Creeds of the United States

Subject: Language Arts

Grade Level: 8th Grade
Time: 45 minutes

Objectives

Compare different creeds and discuss how they influence our lives and
identities.

Materials

Creeds handouts- Boy Scout, US Bill of Rights, Ten Commandments,

Hippocratic Oath, Naturalization Oath to the US, and All I Really Need to
Know I Learned in Kindergarten Quotes
Initial We Do Slides for Creeds- Pledge and POTUS Affirmation Oath
Polleverywhere: https://www.polleverywhere.com/my/polls
(username= gmail) (password= ready)
-Pull up the poll for each class

Standards

8.RL.2.1:Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of

what a text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
8.RN.2.3: Analyze how a text makes connections and distinctions among
individuals, events, and ideas.
8.RN.3.2: Analyze in detail the structure of a specific paragraph in a text,
including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key
concept.
8.RV.3.2: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a
nonfiction text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings;
analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including
analogies and allusions to other texts.
8.SL.2.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-onone, in groups, and teacher-led) on grade appropriate topics, texts, and
issues, building on others ideas and expressing personal ideas clearly.

Procedures

1. Hello everybody. Today we are delving deeper into what

our society values and believes in. We are going to begin by
examining the language that is found in the Pledge of Allegiance
and the Oath that a President takes when he begins his term.
2. Go over each of the oaths, helping students to pick out the key
word that show what that oath stands for. Words to hit are suggested
on the teacher copy of the oaths.
3. Now that we have looked at some key oaths, each group is
going to look at a different creed or oath that is present in our
society. You will make a list of significant words and ideas. You
will have about 15 minutes to do this.
4. Let them work, circulating the room with helpful hints or to

answer questions.
5. Say: Now I want one person from each group to pull out
their laptop and go to the website on the board. Join the poll and
input your significant words and ideas. Each word should be its
own submission. Going back to our Pledge example- one
sumbission would be liberty and another would be justice.
6. Give them time to do that. Select the Word Cloud display
option in PollEverywhere and create the word cloud. The largest
words are the words that are most prevalent throughout the
creeds.
7. This word cloud gives you an idea about the kinds of ideas
and standards that people are held to by these oaths.
8. Ask them the questions about the creeds:
a. Are these codes reasonable in todays society?
b. Is there a situation where it is okay to stray from
these ideas?
c. What consequences are there if you do not
follow these creeds?
d. Think about the island and what these boys are
doing. Which creeds are they following? Which are they not?
e. Should they be held responsible for for not
following these creeds?