Lesson structure
The lesson starts with a short interactive class assignment about the meaning and origin of the word scapegoat. After that, the students will work in small groups with a workbook about one group that became a scapegoat in history. A total of five historical scapegoats are studied: Christians, women, Roma, Jews and Tutsis.
As they listen to the successive presentations, students will understand how the scapegoat mechanism works. Finally, students briefly discuss scapegoat groups in our society today and what the differences are between then and now.
Learning goals
- Students learn to interpret sources critically.
- Students learn what a scapegoat is.
- Students research a scapegoat group from history and give a short presentation about it.
- Students can explain how the scapegoat mechanism works.
- Students reflect on scapegoats in today’s world.
- Students see differences and similarities between the scapegoat mechanism then and now.