Benchmark 3

Part 1 & 2. Geography & Vocabulary

Part 3. Hand-Written Essay with Rubric

In recent months, the United States has been experiencing a resurgence of debate around the concept of racism and prejudice. In your essay, discuss the following:

• Develop an introduction paragraph
• Define the concepts of race, racism, institutional racism, and prejudice.
• Compare & Contrast our case studies: Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
• Critique the Grand Jury decisions of each cased based on the facts that you know, justifying or refuting their decision with factual evidence.
• Connect police brutality to population demographics, justifying proposed solutions designed to end institutional racism in the police force.
• Synthesize everything you've discussed into a closing paragraph.

Equality vs. Stratification

Standard:

Cultural Patterns and Processes (13%–17%)

• Concepts of culture 
• Cultural differences and regional patterns 
• Cultural landscapes and cultural identity 
• Understand how cultural values, political regulations, and economic constraints work together to create particular landscapes. Economic 

Objective:

• Students will analyze the economic constraints of a stratified society by playing Tradition Monopoly and a modified version, called Sociopoly.
• Students will apply their experiences with Traditional and Inequality Monopoly, to understand and explain the difference between a society based on quality and one that is stratified.

Step 1 | Do Now: 
On a piece a of paper answer the following:

• What was the point of Wednesday's Privilege Walk?
• Are all people equal in America? Explain with examples.

Step 2 | Monopoly 

• Play Monopoly by the Traditional Rules (Do not open the white envelope)
• Complete the chart as you play
• When Ms. Kelly announces the game is over, complete the net worth chart and reflection questions on the back.

Step 3 | Sociopoly

• Each player roll the dice. Player with the highest number, open the white envelope and up to Order of Play. Wait for further instruction.
• When instructed, read the rest of the rules. Upper class, read the additional rules to yourself, and do not read them to the others until you want to, once the game is in play.
• Complete the chart as you play
• When Ms. Kelly announces the game is over, complete the net worth chart and reflection questions on the back.

Step 4 | Exit Slip

Step 5 | Discussion Questions

1. What was the difference in economic constraints (money problems) during the tradition monopoly game vs the sociopoly?
2. What are features of a society based on equality?
3. What are features of a stratified society?
4. Which society most closely resembles that of the U.S.?

Privilege Walk

• This Unit has primarily focuses on social class and the components that comprise class disparities. We have touched on familial background, education, race/ethnicity, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, and ability. 
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• Today's activity is about privileges we have/or don't have and may not recognize. Through indicating whether an individual identifies with certain statements, it is possible for us to recognize the privileges that they/we have been granted/denied and to learn about the backgrounds of their peers. 
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• Students who feel uncomfortable with sharing may choose to sit out. Talking about privilege and personal experiences may bring up strong emotions. This is a normal response and you have the space to share.
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• Objectives: After participating in this activity, students will be able to recognize the inequalities that exist in society, especially relating to social class. It will help participants to acknowledge their privileges, contextualize their own experiences, and learn about their peers. We will discuss our experiences in this activity and apply it to our lives to support awareness of inherent inequities in our society.

