Anti-sectarian RME activities for secondary schools
Activity 4: Bias and stereotypes
This activity encourages learners to read and identify bias. Learners can consider how bias can
create stereotypes and prejudice.
The newspaper clippings below are historical and are obvious examples of bias. This can be used as
a starting point to look at and talk about present day examples in the newspapers.
Some questions that learners could investigate and research:
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What is the Reformation?
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What happened to Catholics in Scotland during the Reformation?
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What became the official denomination in Scotland after the Reformation?
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What happened in Ireland between 1845 and 1850 that caused the Irish to emigrate to other
countries?
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Which countries did the Irish migrate to? (http://www.theglasgowstory.com/storyc.php)
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Why were the Irish resented in Scotland?
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What do you think made the Irish immigrants work for low wages?
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How did discrimination occur against the Irish?
Anti-sectarian RME activities for secondary schools
Presentation
Learners could find out at least five new facts about the Irish people's contribution to Scotland. They
could then depict what they have learnt on a storyboard, mind map, PowerPoint presentation or
poster.
Resources might include:
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Text books
Internet
Encyclopaedias
CD-Roms on Scottish history