Susan Kennedy
Topic: Moral formation
Suggested grade level: Freshmen
Rationale: Entering freshmen encounter many challenges; among these are establishing an identity, making new friends, and fitting in.
Often students require characteristics that they have not needed before. One of these is courage. It is not easy to make choices that differ from one's peers. Students often go along with the group in order to be popular and accepted. A lesson that provieds an example of moral courage can inspire the students or at least provide them with a model of courageous action.
Process: Students will read Inherit the Wind, a play that deals with the Scopes Monkey Trial and depicts the conflict between science (evolution) and fundamental religion (creationism ). This play examines the difficulty of standing up when everybody is sitting down. Following reading and appropriate discussion, students will write about a time when they experienced the feeling of standing up when everyone else was sitting, or describe a time when they were "sitting" and in retrospect wish they had stood. Descriptions of how they were feeling before , during, and after the experience are crucial. Students can share their experiences and project to experiences they might encounter during their freshman year that could require "standing." Brainstorming strategies that would enable them to stand could be a beneficial part of this lesson which could then be referred to periodically throughout the year.