PRE-UNIT ACTIVITIES
  1. If your class is like most classes around the country, you will probably find that there are several, maybe many, different religions represented by your friends and classmates. One of you conduct an informal survey in your class by passing around a sheet of paper. Each of you write down what kind of church you attend, or what faith you believe in or practice. It is not necessary to write your name, unless you want to. Have your teacher tally the results and share them with the class. Afterwards, think about some of these questions and discuss them with your classmates:
    1. How might the United States be different if everyone practiced the same faith?
    2. Is it important for different faiths to be accepted in our country?
    3. How do we resolve our differences when there is a conflict? For example, some people want to pray in school, while others feel that this is completely inappropriate.
  2. Think about how you would feel if people from another country and religion took over our government and said that everything you have always believed is wrong, and that you have to change your faith. In a paragraph or two, write your thoughts about the following questions.
    1. What do you think would happen if you said that you would not accept the new religion and government?
    2. How would you feel if they said that you must change or die?
    3. Would you look for things in the new religion that you could accept and try to combine it with what you already believe to form a new set of beliefs, or would you completely refuse to even consider changing?
  3. Take the pre-unit quiz and find out how much you already know about the history of México.