GEP - Current Events Email - August 31, 2007

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Dear Teacher:

As a recipient of World Savvy's Current Affairs Update, every two weeks you will receive a set of resources for 3 major recent news stories, including articles at varying reading levels, a list of relevant standards, and curriculum that can be used to teach about the issues covered by that news story. If you are interested in teaching a larger unit on a specific issue, please contact us for support.

Topic 1: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Resigns

Advanced Article: www.abcnews.go.com
Intermediate Article: www.pbs.org/newshour
Beginning Article: www.timeforkids.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Gonzales resigned from his position as Attorney General. Who is the Attorney General and what are the duties of that position?
2. How did President Bush react to the resignation of Gonzales?
3. Why were people angry with Gonzales and were calling for his resignation?
4. What other controversies were there during Gonzales’s term as Attorney General?
5. (Spoiler) One of the controversies during his term of office, was over the legality of government wiretapping. Under what situations do you think the government should be allowed to listen in on its citizens?

Curriculum:

1. Justice Served? Discussing the Issues Surrounding the Resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Read it now >>
2. Listening In: Debating the Legitimacy of Eavesdropping on American Citizens With or Without Just Cause. Read it now >>

California Standards:

Government: Three Branches of Government, U.S. Political Issues
Language Arts: Reading and Writing

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Topic 2: Hamas Takes Over the Gaza Strip

Advanced Article: www.msnbc.msn.com
Intermediate Article: news.bbc.co.uk
Beginning Article: www.usnews.com
Background: Profile – Gaza Strip news.bbc.co.uk

Discussion Questions:

1. What two Palestinian groups were fighting for control of the Gaza Strip?
2. What are the differences between these two Palestinian groups?
3. How have western nations responded to the fighting in Gaza and its aftermath?
4. What does the victory of Hamas in Gaza mean for a unified Palestinian government?
5. How do you think this event helps or hurts the Israel-Palestine Peace Process?

Curriculum:

1. Fatah vs. Hamas: Continued Strife in the Gaza Region (6 months old) Read it now >>
2. Israel and Palestine: The Roots of Conflict Read it now >>
3. Prospects for Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Read it now >>

California Standards

World History: Modern World Economy, Contemporary Nation Building
Language Arts: Reading and Writing, Analyzing the Media

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Topic 3: The 2nd Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Advanced Articled: www.time.com
Intermediate Article: abcnews.go.com
Beginning Article: www.sfgate.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Which important figure is coming to visit New Orleans on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina?
2. How are many people in New Orleans reacting to the visit by the above individual?
3. Is the aid and recovery of New Orleans going well?
4. Coastal scientists and engineers are warning that another Katrina-like disaster will occur again in Louisiana. What factors make such a disaster likely?
5. If you were the President of the United States what would you do to make New Orleans better?

Curriculum:

1. The Big Not So Easy: Analyzing New Orleans Two Years After Katrina Read it now >>
2. The Gulf Coast Region: Geography, Demographics, and the effects of Hurricane Katrina Read it now >>
3. A Disaster in the Making: Investigating the Effects of Natural Disasters in the U.S. (incl. 1906 SF earthquake and Katrina) Read it now >>
4. Bringing Hurricane Katrina into the Classroom: Media Literacy Lessons Read it now >>

California Standards:

U.S. History: Contemporary America, Civil Rights
Government: Citizenship and Rights, Role of State, Local, and Federal Govt., U.S. Political Issues
Language Arts: Reading and Writing, Analyzing the Media

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The views expressed in the articles and resources listed above are not the views of World Savvy. They are listed here as resources for educators but do not necessarily reflect the opinions and priorities of World Savvy. If you ever want to unsubscribe from this list, just send an email to Kelly at kelly@worldsavvy.org.