ANTHROPOLOGY

What is man?

 

1. WORKSHEET: Ideas are tricky to convey in a second language class! Illustrations can be more powerful than words–especially in the realm of ideas! Print a “cartoon” worksheet for each student to fill in and keep.

 

2.  THE NUMBERS

Today the number of people alive is larger than the combined total of all previous centuries!

And the cities are growing. In 1900 there were 16 cities with a population of more than a million; today there are 400.

World Population is over 7 billion people!

“To give a point of reference for the magnitude of one billion, it would require forty thousand trips around the world to equal one billion miles.”

 

For most up-to-date estimate, see U.S. Census Bureau, International Programs Center:

http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/greatc.html

 

Groups: Guess the order of continents with the most people? Which has more penguins than people?

 

HOT POTATOE

This is a rapid-fire discussion in circles of 5-6. Ask questions to begin each round.

Bring one HOT POTATOE for each circle. Whoever is holding the HOT POTATOE shall answer and then toss it to anyone in the circle. That person may either: (1) add a new thought or (2) disagree–then pass the HOT POTATOE. Demonstrate!

1. Spell “people” backwards.

2. How many zeros are in a billion?

3. 2 Teams: If you walked around the equator, which countries would you walk through?

4. Guess what the world’s population will be one year from now.

5. Invite students to think of a question and ask it to the class!

 

3. QUOTE: “I have nothing against mankind. It’s people I can’t stand.” Archie Bunker

Ask the class to guess the meaning. Ask how the quote relates to the ideas in the lesson. Last–ask if they have a similar quotes in their own language!

 

4. 2 MIN. EXPERTS: 5 important Questions for all Humans

Presentations convey ideas, issues, and opinions.

Sometimes they entertain, inform, or persuade.

A. Make five groups of experts. Give each group only ONE of the questions –so each group has a different one. Group members will become an “expert” on that question. They must be able to summarize the ideas. Allow 4-5MIN to rehearse.

B. Shuffle to make new groups containing one “expert” from each of the five questions. Each “expert” will have 2MIN. to present the ideas.

Q1. WHO ARE WE?

Here are 3 popular ideas:

According to the Theory of Evolution, man is only a highly evolved animal.

New Age philosophers believe people are gods.

The Bible has a totally different answer. It says people are special – created by God in His own image.

Q2. HOW DID WE GET HERE

There are several possibilities:

Some scientists argue people evolved from the sea.

Others think space ships from another planet brought people to the earth.

Or, by magic people just “poofed” here.

The Bible says God created people from the earth and gave us life.

Q3. WHY ARE WE HERE?

Since we ARE here now, an next question is “WHY”?

It could be to evolve to a higher state of being by our own efforts and become greater than we are now.

Or – maybe we are just supposed to exist? Most people on earth may not think this but, they live it–they think about eating, drinking, earning money, getting lots of possessions, sleeping, then dying. They only look out for themselves.

OR – It could be that we’ve been put here to improve society.

Those who believe the Bible say we are here to glorify God.

Q4. WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Most people think when this life is over, there is another life afterward.

Will we be ghosts or spirits and roam the world?

Will we go to a secret island, cave, or the land of the dead?

Some say we go NO WHERE! When we die – it’s OVER!

Or do we go to the new heaven and new earth or to hell forever?

Q5. WHAT DO WE BASE OUR VIEWS ON?

How do we decide what our answer is to each of these questions?

How do we know if our view is true and that millions of other people are wrong? Can two or more conflicting ideas both be true?

Do we believe things only because our parents do? What about other parents’ beliefs? Are others wrong because they are not relatives?

Are we supposed to learn things from spirits? Can we really trust them? The world has thousands of cultures that contact spirits–can all these different views be correct?

Is our culture better than another one only because we are in it?

How do we know if our religion is true? How can religions be correct if they conflict?

 

5. PERSONAL STORY: Can you guess what Book is 10% exposition, 15% poetry, and 75% narrative/story? Story is powerful. Personal stories are a good device to reveal something about yourself, your dreams, your ideas, or experiences.

A. Tell about a question that perplexes you.

B. Students tell their group or neighbor about a question that perplexes them.

 

6. 30SEC SPEECHES: Impromptu speeches are a chance to use reason and imagination. Students have 30 seconds to present their ideas on the issues.

A. Students line up in two lines. Turn and face one another. Slide about to face a partner.

B. Designate one the North Line and the other the South Line–or Line “A” and Line “B.”

C. Announce the first topic. Give class 1MIN to collect their thoughts.

D. At your instruction, everyone in the North facing line deliver their 30SEC speech to their partner. Then rotate! ONLY ONE LINE ROTATES. First person in ONE line turn and walk to the opposite end of the line. All slide one space to face new partner.

E. Next the partners in the opposite line deliver their 30SEC impromptu speech.

F. Rotate again so new partners face one another.

G. Announce the second speech topic–and begin. Rotate again and so on.

H. Follow this pattern for all impromptu speeches in the lesson.

IMPROMPTU SPEECHES

1. “All the world’s a stage.” What do you think Shakespeare meant?

2. What is something more important in creation than people?

3. Fish can swim, but they can’t ask questions.

4. What is man?: bones and intestines or ideas and imagination.