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Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Scopes Trial

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students review information about religious movements in the United States. In this Butler Act instructional activity, students view a video and read in their textbook about the Butler Act.  Students review documents about the Scopes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scopes Trial Activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars are able to prepare arguments for a moot court case. They know how the Scopes Trial impacts academic freedom today. Students know what constitutional amendments are applicable to this issue (including the Butler Act). ...
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Primary
George Mason University

Chnm: Between the Wars: The Scopes Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the fascinating transcript of the proceedings in court when Clarence Darrow called William Jennings Bryan to the stand to expose the weakness in his argument against evolution in the famous Scopes trial.
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Activity
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Clarence Darrow

For Students 9th - 10th
Site provides information on Darrow himself, the Scopes "Monkey Trial," the Leopold and Loeb Trial, and other famous trials with which he was associated. Great photographs are included.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Aimee Semple Mc Pherson

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive article that explores in great detail the life of Aimee Semple McPherson, fundamentalist evangelist.
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Website
Ohio State University

Ehistory: Clash of Cultures in the 1910s and 1920s: The Scopes Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
Find the index to a larger site about the Scopes trial which has photographs pertinent to the trial, cartoons and diagrams, and essays and excerpts from magazines about the trial. Great primary source material.
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Unit Plan
Other

Historical Thinking Matters: Scopes Trial

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A video and guidance to exploring the impact of the Scopes Trial. Consider intriguing questions about the trial, the era, and the take away.
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Website
Other

Earliest Voices: William Jennings Bryan

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource features historic voice recordings of William Jennings Bryan. There are recordings of many famous orations by him on various political topics, the most famous being his "Cross of Gold" speech. A biography and downloadable...
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Unit Plan
Other

Historical Thinking Matters: The Scopes Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
This award-winning site has everything you need for online lessons or independent study about the Scopes Trial. Uses an inquiry based approach with lots of primary sources, and the material can be used in conjunction with almost any...
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Website
Ohio State University

Ehistory: Clash of Cultures in the 1910s and 1920s

For Students 9th - 10th
Although this introduction to a more extensive site is not lengthy, it is filled with information about all the cultural tensions evident in the early 20th century. Of interest is a chart comparing the "Old" Culture with the "New" Culture.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Scopes Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
A fascinating look at the Scopes Trial in Tennessee where a science teacher was accused of violating a state law which prohibited the teacing of evolution. Perhaps the most interesting part of this article is the discussion of the...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Fundamentalism and Pentecostalism

For Students 9th - 10th
The late 19th century was a time of scientific theory, inquiry, and teaching. Read about the backlash to such modernism in the early 20th century with the ideas from Christian Fundamentalism and Pentecostalism. Find the five fundamentals...
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Activity
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Tennessee vs. John Scopes, the "Monkey Trial"

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University of Missouri-Kansas City provides excellent coverage of this famous trial includes trial transcripts, pictures, biographies, evolution controversy, and two short video clips of the actual trial.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: William Jennings Bryan

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia offers an overview of the life of William Jennings Bryan that discusses his campaign for President in 1896 and his life after he was defeated in the election. Also includes links to information on the Elections of 1896, 1900...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Monkey Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
A companion site to the PBS documentary on the John T. Scopes trial, recounting the battle between creationism and evolution.
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Activity
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: July 10 the Scopes Trial Began Today in 1925

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A great lesson plan using the Scopes Trial as the basis of examining discussion about evolution. Included are student activities as well as links to additional information.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Outlines: Clash of Cultures

For Students 9th - 10th
Although brief, this discussion of the clash of cultures in the 1920s covers all the reasons for cultural discordance.
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Activity
Other

For Many, One: Kulturkampfen (Wars for Civilization) of the 1920s

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief overview of the tumult and change happening in the United States in the 1920s. Read about the resurgance of the KKK, prejudice against immigrants, modernism for women, and evangelical Protestantism. Hyperlinks to a more detailed...
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Unknown Type
My Hero Project

My Hero: Clarence Darrow

For Students 9th - 10th
In this student resource, read about Clarence Darrow, the defendent's lawyer in the famous Scopes Monkey Trial.