Founding Brothers Lesson Plan

Debate: Where to Put the Capital?

Kind of Activity:

Role Play

Objective:

To act out a debate analogous to one written about in the book

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.4

Structure:

Divide students into groups of 3-7 (the number and size of groups can depend on the size of the class). They should imagine that they are arguing for the U.S. capital to be relocated to a new location, with each group representing a different U.S. region or state. Before the debate, each group should do research to bolster their argument, taking into account natural features, geographic advantages, economic issues, etc. This is an opportunity for...