DAY 1
IMAGINE – by John Lennon
• hand out lyrics
• play music
• discuss:
what does it mean?
could it happen? Why/ why not?
what would it be like to live in this kind of world?
discuss – what is a utopia?
• Ask students to brainstorm lists of characteristics that describe a perfect society silently in their notebooks.
• Once everyone has had a chance to jot down some answers, ask students to share the characteristics with the class. Record their responses on the board.
• Introduce the following definition of utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions.
• The word “utopia”: from More (1516) - novel was written in Latin, the word is a combination of two Greek words, and literally means “no place”; when pronounced in Latin, however, it means “good place.” Doesn’t exist, but is ideal.
• Have students identify connections between the class list of characteristics for a perfect society and the definition of a utopian society. Encourage students to fit the items from the brainstormed list into the definition. Ask students whether the items on their lists are aspects of politics, laws, customs, family, conditions, or something else.
