Activities+from+2012

= Day 3: Presentation Introduction =


 * Activity 1:** What makes a religion? What is the difference between a religion and a cult? Is Scientology a religion or a cult? Research online to find out! Keep track of your sources!

Introduce Religion Presentation Project.
 * Activity 2: You will learn more about the basic ideas of many different religions so you can better answer the above questions**


 * Introduction:** For this project you are going to work individually. Each of you will randomly choose a religion to present to the class about. You will create a presentation (you may choose to present a ppt or prezi live, make a voice thread for us to watch, create an i-movie, a physical poster or any other presentation format you think you would do well with).

Your presentation must answer the following questions: 1. What are the basic beliefs/foundations of the religion? 2. What is the sacred text for this religion? What role does it play in the practice of the religion? 3. Explain the concept of the afterlife according to this religion. 4. What are the rules/impact of rules on the daily lives of people of this religion? 5. What is the religion's concept of God? 6. What draws people to this religion?

Religions you may choose to present on: Jainism Baha'i Sikhism Zoroastrianism Christianity Jehovah's Witness Mormonism Santeria Rastafari Candomble Paganism Spiritualism Buddhism Islam Judaism Taoism Shintoism

[|Descriptions of religion on bbc site]

[|Religions Rubric]

Examples from last year (Note: not all of these are good): Period 1 Videos: media type="youtube" key="videoseries?list=PLOsDYtyV101rURrPaIZH7UpK6mkVh0vMr" height="315" width="560" Period 2 Videos: media type="youtube" key="videoseries?list=PLOsDYtyV101qcH1H7lrZYZRFEpEyuz51j" height="315" width="560"
 * Day 3: Time to work**

Period 3 Videos: media type="youtube" key="videoseries?list=PLOsDYtyV101pxPb9L5cJFTrWRdAlPI2Ke" height="315" width="560"

Upload your video to the HS youtube channel
 * Day 4: Time to work**
 * HW: Prepare to present next class. If you made a video, upload it to youtube.**

Title: CurreyWH(yourblock), YOUR name Ex: (CurreyWH1,Kumar) Youtubehs@aes.ac.in Password: youtubehs500


 * Day 5: Present! As you watch presentations, you must take notes answering the project questions for each religion being presented on.**
 * You may use the following note sheet to help you: [[file:StudentReligionPresentationNotesPacket.docx (1).pdf]]**

Answer the following: 1. To what extent do you agree with the following statement: "All religions are fundamentally similar"? How are they different? 2. Try to compare eastern religions (Buddhism, Hinduism) with western religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism). Why do similarities exist? What are the fundamental differences between eastern and western religions?
 * Exit Slip Follow up Questions:**


 * Discuss**

1. What do Islam, Christianity, and Judaism all have in common? Why do you think they share these aspects? 2. What misconceptions do Christians have about Muslims and vice-versa? 3. What can be gained by people of different faiths learning about the real principles and doctrines of faiths other than their own? 4. How are Hinduism and Buddhism different from western religions (Islam, Judaism and Christianity)? 5. What led to the spread of each of these religions?
 * Homework: Review and watch the following Crash Course videos and answer the corresponding questions:**

[|Judaism Information]

[|TedEd Lesson on the 5 Major World Religions]

From Judaism to Christianity Crash Course media type="youtube" key="TG55ErfdaeY" height="315" width="560"

Islam Crash Course media type="youtube" key="TpcbfxtdoI8" height="315" width="560"

Crash Course Hinduism and Buddhism media type="youtube" key="8Nn5uqE3C9w" height="315" width="560"

Answer the following question: **To what extent does religion cause violence TODAY (this should be within the last 10 years)? Use the pbs link [|here] or visit the pbswebsite linked below to find evidence to support your answer.** PBS website:[| Religion and Ethics Newsweekly] [|BBC Information] [|Another PBS link to stories on Religion and Ethics Newsweekly]
 * Activity 1:** **Religious Conflict**

Discuss as a class and share articles via fishbowl discussion. Topic: to what extent does religion cause violence in modern times?
 * Activity 2:**

New Debate! You will choose to debate for or against the following statement: **Historically, religion has led to conflict. Note: you are going to be focusing on conflicts of the past.**
 * Activity 3:** Now that you have looked at religion's role in violence today, you will look at the impact of religious ideology on conflict in the past.

