Cheater or Cheated?

Cheater or Cheated? – Teach One Reach OneScripture: Genesis 29-30

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will learn Jacob and Laban both thought the other had cheated them.
  • Students will learn Laban tricks Jacob and substituted Leah for Rachel.
  • Students will learn God bless Jacob and made the sheep Laban gave Jacob multiply more quickly.
  • Students will learn how to debate a topic formally.
  • Students will participate in an activity to help them practice debating.

Guiding Question: How can you win a debate when you disagree with someone?

Materials: paper, pens and bibles

Procedure: Review the story of Jacob exactly as written. Do not point out who cheated whom. Divide the students into groups of two to four – making sure there is an equal number of groups. Assign half of the groups the argument “Laban cheated Jacob” and the remaining teams “Jacob cheated Laban”. Each team should find verses in the Bible that support or seem to support their point of view. They should also find Bible verses which would counter any argument their opponents may present. Encourage teams to organize their points. Each team has two minutes to present their case. After the groups have presented, give each group one minute to counter the points of the other side. After everyone has presented, discuss with the class the arguments they gave. Point out that the best arguments or speakers aren’t always correct even though they may seem more persuasive.

Additional Questions:

  • How do logical fallacies affect debates?

Supplemental Activity: Have more advanced students research logical fallacies and how they can affect debates. Have them present their findings to the class.

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