Scopes Monkey Trial

A WebQuest for 5th Grade (Evolution vs. Creation)

Designed by

J. Estes & T. Worthy

 

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Resources


Introduction

How do you think that the world was created? Who are your ancestors? What is truth atheism or the Bible? Did we really evolve from monkeys? What is our purpose on this earth? Is there a creator?

 


Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Resources


The Task

You are going to divide into groups and go on a quest to discover how the world came to be. You are going to research and determine whether or not we have a creator. You will reenact the scopes money trial using evidence that you research and reach your own verdict. Do we have a creator or are we a product of evolution? It is up to you to find out! You might just change the verdict and change history; it is all in your hands.

 


Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Resources


The Process

  1. Divide into two teams, one side will represent evolution and the other team will support the creation.
  2. You will also appoint a narrator to give an introduction and set the stage for the trial.
  3. Appoint a leader for your team. The leader of the group for creation will represent William Jennings Bryan, the preacher in the case for creation. The opposing team leader for evolution will be acting as John Scopes the school teacher on trial for teaching evolution. The remaining students will act as jury during the proceedings.
  4. Do research on the scopes monkey trials for your team on your side of the debate.
  5. Class will perform a reenactment of the scopes monkey trial presenting the facts for their case to the rest of the class.
  6. You will all vote on who presented their side the most persuasively.

 

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/evolut.htm  Overall account of the trial from start to finish and the people involved.

http://enwikipedia.org/wiki/Scopes/_Trial  A short summary of the events in Dayton, TN.

http://www.scopestrial.org/  Day by day actual script of the trial.

http://www.bryan.edu/478.html  History of William Jennings Bryan, his personal life and the trial.

 

 

 

 


Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Resources

 

 

 


Evaluation

Knowledge and persuasiveness will be graded as a group and participation will be graded separately.

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

 

Knowledge of content and research

 

Displays no knowledge of content during the reenactment

Displays little knowledge about content during reenactment

Displays good knowledge base about content during reenactment

Displays exceptional knowledge base about content during reenactment

 

 

Participation

 

 

Does not participate in project and presentation

Participates minimally in the project and presentation.

Participates  well in the project and presentation

Participates exceptionally in the project and presentation

 

 

Persuasiveness of your argument

 

 

Is not persuasive in your argument

Is a little persuasive in your argument

Is persuasive in your argument

Is exceptionally persuasive in your argument

 

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Resources

 

Conclusion

After these activities you should have a clear understanding of both creation and evolution. You should be knowledgeable about the scopes monkey trials and the outcome. You should be able to clearly relay to the classroom your view of the topic that you researched weather creation or evolution.

·       What do you feel that you have learned from this assignment?

·       Do you feel that you may have different views now than you did before the assignment?

·       What arguments do you think were the most persuasive?

·       Is there anything that you were shocked to learn about in your research?

·       Was the verdict of your case different from the verdict in the original case?

Discussion about the final verdict in the real scopes monkey trial case

 


Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Resources


Teacher Resources, References & Credits

This lesson is about the scopes monkey trials. You will be doing research and reenacting the trial. You will choose creation or evolution. This as a fifth grade lesson.

GA Performance Standards:

S5CS1. Students will be aware of the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science and will exhibit these traits in their own efforts to understand how the world works.

SS5CG1 The student will explain how a citizen’s rights are protected under the U.S. Constitution.