World History: Grade 9 Unit 1.1: Lesson 2 A Modern Perspective on the Origins of the World

World History: Grade 9 Unit 1.1: Lesson 2 A Modern Perspective on the Origins of the World

Unit 1.1 Lesson 2: A Modern Perspective on the Origins of the World M.T. Donkin Unit Objectives: 1. Explain why people possess an intrinsic need to understand both their and the world s beginnings. 2. Compare and contrast features of different creation myths, and analyze how these myths have satisfied the needs of people with different backgrounds to understand the origins of the world. 3. Describe the order in which different components of the universe came into existence, according to the Big Bang Theory. 4. Analyze the idea that people often understand the world through theories rather than absolute knowledge and that theories are based on the best knowledge available to people at a particular time. MTP: 1. Your Lives 2. The Big Era Essay 3. Should people try to understand...? 4. The Universe Compressed into 13 Years 5. The Big Bang Theory 6. What s due? Sept. 29 - Oct. 3, 2014 75 min.

1. Your Lives Write down three sentences about the beginning of your life. Share what you wrote with your group. Is the information you wrote important to you? Why? or Why not?

2. The Big Era Essay Read the Big Era Essay. Now, construct a graphic representation of the process that transpired as the universe formed and life appeared on earth. Share your graph with your group.

3. Think About It Do you think that people should try to understand what happened at the beginning of the universe? Why or why not? ~ Discuss in groups. One student from each group will report what their group talked about. Is it important to consider the beginnings of the universe in a world history class.

4. The Universe Compressed into 13 Years Review the SH titled The Chronology of the Universe Compressed into Thirteen Year. Write down 3 things that you learned from the chart. Share them with the group. Now, explain the most important idea that your group learned from the chart.

5. The Big Bang Theory Although the Big Bang Theory draws on the most advanced scientific knowledge available to explain the origins of the Universe, you should recognize that knowledge does not stand still. Why doesn t knowledge stand still? Well, as new knowledge becomes available, theories built on old knowledge become outdated. Imagine what would happen if tomorrow you read a newspaper article explaining that the stars and planets of the universe have always existed but that a nuclear reaction took place 13 billion years ago, which created the illusion of a new beginning. Would you accept this information in place of what you already know about the origins of the world? Support your opinions. Consider how our present understanding of the origins of the world might change as new knowledge becomes available. Just like the myths we studied in Lesson 1 seem primitive to us today, future people might see our scientific understandings of the universe as primitive.

Due Oct. 10: Timeline 2 Due Oct. 15/16: Essay 1 Due Oct. 17: Portfolios 6. What s Due?

World History: Grade 9 Unit 1.1: Lesson 3 Knowledge, Myths, and You

Unit 1.1 Lesson 3: Knowledge, Myths, and You M.T. Donkin Unit Objectives: 1. Explain why people possess an intrinsic need to understand both their and the world s beginnings. 2. Compare and contrast features of different creation myths, and analyze how these myths have satisfied the needs of people with different backgrounds to understand the origins of the world. 3. Describe the order in which different components of the universe came into existence, according to the Big Bang Theory. 4. Analyze the idea that people often understand the world through theories rather than absolute knowledge and that theories are based on the best knowledge available to people at a particular time. MTP: 1. Do You Believe? 2. What does theory mean? 3. A Personal Perspective? 4. What s due? Sept. 29 - Oct. 3, 2014 75 min.

1. Do you believe? Think about this... Imagine that one of your classmates told you that a spaceship from another planet had landed on Earth yesterday. What types of information would you look for to determine whether or not you would believe that a spaceship from another planet had landed on Earth? Support your thinking by complete the task in SH_3.1, Do You Believe. Share your group s opinion. Explain how the data you said would either encourage you or discourage you in believing that a spaceship from another planet had landed on Earth. And how would this compare to believing in a creation myth or the Big Bang Theory? As modern individuals we seek empirical evidence to support or discourage beliefs. When we cannot observe everything ourselves, we rely on the empirical observations of others, whom we trust. When historians analyze events from the past they must consider what types of evidence they will accept and what types of evidence they will not count as valid.

So what does the word theory mean? It is an explanation of why something occurs in the way that it does occur, based on all of the available evidence. In groups, complete SH_3.2 - My Theories, identify four theories that are important in your lives. Share your answers. Do you think theories shape they ways that people think about their lives? Can you truly know that somebody else loves you? Can you truly know that somebody else is trustworthy? Think about this...the U.S. government is based on the theory that democracy is the most effective means of governance. Just like the Big Bang Theory, the myths discussed earlier in this unit are theories as to how the world came to exist. 2. What does theory mean?

Are all theories equal? The best theories are supported theories. Scientists try and develop theories that explain the world and phenomena in the world. What information might scientists use to support their theories? In groups compete SH_3.3 - Supporting Theories. Share your findings. Remember the creation myths we studied in the first two lessons of this unit; that Earth and human beings were seen as the most important elements of the universe. Why do you think this is so? Why would people develop theories that give humans the central role? People tend to see the world from a personal perspective, it may be natural for them to place themselves at the center of their theories. Have you ever viewed a situation from a personal perspective that caused you to misunderstand that situation? What are the consequences of viewing the situation from a strong personal perspective? 3. A Personal Perspective?

Due Oct. 10: Timeline 2 Due Oct. 15/16: Essay 1 Due Oct. 17: Portfolios 6. What s Due?