1. What Are
Hot Topics?
Subjects that people often feel strongly
about and have differing opinions on.
2. Have you ever felt strongly about
something and a friend or family
member disagreed with you?
How did you handle it? How
did the person who
disagreed with you handle
it?
3. Well...what if we had a world where
everyone agreed on everything?
It might be nice but then
again...
It might be kind of BIZARRE.
What do you think?
4. Is it possible that you can actually learn
things from people whom you disagree
with?
6. Now, you will be given three different
topics to discuss:
Each group picks a spokesperson
Everyone in the group gets a chance to speak
his/her mind about the topic
After 5 minutes is up, the spokesperson from
each group shares/summarizes what the group
talked about to the entire class
Pick a new spokesperson for each topic so
everyone gets a chance to present to the class
EVERYONE READY?
7. Topic #1
Nuclear Power for our future....
Is this a viable form of
alternative energy for future
generations?
8. Topic #2
Lowering the legal drinking age from 21
to 18 What is the
rationale for this?
Would this benefit
our society or not?
9. Topic #3.
Should we continue to have
compulsory education in America?
What if some people don't
want to go to school?
Should the law make them?
10. Did everyone speak his/her mind?
Did everyone act as a spokesperson?
Did everyone agree on everything?
11. At Minarets you will...
Collaborate in small groups
Take on leadership roles
Get chances to speak your mind
and...
A few thoughts about this lesson:\n\nThe slides are self-explanatory in terms of how to do the discussion activity.\n\nThe groups of 3 only get five minutes to discuss each topic.  The spokesperson presentations should also be no more than five minutes so that way the whole discussion activity will be a total of  30 minutes.\n\nMove around to observe how the groups are interacting\n\nAllow silence to happen; you don't need to fill in gaps with talking in order to be effective\n\nsuggest different viewpoints where appropriate to get them thinking outside the box, don't offer your opinions about these issues.  This activity is for the students!\n\nManage student interruptions.  This is a lesson on mutual respect and collaboration so listen is a BIG DEAL.\n
