Sample Role Play Lesson Plan

Long Range Objective (Insert state or national standard here)

Objectives

Tsw analyze the impact of school and class size on student achievement and behavior.

Tsw examine local political forces that determine school and class size in most school systems.

Set

Using PowerPoint, display a series of pictures that depict a day in the life of a man/woman who stays home each day to take care of his/her two kids. Next, display pictures that depict how a typical day at home would be different if the two children were allowed to invite ten of their close friends over to visit. Question: What types of challenges arise as the number of young people to be supervised increases?

Instructional Procedures

Entry

Present a Problem/Dilemma

Due to a growing concern over low test scores and an increase in school violence, the school superintendent has submitted to his/her school board a policy to reduce the size of secondary schools to a maximum of 1,000 students. Currently, some secondary schools in the community have over 2,300 students. The new proposal is slated for discussion for the first time tonight.  

Five Speaking Characters in this role play

In addition to the superintendent, there are five board members who will discuss this item.

Description of board members:

(a) Former president of the largest manufacturing firm in the county. Now retired, this person has been a

big supporter of the efforts by the superintendent to raise student test scores.

(b) A local pharmacist with a child in one of the area middle schools. Hopes his/her child will take over the

family business one day.

(c) A retired principal with two grandchildren in one of the local high schools. One grandchild has a mild

learning disability.

(d) Manager of the local Co-op Store. This person graduated from a small, rural school.

(e) President of NOT (No On Taxes). Lost his/her former job due to downsizing. Now works as a part-

time painter for a local construction company.

The superintendent will submit the proposal and will ask each board member to react to it.

Set-Up Procedures

(1) Division of Class

Place students into five groups, a group for each speaking part

(2) Provide each group with guiding questions

Note: Two examples of guiding questions are provided as samples.

Sample guiding questions for former head of local manufacturing firm

What unique perspective do you bring to this discussion?

As a retired person, you would not have children in the local schools. Why would you be concerned with this issue?

What data might you be able to present to support your argument?

Sample Guiding questions for President of NOT

In what ways, if any, would the adoption of this proposal impact the local tax rate?

Are there other ways to accomplish the goals outlined by the superintendent?

To which members of the public would you be appealing? What arguments would they best understand?

(3) Select the Participants

Following a discussion of the guiding questions, the teacher selects the five actors.

(4) Prepare the Audience

Note: Two samples are provided:

(1) You will play the roles of concerned citizens who attend this meeting. You will create your own “role.”

When called on (by the teacher) you will stand and direct a question to one of the five characters (challenging their opinion). You will be given a chance to respond to their answer.

(2) You will assume the role of a newspaper reporter who is attending the meeting. By the end of the forum, you should have (1) the headline you will use for the story you will write about the event. (2) The main theme of the story you will be writing. Place both on paper and be prepared to reveal your selections when called on by the teacher.

The Enactment

The teacher plays the part of the superintendent and calls on each actor.

Follow-up Discussion

Describe the ways in which class size impacts student achievement.

How does the size (population) of schools affect student behavior?

Why has there been a trend toward larger high schools?

Why is a trend developing toward smaller schools?

Who, in the community, might be opposed to smaller schools? Why?

Closure

Q & A review of objectives

Application assignment: As Assistant Superintendent., you’ve been asked to address a senior citizens group tomorrow. The topic: the Superintendent’s small school proposal. Prepare an outline of your remarks. Include the following: (1) The anticipated major concerns of this group (at least four), and (2) Arguments you will make to address each concern. Each argument should be developed in well organized paragraphs.