FW-5

Welcome! Please consider how your attitude affects your and other students' experiences of the lesson. 

Be respectful, come prepared, and show interest to have the best possible educational experience. 

One side of the room is Option A and the other is Option B. Choose and move to either side to take a stand and explain "Why?" to the person standing nearest to them.

Would you rather...?

A: Be able to read people's minds? B: Be able to see into the future?

A: Spend a year living in a completely different culture? B: Spend a year living in the wilderness alone?

A: Stand up for someone (even if it makes you unpopular)? B: Stay quiet to keep the peace and stay safe?

A: Sharee your life story for the whole world to read? B: Keep your life a complete secret?

A: Be able to read people's minds? B: Be able to see into the future?

In groups of 2-4 students, plan to present a formal "briefing" to the class. Choose 1-2 of the suggested themes and research:

• Reading, writing and role-models:

  • How does writing or reading help people have a voice?

  • Who looks up to you? Who are you a role model to? 

  • How important is it to you to do the right thing, knowing this person looks up to you?

• Segragation, inclusion and safety:

  • Who do people divide themselves into groups based on neighborhood, background or social status?

  • Violence is often a "cycle" that is hard to break without intervention. Why?

  • What can we as people and society do  to create a society of inclusion to minimise gang-related violence?

• Attitudes to school and the importance of education:

  • What makes school engaging? Swedish and American adolescents' attitude to school?

  • Are some student simply "unteachable"?

  • Are there "problem kids" (or "at risk students" as they are called in Freedom Writers) or are there stories begind the behaviour?

Instructions

• Organise a speech with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.

• Use formal academic language and slang when necessary.

• Present examples, such as your own experiences, from Freedom Writers or other examples

• Create and explain slides or posters that support your spoken words.