You will be given the rest of the period today to research whether this is true or not based on reliable evidence that you gather. The debate will take place 2 classes from now in the form of a fishbowl discussion.

Some Resources That May Be valuable can be found here


 * Homework: Gather historical evidence (AND CITATIONS!) to answer the question: To what extent has religion led to conflict HISTORICALLY?**

Some ideas of topics to research: - The Crusades - Hindus and Muslims in India - Christians and Muslims in Africa - etc..... - [|Harvard Article questions whether religion is the true cause of violence]


 * Day 7: Time to work**


 * Day 8: Today you will be put into small groups and be assigned a position in response to the above question. You will have all day to research and create an argument based on your assigned position. Next class you will have a discussion for approx. 30 min. As you listen to both sides, you will take notes and determine which side you PERSONALLY agree with more. Next class, we will have a fishbowl discussion based on YOUR PERSONAL OPINION, which you should develop based on the information you gather from the discussions you have had. As always, if you are uncomfortable sharing your thoughts in a fishbowl format, you may take notes during the discussion and write a reflection with your final analysis (showing that you listened to evidence from both sides!).**

30 min to prepare for debate. You must show me your notes for research credit. Job #1: Present main argument Job #2: Respond to Questions Job #3: Ask Questions to the other side
 * Day 9: Small Group Debate**
 * Wrap up discussion**
 * Homework: Prepare to answer the question below NEXT CLASS!**
 * What do you think now about the following question: To what extent does religion lead to conflict? Use as much specific evidence from the past and present as you can to support your answer! YOU MUST SHOW ME THAT YOU UNDERSTAND EVIDENCE FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVES!**

Your responses will be graded as a major assessment based on the following rubric: - Response takes into account both perspectives (2pts) - Response is clear on final answer to the posed question (yes, religion leads to conflict OR no, religion doesn't lead to conflict) (2 pts) - Response uses AT LEAST 3 pieces of SPECIFIC evidence to support answer and/or explain perspectives (4 pts) - Response is organized and easy to understand while also clearly proving an answer (this is like proving a thesis) (2 pts)

Total score will be multiplied by 2 for a total score of 20 pts

1. What are common aspects of all religions? 2. What are some significant differences between major religions? 3. Why do religions exist in general and what makes a person become a member of a certain faith? 4. To what extent do we need religion? 5. Why is religion such a sensitive subject? 6. How do people become religious usually? Has this changed throughout history? 7. Do people need religion? Why or why not? 8. Why is important to have an understanding of many different religions? Should Atheists and Agnostics learn about religion? 9. If religion is supposed to be about living in peace, why are there so many wars that are supposedly fought for "God"? Discuss
 * Whole class fishbowl discussion: You may choose from any of the questions below to discuss in the fishbowl.**


 * Day 10: Wrap up:** **You must answer the following 2 questions (Total:40 pts)**


 * 1. Compare and contrast any 2 religions you have learned about in this course in terms of 3 different criteria. Some ideas: Basic beliefs; sacred text role; concept of afterlife; concept of God; rules/impact of rules on daily life; what draws people to each of these religions?**

Your response will be graded based on the following rubric: - Response clearly explains how religions are similar or different based on the criteria and how this relates to the foundations of each religion. (5 pts) - Response includes specific evidence related to each religion discussed (5 pts) -Response is organized and easy to understand (5 pts)

Your response will be graded as a major assessment based on the following rubric:
 * 2. To what extent does religion cause violence? 20 pts**

- Response takes into account both perspectives (5 pts) - Response is clear on final answer to the posed question (yes, religion leads to conflict OR no, religion doesn't lead to conflict) (5 pts) - Response uses AT LEAST 3 pieces of SPECIFIC evidence to support answer and/or explain perspectives (5 pts) - Evidence is clearly explained and analyzed to prove a point (5 pts) - Response is organized and easy to understand while also clearly proving an answer (this is like proving a thesis) (5 pts)

Optional additional lessons:

The Spread of Islam World History For Us All Lessons


 * Transition Project: [|End of Classical Era]**