Burn Book

This was a fun week for me, as it was my team’s turn to host the debate.  We took a different approach using the classic Mean Girls movie burn book as a way to “take sides.”  We set the presentation as a scrapbook, where the class got to use stickers to place on each game where they would side.  Cora and I were responsible for the Jane Jacobs topic, where I took the opportunity to dive a little more into her background, and her theories on cities and sidewalks.

    

Opposing to Jane Jacobs was her enemy, Robert Moses.  He was a well-known NYC developer who had many titles like NYC Parks Commissioner and Chairman.  Their relationship was actually very hostile due to their contradicting beliefs!  

The first game posed was fun and had great interaction.  After brief discussion on Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses and their differences, we asked the class to side with one or the other.  The question posed was “Who’s lunch table would you sit at?” (Jane Jacobs or  Robert Moses.). The class had the opportunity to move their sticker to Jane's lunch table or Robert's. 

I thought the burn book style was a fun way to generate this debate, and kept everyone engaged and involved.  It was interesting to see how everyone sided with the questions and their reasons why.  I always find it intriguing as to why people side with certain beliefs and stances, and usually can find reason behind them, even though I am typically a strong minded person, who is hard to convert over.