Current Issues
Classroom activities to engage students in learning about and discussing issues in the news
The UN's 60th birthday on October 24 offers an opportunity for students to learn about the organization's history and to consider some problems it faces.
One student reading explores the new document, which Iraqis will vote up or down on October 15; another presents information on everyday life in Iraq. A Document-Based Question (DBQ) has students consider different perspectives on the state of Iraq today.
Iraq, with its newly elected government, faces new opportunities and problems. We provide two readings for high school students. The first provides a capsule overview of Iraq; the second summarizes major problems that face the country now. Discussion questions and suggestions for student activities...
A brief compilation of websites offering opinion, analysis, news and other material helpful in promoting inquiry in your classroom.
This document-based question exercise uses quotes from journalists about the challenges of reporting from Iraq as the basis for a student essay and discussion.
A document-based question exercise and reading on the difficulty of assessing Iraqi civilian casualties.
Readings and discussion questions explore such topics as what it means to be "embedded" and how the media covered the pulling down of Saddam Hussein's statue and the attack on Fallujah.
Background reading and activities to help students make sense of the latest news.
"The Postwar Iraq Debate: Readings & Activities for HS Students Two readings on recent developments in Iraq,esti Bush administration policies, and domestic and international reactions to them, plus suggons for classroom activities."
An overview that gives special attention to Iraq's oil industry, and suggestions for discussion and study of Iraq's future and the US's leadership and credibility.