech, and the example sentence)
• Copy Daily Test Prep( question and answer)
• Read and copy ONE news summary
• On this Day in History ( after reading, copy down one snippet of On this Day in History )

Journal #38 Respond to-
a. What other freedoms are outlined in the First Amendment? Why are these critical to life in the United States? Why do you think the framers of the Constitution included these freedoms when envisioning the nation then being created? If they were alive now, how do you think they would feel about how those ideals have been upheld?
b. How does the freedom of religion granted in the United States impact how you live?

2. Read Seeking a Role for Religion on Campus and discuss-

a. Who is David K. Scott, and what "fear" does the article state he had with regards to the role of religion in public universities?
b. What does "ghettoize" mean? How might the study of religion be "ghettoized" on college campuses?
c. What in Mr. Scott's background has influenced his views on this topic?
d. Of what "movement" is Mr. Scott a leader? What conference did he recently hold, and what do you think was discussed there?
e. What do you think a "transrational" or "integrative" university is?
f. Who is David Schimmel, and what is his view on Mr. Scott's ideas?
g. What are some reasons why some people oppose Mr. Scott's ideas?
h. Who did Mr. Schimmel successfully lobby to participate in Mr. Scott's spirituality conference? What are the views of these groups regarding issues of religious freedom and the separation of church and state?
i. What are some of Mr. Scott's specific ideas, and in what ways have they become realities on some college campuses?
j. Who is Charles C. Haynes, and what are his concerns regarding these ideas? How do you interpret the various quotations from him used in the article?
k. Mr. Scott says that "by clinging to a view of the Constitution that interprets a prohibitions against fostering particular religions as a prohibition against fostering any kind of religion, universities tend to drive people into extreme camps with rationalists on one side and fundamentalists on the other." Do you agree or disagree, and why? What does he propose as the "antidote" for this?
l. How does Mr. Scott's wife weigh in on her husband's ideas?

HW #49 Select three questions from above to answer based on your understanding of the article.

05/13/09

Aim: How is this issue a "freedom of religion" issue?

Do Now:

• Copy Word of the Day (brief definition, partsof speech, and the example sentence)
• Copy Daily Test Prep( question and answer)
• Read and copy ONE news summary
• On this Day in History ( after reading, copy down one snippet of On this Day in History )

Activities

1.Work in groups to investigate different issues currently in the news related to freedom of religion and the separation of church and state,

2. Present your topics from the perspectives of people with different viewpoints in a talk show format.

3. Divide students into small groups of four, and allow each group to select a different article (and topic) collected from the ACLU Religious Liberty page and the First Amendment Center's religion news stories page.

Topics and the related articles.

• prayer at graduation ceremonies
• the display of the Ten Commandments in judicial buildings
• teaching creationism
• "faith-based" government programs
• voucher aid to religious schools
• after-school religious groups.

Each group should read their article carefully together and then respond to the following questions :

• How is this issue a "freedom of religion" issue? Outline the basic history and events that one must know to understand the issue.
• Select four people (specific or general) who are directly involved in this issue in some way. What are their different viewpoints? Why is this issue important to each? What informs each person's opinion?
• What past court cases serve as precedent for this case? For each, how did the court rule, and what was the basis of the court's opinion?
  Students should be encouraged to look online if they need more information to thoroughly address the questions.