Lesson Plan: Critical Thinking with Data & Modern Issues

Materials Needed

• Paper and pen or pencil
• Calculator (optional)
• Access to a simple, pre-selected news article or encyclopedia entry on the history of Roe v. Wade (optional, for extension)
• A simple chart showing population statistics over time (a sample one is described in the lesson)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Calculate and interpret a percentage change from a set of data.
• Explain the importance of looking at information from multiple perspectives.
• Summarize at least two different viewpoints on the complex topic of abortion.
• Connect the idea of strategic thinking in games to how people approach real-world issues.

Lesson Activities

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Hook: Start with a thoughtful question. "Think about a game of skill you enjoy, maybe checkers, chess, or even watching a modern strategy game like Fortnite. To do well, you can't just look at one piece on the board, can you? You have to see the whole picture, understand your opponent's possible moves, and think a few steps ahead. We make similar 'strategic' choices in life when we form opinions. We gather information, consider different sides, and decide what we believe. It’s a skill, just like in a game."

Objectives: "Today, we are going to practice that skill. First, we’ll do a little math to see how numbers can tell a story. Then, we’ll use that idea of looking at the whole picture to explore a significant and complex topic in our society: the debate around abortion. Our goal is not to decide who is right or wrong, but to understand the different viewpoints, like a good strategist understands the entire game board."

2. Body of the Lesson (30-40 minutes)

Part 1: The Math Story – Looking at the Numbers (I Do, We Do)

I Do (Instructor-led): "Let's start with our math warm-up. Numbers can help us understand the world, but they don't always tell the whole story without context. Let’s look at a simple example."

(Present a simple data set, either written down or verbally. For example:)

City A Population:
Year 1960: 50,000 people
Year 2020: 75,000 people

"I can use math to see exactly how much it grew. First, I find the difference: 75,000 - 50,000 = 25,000 people. To find the percentage increase, I divide this difference by the original number: 25,000 ÷ 50,000 = 0.5. To make that a percentage, I multiply by 100. So, the population grew by 50%. That's a solid fact from the data."

We Do (Guided Practice): "Now, let’s think about what this number means. A 50% increase seems like a lot, doesn't it? What questions does this number make you ask? For example, we might ask *why* it grew. Was it new jobs? People moving from the countryside? The number itself doesn't tell us the 'why.' It just gives us a starting point. This is how we use math as a tool to start asking deeper questions."

(Engage in a short discussion about what the number might imply and what it leaves out.)

Part 2: The Human Story – Examining Different Viewpoints (I Do, We Do)

Transition: "Just like a single number doesn't tell the whole story, a single viewpoint doesn't capture the full picture of a complicated human issue. Now we are going to shift from looking at numbers to looking at ideas. We'll discuss the topic of abortion, which has been a major part of American life and debate for many decades."

I Do (Instructor-led explanation): "For nearly 50 years, since a 1973 court case called Roe v. Wade, the right to an abortion was protected across the country. In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned that decision, meaning each state can now decide its own laws. This has brought the issue back into the spotlight. The debate generally involves two main, deeply held beliefs."

• The 'Pro-Life' Viewpoint: This perspective holds that life begins at conception. Therefore, an abortion is seen as the termination of a human life, and it should be legally protected. The core value here is the sanctity and right to life of the unborn.
• The 'Pro-Choice' Viewpoint: This perspective holds that a person should have the right to make their own decisions about their body and health, including the choice to have an abortion. The core values here are bodily autonomy, personal liberty, and reproductive freedom.

"These are not simple opinions; they are based on deeply held moral, ethical, and personal beliefs. There are also many views that fall somewhere in between."

We Do (Guided Discussion): "This is where we look at the whole 'game board.' Thinking back over your life, how have you seen the conversation around this topic change? Without taking a side, what are some of the reasons someone might strongly believe in one viewpoint or the other? Let’s talk about the values that lead people to these different conclusions."

(Facilitate a respectful discussion, focusing on understanding the 'why' behind the beliefs, not on debating them.)

Part 3: Applying Strategic Thinking (You Do)

Connecting to the Analogy: "Remember our talk about strategy games? A good player understands their own strategy, but they also have to understand their opponent's strategy to be effective. In a civic discussion, it's the same. To have a meaningful conversation, we need to genuinely understand why other people think the way they do, even if we disagree."

You Do (Learner Application): "Now it's your turn to practice this 'strategic thinking.' I'd like you to explain back to me, in your own words, the two main viewpoints we discussed. Don't worry about which one you agree with. The goal is to show that you understand the core values of both the 'pro-life' and 'pro-choice' positions. You can either tell me verbally or write down a few sentences for each."

Success Criteria: Success is not about choosing a side. Success is clearly explaining the foundational belief of each perspective (e.g., "The pro-life view is based on the belief that..." and "The pro-choice view is based on the belief that...").

3. Conclusion (5 minutes)

Recap: "Today, we did a few things. We used math to see how a number can start a story. Then, we applied that same idea of looking deeper to understand the very personal and complex issue of abortion. We talked about how different viewpoints are based on core values."

Reinforce Takeaway: "The biggest takeaway is that whether we're looking at numbers or big societal debates, the first step is always to understand the whole picture. Just like in a game of chess or Fortnite, you can’t make a good move without understanding the entire board. Being able to see things from multiple viewpoints is a powerful skill in every part of life."

Assessment

• Formative (During the lesson): Listen to the learner's responses during the guided discussion in Part 2. Are they able to identify the core values behind the different stances? Can they participate in the 'We Do' math problem?
• Summative (End of the lesson): The learner’s verbal or written explanation of the two viewpoints in the 'You Do' activity. The assessment is based on their ability to articulate an understanding of the perspectives, not on their personal opinion.

Differentiation

• Scaffolding for Support: Focus more on the verbal discussion. Use very simple numbers for the math portion or skip the calculation and just discuss what the numbers mean. Provide sentence starters for the final assessment, such as "One viewpoint is... This is based on the idea that..."
• Extension for Advancement: The learner can read a short, neutral article about the history of Roe v. Wade and the Dobbs decision and discuss how the legal arguments have evolved. They could also look up and interpret some public opinion polling data on the topic (with guidance) to connect back to the math portion of the lesson.