Home » Take Action » Become a Student Activist » Case of the Month Archives » January 2000
Lesson Plan
Is it Constitutional to Have Student-Led Prayers at High School Graduations?
Purpose
The purpose of this lesson plan is to illustrate how the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of religion (as well as freedom from religion) applies to the current debate on whether student-led prayers at high school graduations are constitutional.
Grade
9-12
Objectives
Students should be able to:
- Understand the Establishment Clause and the principles of religious freedom from the First Amendment
- Understand the repercussions of allowing students to lead so-called voluntary prayers, even when these prayers are of the majority religion
Materials
Activities
- Teacher will give an extensive lecture on graduation prayer based on Case of the Month contents, paying particular attention to the majority v. minority religion argument
- For homework, students will make a list of five things they feel they like or ascribe to that the majority of people do as well and five things they ascribe to that they feel are unique to them (i.e. they like french fries and feel most people do; they like tofu and feel most people do not)
- Class will be assigned into five groups based on different religions: Christian, Jewish, Buddist, Wiccan and Islamic, for instance. Each group must imagine that they are members of that religion and are attending a school where the majority religion is Hinduism (e.g.). They must write down the pros and cons of being forced to listen to student-led Hindu prayers at their high school graduation.
- Class must imagine that they are in a school where student-led prayers are conducted at graduation ceremonies and must write letters-to-the-editor advocating one side of the graduation prayer issue.
