Syrian Refugee Unit
Title: Syrian Refugee Unit
Grade Level: Sixth Grade
Subject: All Subjects (Reading, Writing, Social Studies, Science, Math)
Duration: 1-2 Week (All Day)
DOK Level: Level 4
SAMR Level: Redefinition
Indiana Standard:
Social Studies
- 6.3.1 Demonstrate a broad understanding of the countries and capitals of Europe and the Americas.
- 6.3.4 Describe and compare major cultural characteristics of regions in Europe and the Western Hemisphere.
- 6.3.8 Identify major biomes of Europe and the Americas and explain how these are influenced by Climate
- 6.4.6 Analyze current economic issues in the countries of Europe or the Americas using a variety of information resources.
Objective: Students will be able to identify and locate Syria and describe features and customs of the people there. Students will also use persuasive language to develop a speech to state where they stand on the issue of Syrian Refugees being able to enter the US.
Essential Question: Should Syrian Refugees be allowed to enter the United States of America?
Procedure:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B465x48vZKreWjdsa1c2bDFMLUk?usp=sharing
- Monday
a)Watch CNN Student News.
b)Explain our theme week and take the pretest.
c)Grammar
- Discuss what a debate is and how it works.
13 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvebGZk6Q-w
- Our debate resolution will be “Syrian refugees should be admitted into the USA.”
One team will be saying “Yes, Syrian refugees should be admitted into the USA.” and the other team will be saying “No, Syrian refugees should not be admitted into the USA.”
-Discuss our debate organization (Google Doc).
- Go over the unit vocabulary (resolution, affirm, negate, rebuttal, immigrant, refugee, citizen).
d)Science
- Research Syria’s Civil War and culture to establish some background knowledge and to understand why people are wanting to leave the area so badly.
5 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMtczLMjmaU
5 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKb9GVU8bHE
5 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpMT4EruJvM
13 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIe3nDDLeeo
e)Social Studies
- Where is Syria on a map?
-What is the capital of Syria?
A very informative website about Syria: http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Syria.html
f)Math
-Discuss our math plan for the week.
-Learn about Syrian immigrants entering the USA. Your online Google Classroom assignment is to create a graph that compares the total number of Syrian immigrants in the USA versus the top 3 immigrant countries. Use 2010 numbers/statistics. Pick ONE partner to work with that is in your debate group. Remember, this is an assignment in our Google Classroom. You will need to find the information for the top 3 countries, and then search elsewhere for the 2010 numbers for Syria.
3 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HaDOw0gxDs
Immigration Website that my prove useful now or later: http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states#Current and Historical
Online Graph Maker: Choose only one website
https://www.meta-chart.com/pie
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/
g)Reading
-Break up into debate groups.
-Discuss possible assignments of group members. See the teacher to record assignments.
- Research.
- Each side will share their three main points with the other team on Wednesday. This will help with rebuttal preparation.
- Each side will practice their own debate presentation on Thursday.
- The real debate with rebuttals will be on Friday!
- You will have created 20 flashcards this week in order to study for the test on Friday.
- Tuesday
Watch CNN Student News.
Math- You have a Google Classroom assignment. Pick a different partner from yesterday to work with (within your debate group) . You need to create an online graph that compares change over time. (Hmmmm, what kind of graph is this?) Compare the number of Syrian immigrants in the United States for these years: 1990, 2000, 2010, 2014. Turn this in online.
You may find your information from the site below or you may need to look elsewhere online.
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/profile-syrian-immigrants-united-states
file:///C:/Users/jferguson/Downloads/Syrian-Factsheet-FINALWEB.pdf
During Grammar time- Research Syria’s culture (social studies). I gave you a site yesterday that should prove useful or you can search elsewhere. Write the answers in two places- on notebook paper and also make flashcards. These flashcards will be due at the end of class on Wednesday.
Official Language
Most Popular Religion
Role of Women- Do they work outside the home? Why or why not?
