LESSON TWO

Overall Unit Question: How have world religions shaped who I am today?

Lesson 2 Includes:

1. Lesson Question
2. Learning Standards Addressed
3. Performance Objective Addressed
4. Resources Listed
5. Learning tasks
6. Assessment tasks
7. Rubrics for assessment
8. Reflection guide

Learning Standards Addressed:
Standard 2 - World History of Learning Standards for Social Studies.

• Students can analyze changing and competing interpretations of issues, events, and developments throughout world history.
• They can analyze the roles and contributions of individuals and groups to cultural and religious practices and activities.
• They can understand the development and connectedness of world religions over time.

Performance Objective Addressed:
Identify major religious leaders and locations.

Lesson Question: Who were the religious leaders, where did they live, and what contributions did they make?

A. Set:
In the last class students wrote their version of the most important statement about world religions and how they shape a person's life. They were to write answers in three sentences or less and pass in. Read a few of their responses (without citing names) and invite the class to respond to the ideas. This set should take no more than 5 minutes, but should build on the introductory class and introduce the new lesson.

B. Teaching and Learning Tasks:
Imagine yourself as a religious leader of any one of the world belief systems. What might your greatest challenge be in today's world? Write your answer in one statement. In this class we will explore the challenges and victories of several key religious leaders. We will do this by interviewing leaders.

C. INTERVIEW A RELIGIOUS LEADER:

Your name _______________________________ Date _______ 



 

For the following religious leaders, ask key questions about their goals, their expectations, their plan for followers, and their advice to people today. The idea is to respond as this leader would respond, by gathering facts about the leader's life, location and contributions.

Leaders include:
Islam ----- Mohamed
Hinduism ----- Mahatma Gandhi
Buddhism ----- Buddha
Confucianism ----- Confucius
Judaism ----- Moses
Christianity ----- Jesus

Your questions might include:

1. What did you believe in that distinguished you from others?
2. Where did you live and in what era?
3. Why are your beliefs important to your time?
4. Why are they important today?
5. What is your greatest contribution to society?
6. What advice did you give followers in your lifetime?
7. What advice would you have for followers today?
8. What was your most interesting story?
9. Add your question:
10. Add your question:

Please research the answers to these questions and prepare to present your interview by the next class.

D. Assessment Tasks:
As time permits, begin the presentations at the end of this lesson. Students will begin the next two lessons with remaining presentations. Peers are asked to record at least one significant fact about each leader interviewed.

Excellent interviews will demonstrate:

• accurate facts
• interesting responses
• clear articulation of questions and answers
• evidence of rehearsals
• cooperation in preparation and presentation
• good impersonations of the chosen religious leader

E.Closure:
Presentations of interviews and discussion of the significant facts gathered for each leader.

F.Lesson Reflection:
Jot down a few notes about the process of this lesson. Look at it from the students' eyes and adjust the work so that they learn more successfully as the unit progresses.