Current Issues
Classroom activities to engage students in learning about and discussing issues in the news
High school students consider concepts of "environmental racism" and "environmental (in)justice" and view and discuss an online clip about the dumping of electronics. Homework assignments suggest further study of this issue and the Gulf Spill anniversary.
Elementary students consider how much water we consume and what impact it has by hearing some facts and discussing the story of one girl's water consumption.
Students listen to a radio segment about events in Libya and the challenges of reporting from that country; consider events in Libya through a timeline and Twitter messages; and discuss their view of unfolding events in the Middle East.
Students think about women they admire, learn about African leader Maathai, and discuss the Peter Gabriel song Shaking the Tree.
Students consider a song, a video interview, and readings in exploring the events unfolding in the Middle East & North Africa.
After an introductory reading about the debate now raging in Washington, students try their hand at balancing a projected 2015 budget themselves.
Students learn about the youth-led movement and consider what it takes to act assertively to organize for change. They view and discuss a video relating Martin Luther King Jr.'s statements to events in Egypt.
High school students read and discuss an article describing the role of the youth movement and consider quotes from Gandhi on the power of nonviolence.
"Students consider four different views of what should motivate US policy toward Egypt, then have a dialogue about it. (For more on Egypt, see War, Peace, Terrorism & Other Global Issues below.)"
Students read two news stories about the protests in Egypt and consider the players and their roles.