CU6-3

First exercise adapted from the National Constitution Center website (free association with the word religion) Page with activities attached.
 * __Warm up Activity:__**

Many of the people who came to the America did so looking for freedom from religious persecution to be able to practice their religion as they wanted to. However, this did not always mean that they were tolerant of other religions. Initially most of the colonies were settled by groups of people who shared a religion. As more people came from different places this got more complicated (recall discussion of Peter Stuyvesent and the Jews who came to New Amsterdam). The founding fathers, when they were drafting the Constitution, debated freedom of religion. Handout with quotes- discuss the different quotes. Article IV- one of the only rights that is grounded in the original Constitution (right to hold national office regardless of religion). This shows that it was important. Debate that took place in Virginia- this as a precursor to the 1st amendment (in the Bill of Rights) freedom of relgion. Discuss 1st amendment religious freedom.
 * __Topic of lesson__****: Founding fathers and religion**
 * __Activities__****:** Second and/or third warm up activity (vote with your feet statements; discussion of school and religion scenario).

Break up into debate groups using 3 scenarios regarding free exercise clause of the 1st amendment and have classes put up debates. After the debates, have classes deliberate. Use handouts: case assessment, case facts, role cards Exercise adapted from: http://www.freedomforum.org/packages/first/Curricula/EducationforFreedom/index.htm
 * __Topic of lesson:__** Drawing relevance to students- How do we understand this today?
 * __Activities:__** Raise scenarios from handout and ask, given what we talked about the 1st amendment, whether the scenarios are condoned by the 1st amendment.

Additional potential source to use/share: The Flushing Remonstrance