GEP - Current Events Email - October 1, 2007
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.
In this issue (quicklinks):
- Hillary Clinton Unveils Health Care Plan
- Burmese Monks Protest Military Rule
- Heads of States Address United Nations General Assembly
Topic 1: Hillary Clinton Unveils Health Care Plan
Advanced Article: - www.economist.com
Intermediate Article: www.washingtonpost.com
Beginning Article: www.nydailynews.com
Debate: - Should the U.S. have a national health-care system? www.scholastic.com
Discussion Questions:
- What are the details of the health care plan that Hillary Clinton just proposed as part of her campaign for president?
- Have the other candidates proposed health care plans? If so, what are they? (Check the advanced article for a chart.)
- Hillary Clinton is famous for proposing a universal health care plan in the 90’s that failed to win support. How is her new plan different?
- What does “universal health care” system mean? How is this different from what we have in the United States right now?
- Read the debate article above. Do you believe we should have a national health care system in the United States?
Curriculum:
- Public vs. Private: Examining Positions on Health Care for the 2008 Election and Creating Campaign Advertisements Read it now >>
- Rising Costs of Health Care Read it now >>
- The Price We Pay for Health: US and Canada Read it now >>
- PBS: The Uninsured in America Read it now >>
California Standards:
Government: Federalism, U.S. Political Issues
U.S. History: Domestic Issues, Contemporary America
Language Arts: Analyzing the Media, Point of View
Economics: Role of the Federal Govt., free market system vs. public system
Topic 2: Burmese Monks Protest Military Rule
Advanced Article: www.washingtonpost.com
Intermediate Article: news.bbc.co.uk
Beginning Article: www.pbs.org
Background: - Q&A: Protests in Burma news.bbc.co.uk
Discussion Questions:
- What is a military junta?
- Describe the current political situation in Burma? Who controls the government? Why is the country now called Myanmar?
- Why are the monks and citizens in Burma protesting?
- What happened in Burma in 1988? Do you think this will affect the current protests?
- How has the international community responded to the protests so far? What do you think the international community should do?
Curriculum:
- Military, Monks Face Off in Myanmar Read it now >>
- KQED: The Nature of Protest (gr. 9-12) Read it now >>
- Burmese Monks March for Freedom (ESL/EFL Lesson) Read it now >>
- A World at Peace (Grades 2-6) Read it now >>
California Standards
World History: Contemporary Nation Building, Modern World Economy
Government: Comparative Government, Citizenship and Rights
Language Arts: Reading and Writing
Topic 3: Heads of States Address United Nations General Assembly
Advanced Articled: www.boston.com
Intermediate Article: news.bbc.co.uk
Beginning Article: www.cbsnews.com
Video: Summation of major speakers/points at UN opening. www.cbsnews.com
Background: UN General Assembly news.bbc.co.uk
Bonus Article: Ahmadinejad creates a stir at Columbia University news.bbc.co.uk
Discussion Questions:
- Why did so many world leaders visit New York last week?
- What is the general assembly of the UN? What is its purpose?
- Who were some of the key leaders who spoke? What were some of the most important things they said?
- Why was Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s visit so controversial?
- Do some more research on the UN general assembly and other parts of the UN. What is the role of the UN in today’s world? Is it effective?
Curriculum:
- The United Nations Lesson Plans - Read it now >>, Fact Sheets - Read it now >>
- CNN StudentNews Fact Sheet: The United Nations Read it now >>
- The United Nations and Reform Read it now >>
- A Problem with Authority? Writing Challenging Questions for Today’s World Leaders Read it now >>
California Standards:
World History: Contemporary Nation Building, Modern World Economy, WWII (history of UN)
Language Arts: Reading and Writing, Point of View
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.