Day 7: Mock Town Hall Meeting

Standards:

4 – H3.0.1 Use historical inquiry questions to investigate the development of Michigan’s major economic activities from statehood to present.
4 – C5.0.3 Describe ways in which people can work together to promote the values and principles of American democracy.

Objective

Students will be able to carry out a discussion on how racism affected the city of Detroit.

Instructional Activity

First, introduce obstacles that prevented African American people from seeking decent, affordable housing in Detroit.


I. Restrictive Covenants (Teachers may wish to learn more before leading the discussion)
II. Neighborhood clubs worked together to prevent home purchases in certain areas.
III. The pressure to meet invisible standards of acceptability for access to public housing projects.

Activity: Mock Board/Town Meeting


The students will use guiding questions given by the teacher to make decisions about what would be best for the city of Detroit. Questions may include: 

  • What are some local rules (ordinances) you would introduce to benefit all citizens in Detroit?
  • How did the creation of the highway system impact businesses and the movement of citizens within the community? (Showing a current highway map with neighborhoods marked may be helpful)
  • How does a person buy a home in Detroit today? Is the process fair? Why or why not?

Day 8: Reflection/Summative Assessment

Note: you may also choose to assign this reflection as a take-home assignment

Preparation: 

Brainstorm how the students would like to do a reflection. A slide deck? A diary entry? A piece of art? (Write their ideas on the board).

Make sure they know whatever stood out to them during the activity, they can write about.

Self-Evalution

Whatever format the students choose, ask them to reflect on the experience of the unit. You might add guiding questions such as:

  • What was hard? 
  • What did you learn?
  • What do you still want to know?
  • On your way to or from school, what do you notice about the neighborhoods you pass through? Do you see connections to this unit?
  • What was your favorite part of this unit? 

Optionally: ask students to share their reflections with a peer. What is similar about your reflections and what is different?