Scopes Trial

Without a doubt, the question, “where do humans come from?” was asked long before Charles Darwin published Origin of Species in 1859. Yet throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty‐ ϐirst century, the debate amongst members of the scientiϐic and religious communities has continued to be a divisive and widely debated topic.The Scopes “Monkey” Trial is perhaps one of the critical events of this controversy and one of the landmark legal decisions of the twentieth century.

Weblink address (URL): 
Scopes Trial
Home Page- source

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 
  • The students will write letter to the editor of the Chattanooga Daily Times based on the article, Plan Assault on State Law on Evolution.
  • The students will make predictions on the outcome of the ACLU wanting to test the anti‐evolution legislation in Tennessee 1925.
  • The students will research and create mock interviews of participants in the Scopes Trial to be performed in front of the class.
  • The students will tell the story of the Scopes Monkey Trial through the use of primary sources.
  • The students will be assessed through an essay test consisting of the three guiding questions directly linked to the Tennessee standard US.38.
Essential and guiding questions: 
  • Who were the major figures of the Scopes Trial?
  • What were the main argumets on both sides of the Scopes Trial?
  • What was the outcome and the legacy of the Scopes Trial?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying

Helpful Hints

Matierals Needed:

  • Access to TSLA website and The Scopes 'Monkey' Trial Collection
  • Copies of the May 4, 1925, Chattanooga Daily Times Article, Plan Assaut on State Law on evolution (found ar the end of this lesson plan)
  • Copies of the letters, photographs, and any necessry documents from the collection to be used in the timeline activity
  • Access to the interviews with Sue K. Hicks on the TSLA website Copies or access to the background information on The Scopes 'Monkey' Trial