Activity | Privilege Walk

1. Take a step forward if one of your parents graduated from a 4-year university.
2. Take a step forward if one of your siblings is in and/or graduated from a 4-year university. 
3. If you have both of your biological parents living in your home with you, take one step forward.
4. If you have visible or invisible disabilities take one step backward.
5. If you are a white male, take one step forward.
6. If you when you watch television you mostly see members of your race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation take one step forward.
7. If there were more than 50 books in your house when you grew up, take one step forward.
8. If you have even been called hurtful names because of your race, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference or skin color, take one step back.
9. If your parents have ever brought you to art galleries, museums or plays, take one step forward.
10. If you live now, or have ever lived in a home where drugs are sold on the street or near your home, take one step back.
11. If you ever had to skip a meal or were hungry because there was not enough money to buy food when you were growing up, take one step back.
12. If you are able to avoid communities or places you feel are dangerous, take one step forward.
13. All those who have a parent that never completed high school, take one step back.
14. If your parents were professional, doctors, lawyers, etc., take one step forward.
15. If your family has always had health insurance take one step forward.
16. If you were taught in-depth about the history and culture of your personal ethnic ancestors in school, take one step forward.
17. If you were born in the United States take one step forward.
18. If you attended a private school or private summer camp, take one step forward.
19. If one of your parents was unemployed or laid off, not by choice, take one step back.
20. If you were ever encouraged to attend a college by your parents, take one step forward.
21. If you have been seriously ill or are often ill, take a step back.
22. All those who have been stopped or questioned by the police or other persons about why you are in a particular neighborhood, take one step back.
23. If you ever had to rely primarily on public transportation, take one step back.
24. All those whose ancestors lost a war with the US and whose land was made a part of the US, take one step back.
25. If English is your first language take one step forward.
26. If you believe you will have to take out loans to fund your education take one step backward.
27. If you ever attended private school take one step forward.
28. All those who went to a school where the majority of teachers are your race or ethnicity, take one step forward.
29. If your family ever had to move because they could not afford the rent or their house payment, take one step back.
30. If your family owns your own house, take one step forward.
31. If you ever inherited money or property, take a step forward.
32. If you have ever felt unsafe walking alone at night take one step backward.
33. If you ever tried to change your appearance, mannerisms or behavior, the way you look or speak to avoid being judged or ridiculed, take one step back.
34. If you were raised in an area where there was prostitution, drug activity, etc., take one step back.
35. If you were generally able to avoid places that were dangerous, take one step forward.
36. All those who have immediate family members who are, or have been in jail or prison for more than one week, take one step back.
37. If you were ever discouraged from academic pursuits or jobs because of race, class, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, take one step back.
38. All those who were raised sharing their bedroom with another person take one step back.
39. If you were ever offered a good job because of your association or connection with a friend or family member, take one step forward.
40. If prior to your 18th birthday, you have taken a vacation outside the United States (or your native country), other than Mexico, take one step forward.
41. All those who were raised in a community where the vast majority of the police, politicians, and government workers were NOT of your gender, racial or ethnic group, take one step back.
42. If you or any member of your family has been treated for depression, alcoholism or drug abuse, take one step back.
43. If your parents told you that you could be anything you wanted to be, take one step forward.

Processing Questions:

• What is your “gut reaction” to where you find yourself at the end of this list of privileges?
• Are you surprised at where you are? 
• How does it feel to be in front? In the middle? In back? 
• Did you come to any new realizations? 
• If so, which one had the most impact?

Closing Statement:

It is important to recognize that everyone has a unique experience in life. There are some people who have been more privileged than you and some that have been less privileged. By recognizing this fact, we are able to avoid judging others. We can also see what privileges society has given us, and/or what we have overcome to be where we are. It is important to be grateful for the experiences that have been given to us, but to also recognize the societal structures that may have contributed to these. Although it is important not to talk about the specific experiences that were shared outside of this group, talking about what you learned is the key to helping to make a change in society. 

Africa & U.S. Geography Retest Prep

1. Review Geography for this week's retest. 

• This week: Africa & U.S. Retest next Thursday 3/12 & Friday 3/13
• Up Next: South America 3/19 & 3/20
• Retake: (during Student Support on Wed or after school on Thursday): Middle East & Europe

3. Cultural Patterns: Racism & Prejudice--> New/Used Vocabulary for current unit.

4. Choose 10 new vocabulary words from Cultural Patterns: Racism & Prejudice (not the same from last week)
. Put them into a sentence, with an example. This may require some Googling. Post in TODAY's comments section.

Catch-Up & Study!

1. If you haven't already, finish What in the World is Going On? Document and the Prezi on your article. Submit it in the February 23rd comment's section.

2. Review Middle East & Europe Geography for this week's retest. 

• Retest: Middle East & Europe this Thursday 3/5 & Friday 3/6
• Retest: Africa & U.S. Retest next Thursday 3/12 & Friday 3/13
• New Test: South America 3/19 & 3/20

3. Cultural Patterns: Racism & Prejudice--> New/Used Vocabulary for current unit.

4. Choose 10 vocabulary words from Cultural Patterns: Racism & Prejudice. Put them into a sentence, with an example. This may require some Googling. Post in TODAY's comments section.