Connect students directly to the concept in a personal way. Capture students' attention by initiating a group problem-solving activity before delivery of instruction. Begin with a situation that is familiar to students and builds on what they already know. Construct a learning experience that allows diverse and personal student responses. Facilitate the work of cooperative teams of students.

Objective: Students will experience an exercise of absolute power.

Activity: When class begins tell your students that you have been asked by the School Board and the Administration to read the following announcement”
“Due to the increased drug activity on our high school and junior high campuses the School Board and School Administrators have authorized that the following steps be taken:
1. All campuses will be permanently staffed with drug sniffing dogs. These dogs will be present at all school enterances each morning, will patrol the halls during and between classes, and roam through the cafeteria during lunch.
2. All students will be subject to random drug testing. Failure to submit to testing will result in automatic suspension.
3. All student bags, lunches, cases, etc. will be searched daily by their first period teachers.
4. Students may be stopped in the halls at anytime and asked to empty their pockets or bags by any school administrators.
5. Enforcement of these rules will begin tomorrow.
Your students should be upset and full of questions about the legality of the rules and the authority of the school board to enforce them. Answer student questions and outrage with information about the source of the schools boards authority. If students bring up the fact that these actions may violate their rights, counter with the assertion that the school board is willing to risk being sued.
When you feel that your students have accepted that the new “rules” will be enforced, explain to them that the announcement was a hoax and lead them through a discussion about how they felt about the school boards use of power. Make sure to give those who would have supported the school board’s decision a chance to speak and discuss why some would have gone along with the decision and some would not have.

Assessment: Feelings of powerlessness should make you frustrate and anger your students.