Free Lesson Plans for Teachers: Too Religious in Turkey

Pass-Ed's Living Textbook
Free Lesson Plans for Teachers
Alpha Stage

Too Religious in Turkey
May 1, 2007

The New York Times is running an article entitled, "Turkish Court
Blocks Islamist Candidate."

The article begins, "Turkey's constitutional court today supported an ef
fort to block a candidate for the country's presidency whose background
is in political Islam, pitching the country into early national elections and
a referendum on the role of religion in its future."

The article adds, "Last week, the country's military, which has ousted
four elected governments since 1960, issued a stern warning, hinting that
it might act against the government if it strayed too far from secularism."

Read a Similar A rticle!!

Discussion-Starters for Younger Children

Ask your students to identify three rules that they must listen to.
Do your students think that these rules are important? Why/why
not?

Students could write out these rules. Alternatively, they
could draw pictures demonstrating how to follow the rule.

Ask your students whom they think should get to make rules.
Encourage them to explain why. Do your students think that they
should get to make any rules? Why/why not? If they should get to
make some rules, for what place should they get to make rules?
Why?

Consider asking each student to develop a rule of their own
that they think everybody should remember whenever they
sit in the student's seat.

Ask your students what they think the word God means. What do
they think God looks like, if anything?

Students could draw pictures of God. Be sure not to favor
any pictures or ideas over any others.

What do your students think that the President of the United
States does?

Students could write stories about what the President does.

Discussion-Starters for Older Students

Vocabulary terms to discuss: Upheld; Secular; "Islamic
Credentials"; and, Defining Moment.

Ask your students if they think that a very religious person should
be allowed to be the head of a secular government. Encourage
them to explain their thoughts. What problems might arise if a
very religious person was the head of a secular government?

Ask students to pretend that Thomas Jefferson, one of
history's greatest supporters of democracy had the
opportunity to speak to the Turkish Supreme Court, what
would he say?

Pose: If Abdullah Gul asked you for advice as to what he should
do since Turkey's Supreme Court blocked his route to the
presidency how would you respond? Why?

Students could develop responses to Mr. Gul.

What questions would your students want answered before they
intelligently predicted who might be Turkey's next President?

In groups of three or four, students could write these
questions. Then go over them as a whole class.

If you like these
lesson ideas
you'll love our
newsletter!!
Learn More!!

Blog