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A versatile set of supplemental instructional materials designed with worldview diversity
in mind. Most portions of the complete module are available
free on line (all materials are available as .PDF files). Varied concept lessons and story lessons specifically acknowledge nonconformist thinking on important matters (science, politics,
religion) and can aid public school teachers to achieve greater
objectivity and balance in their teaching about diverse worldviews. The module
focuses on unconventional and unorthodox thinking in general, with special
emphasis on nonconformity regarding religion [nonreligion]. The lessons
and activities (for grades 6-12) were teacher-reviewed and pilot tested in
social studies classrooms.
The stated goals of the materials are:
 | To cultivate students' respect for people’s freedom to think freely
and hold unfamiliar or dissimilar religious and philosophical beliefs |
| To increase students’ awareness of the great diversity of
human thought |
| To foster students’ commitment to safeguarding within
society personal independence of thought and freedom for both religious
and naturalistic convictions |
The Institute is focused on educating about our country’s founding principles
(exploring what the Founders said and the founding documents say, and how these ideas affect our daily lives and shape our society).
Among its materials that relate to the goals of teaching about religion with
a view to diversity are these highly relevant free lesson plans and
ideas:
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Citizenship and Character
[Adobe .pdf file]
(9/11 Commemorative Lesson)
By examining what our nation's Founders
and others have said about shared civic values and then looking for examples of these
values in the national reaction to September 11, students will be affirmed in
their adherence to these values and inspired to live by them. |
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Equality--Religion
In the course of this activity, students are asked to evaluate their
understanding of equality as applied to religious liberty. Drawing from the
words of the Founders concerning the role of religion in government and in the
public square, students are given a role in the formation of a hypothetical
country, Paridad. |
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Madalyn Murray O’Hair: The "Most Hated Woman in America" or Zealous Advocate for
Constitutional Rights? [Adobe .pdf file]
(Case study) For thirty-six years, Madalyn Murray O’Hair claimed she was fighting for freedom of religion as
guaranteed in the Constitution. She worked for complete separation of church and
state, beginning with schools and progressing to other issues, such as taxes.
Her opponents argue she was advocating freedom from religion instead of freedom
of religion. |
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The Bible Riots of 1844: A Clash of Liberty and Equality
[Adobe .pdf file]
In February 1844, the fear and tension generated rumors among
Protestants in Philadelphia. Word spread that a school director in Kensington
had suspended the daily Bible readings. Kensington was then a heavily
Irish-Catholic populated suburb of Philadelphia. In truth, the director, Hugh
Clark, merely suggested a break from the readings until a more orderly dismissal
of the Catholic students could be arranged. Unaware of the truth, Nativists
organized protest rallies across the Philadelphia. They voiced their opposition
to the Catholics’ requests and changes. These rallies turned into the Bible
riots. |
Lesson plans available free on the Web. These thirty six lessons
were selected to support, in one way or another, this site's educational commitment to national
pluralism and to appropriate civic acknowledgement of worldview diversity.
Assorted teaching materials for sale, although there are free items, too.
Developed by two expert teachers from Riverside-Brookfield Public High School,
Riverside, Illinois, the materials are perhaps a little rough from the viewpoint
of professional design; nevertheless they have abundant good ideas with a
critical thinking bent. On site, go to the “The Content” page and review the
topics, especially “Thinking Logically,” “Thinking about Religion (from a
Global Perspective),” “Prejudice in Group Relations,” “The Decalogue:
Bible Scholarship for Use Today, and “Thinking about the Mysterious.”
An extensive set of short quotations relating to three major
categories. Very brief quoted matter is
useful as raw material for certain themes and for guiding or enriching students’
learning experiences.
| Religion and Public Education |
| Religious Liberty and Nonreligion |
| Religious Pluralism and a Civil Society |
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