Procedures

• Introduction:

  Take a Stand Activity:

  Post one sign that says “YES/AGREE” on one side of the room, one sign in the middle of the room that says MAYBE, and one sign that says “NO/DISAGREE” on the opposite side of the room before students enter the classroom.

  Post the following question on your board, “Should federal lands be open to development?”

  Ensure students understand the question. Respond to questions to assess how much background knowledge students have on the topic before they learn more. Ask them to stand next to the sign with which they agree.

• Step 1:

  As a class, view the video below to provide background information on the 1906 Antiquities Act and context for the present debate on this issue. Engage in class discussion using the questions below. Students can take notes on the accompanying handout.

  Handout: “Should federal lands be open to development?” (Google Doc)

• Video Clip: 1906 Antiquities Act and the National Monument Review (6:27)

  Noelle Straub talks about the 1906 Antiquities Act and how it relates to the current national monument review.

  1. Explain the purpose of the 1906 Antiquities Act.

  2. Can a sitting president rescind a former president's monument designation?

  3. How did the federal government acquire this land?

  4. Who in the federal government operates these lands?

  5. Who manages tribal groups' lands?

  6. Can this land be developed?

  7. According to Noelle Straub, who should be involved in the decision-making process of designating federal land?

  8. Describe the controversy surrounding Bears Ears.

• Step 2:

  Ask students to view the following videos and take notes on the handout to learn about the different perspectives on the issue of designating land as monuments. This activity can be jigsawed. Discuss students' responses as a class.

• Video Clip: President Trump on Federal Lands (1:14)

  President Trump remarks on the Antiquities Act and the government's role in federal lands.

• Video Clip: Utah State Representative Mike Noel on Federal Land Ownership (6:58)

  Utah State Representative and rancher Mike Noel (R) talked about federal land ownership and Secretary Zinke’s proposal to scale back the borders of Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah.

  • Explain Utah State Representative Mike Noel's position on land that has been designated as monuments and how it impacts the state.

• Video Clip: James Adakai on Trump Administration's Review of Federal Lands (4:29)

  James Adakai, commissioner of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, spoke by phone about the Trump administration’s review of national monument designations made by the Obama administration and Secretary Zinke’s proposal to scale back the borders of Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah.

  • Explain James Adaka's perspective on this issue as it relates to designated land and the tribal coalition.

• Video Clip: Representative Raul Grijalva on National Monument Preservation (5:13)

  Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, talked about public land policy and national monument preservation.

  • Explain Representative Raul Grijalva's (D-AZ) position on the issue of land that has been designated as monuments.

• Video Clip: Oil and Gas on Federal Land (4:08)

  Western Energy Alliance President Kathleen Sgamma talked about the oil and gas industries' interests in federal land.

  • Explain Kathleen Sgamma's position on this issue.

• Step 3:

  Culminating Activity:

  Ask students to consider the information in the videos and from your class discussion. Have them respond to the question that was asked at the beginning of class. Students should write their responses with a few details supporting their positions. Once they have completed their writing assignment, they can stand next to the sign with which they agree. Have students volunteer their positions and explain why or why not their thinking changed from their original position.

• Extension Activities:

  Choose one of the following activities to express your opinion on this issue:

  • Letter to your Congressman Write a letter to your member of Congress explaining the action you believe should be taken on the issue of designating land for federal monuments.

  • PSA Create a Public Service Announcement persuading the public to agree with your position and take action on this issue.