Debate

Debate: Whose Land Is It? Did the United States have the right to control the California area? What was unjust about it? Taxes, law enforcement, killing, etc.

Objectives:
	Students will be able to identify the main factors involved in determining whose land California was. Students will be able to conclude that it is God’s land and we all have rights to use it. Students will be able to determine the factors of unjustness in the Gold Rush times. Students will be able to reflect on what they learned from the debate through journaling.
Materials:
	1. Guide for debate and questions 2. Summary of time period 3. Overhead 4. Overhead pages and markers 5. Paper and pencil (students) 6. Word collage (student-designed)
Strategies:
	Introduction: Students will share their word collages with a partner. The collages will be displayed in the room and put into their portfolio. The next lesson will begin with the teacher-directed organization information regarding the debate to take place. The teacher will explain the purpose of a debate and how it can be helpful in sharing and listening to other’s views on an issue. See debate guide Summary of what happened in the territory take over by the U.S. (war, relocating natives, establishing own laws unjustly, etc) See debate guide for summary. Lesson Steps: 1. Students will collaborate on the two questions given so that they can be prepared to respond once the debate begins (see debate guide for possible questions). Each student is required to participate at least once during the debate (the mediator will keep track of who has spoken and encourage responses from those who have not participated). 2. After students are in their groups for the debate, the teacher, as mediator, will address each of the questions. (Each student should have a response written and in front of them for each question.) 3. After each of the questions has been addressed, the class as a whole will discuss the arguments for and against the United States taking over the land. As a class, a conclusion will be attempted. Each comment given will be written on the overhead to ponder. Teacher will ask questions to lead students to conclude that God is the creator and has given in to all of us to use wisely. 4. After we conclude the debate, we will talk about the areas of the territory taken over that were wrong. How would we do it differently as Christians? Factors: abuse of human rights, killing, relocating, taxes, etc. Closure: Journaling for the last five to ten minutes of class. Include the questions created during the debate.
Assignment:
	Complete journal reflection
Evaluation:
	Reflection on the debate (journals) Participation in debate