Attitude/View about Children
3 Common foods
Science- Research to find these answers. Be sure to list answers on notebook paper and also make flashcards.
http://www.ducksters.com/geography/middleeast.php
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/index.htm
What two main biomes are located in Syria?
Name one plant and one animal found in each of the two main biomes in Syria.
Biome #1 Name: Biome #1’s plant: Biome #1’s animal:
Biome #2 Name: Biome #2’s plant: Biome #2’s animal:
Reading/Grammar-
-Research and plan for debate in groups or as individuals as needed.
-Concentrate on the three main reasons for your side. You will meet with the teacher to share your three points/reasons. Be sure that you can provide facts/statistics in order to prove up each of your three points.
- Wednesday
Math- For today and tomorrow during math, you need to research statistics that will help you “prove up” your three main points for your side of the debate. You should ONLY include statistics and graphs that work in your side’s favor. Take a few minutes as a group to discuss what statistics you need and divide up who is looking up what information and creating that graph. A few websites are provided below. Feel free to sift through the internet for other useful websites to use.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/08/politics/immigrants-crime/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/07/12/ten-ways-immigrants-help-build-and-strengthen-our-economy
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/5-things-know-about-immigration-u-s-economy-n179196
http://time.com/4050914/1965-immigration-act-pew/
Science-
Research, sketch, color and label an example of a Syrian food chain. Use the paper provided. Be sure to list the name of the biome and label all of the plants and animals in your illustration. This is due at the end of class today.
Social Studies- Finish up your social studies flashcards and notes from yesterday. Your flashcards are due today. Study and memorize this information for the test on Friday.
Be able to:
locate Syria on a map
name its capital city
shade in the country on a world map
discuss the attitude toward children
explain the role of women as far as working in/out of the home and why/why not
name three common foods
Reading/Grammar
1)Grammar time- Each group member should know the three main reasons for your side. Take at least 15 minutes to discuss it as a group. Each person should take “notes” on your 5 Paragraph Essay I-Chart Planner. Each reason will be one of the body paragraphs. Every person in the group should have the reasons prioritized in the same order for the body paragraphs! Turn in your I-Chart Planner today. Make two piles at the turn in trays- one for the “affirm” team and one for the “negate” team.
2)Reading time- Mini groups will share their three main points with each other. Groups will take notes on what the other team says, these notes will be titled “Rebuttal Points”.
- Thursday
Math- Finish up yesterday’s assignment as needed.
Grammar-
Use the planner that you completed yesterday to complete a 5 paragraph essay on your side of the debate “Why Syrian refugees should/should not (depending on your side) be allowed to enter the USA?”. Turn this in when you finish it. If you do not finish it in class, it is homework and due at the start of school tomorrow.
Science- no ‘in class’ assignment today. Use this time to do any debate work needed.
Homework: Be sure you can name the two main biomes in Syria and one plant example and one animal example for each of the biomes.
Social Studies- Homework: Study your information for the test tomorrow.
Reading-
Each group should have a “real” run through of their side of the debate.
No research should be going on today. Everyone should be practicing and memorizing.
Homework: Practice your part of the debate and study the test information.
**Unit Post Test tomorrow! Study your 20 flashcards for the test.**
- Friday
a) Watch CNN Student News.
Meet with debate groups to get organized. Practice as time allows.
b) Debate over whether or not Syrian refugees should be allowed to enter the USA.
c) Study for the test.
e) Discussion:
How did the debate go?
Did you like it? Why or why not?
Do you think you chose jobs well? Would you change anything in this way?
Did you learn a lot in each subject this week?
What was the purpose of this week?
Would you want to have another debate this year?
What things did you learn that weren’t really math, reading, grammar, science, social studies
type skills (if any)?
Without naming names, reflect upon how the group worked together.
f) Complete the post test.
Product or Assessment:
- Post Test on Syria as well as Vocabulary from the week
- Debate speeches and arguments