| The
September 11 terrorist attack on the United States has left many students frightened
and depressed. NewsHour Extra has
provided a forum space
for students to discuss the devastating emotions and difficulties of this
developing situation and a background
report on what happened. The following lesson
plans can help teachers and parents form learning experiences out of this ongoing
news event. Afghanistan
Today: Civil War and Human Rights
Your students
(grades 9-12) may be hearing a lot in the news about Afghanistan and the Taliban.
Help students understand the Taliban's position within Afghanistan, how the Taliban's
practices have raised concerns about human rights, and the economic and cultural
climate in Afghanistan today. Students may use this knowledge to postulate about
what a war would mean for the Afghan people, short- and long-term. Afghanistan
And Its Neighbors: Model Summit
As U.S. officials
plan retaliation to the terrorist attacks on September 11, help students in grades
11-12 understand the complex relationships America has with countries in Central
Asia and the Middle East. Students will research the recent political history
of one country in the region and represent its interests at a model international
summit designed to debate response to the terrorist attacks on America and propose
measures to achieve long-term stability in that part of the world. Tolerance
in Times of Trial:
Designed
for middle-high school students, this lesson plan uses the treatment of citizens
of Japanese and German ancestry during World War II--looking specifically at media
portrayals of these groups and internment camps--as historical examples of ethnic
conflict during times of trial, and about the problems inherent in assigning blame
to populations or nations of people. Students will look at contemporary examples
of ethnic conflict, discrimination, and stereotyping at home and abroad. Emergency
Preparedness:
Designed for middle school students,
this lesson plan introduces students to governmental and humanitarian response
mechanisms for natural and man-made disasters. Students research and report on
a variety of organizations, including the Red Cross, FEMA, and more; as an extension,
students learn about local and regional resources, like the National Guard. Taming
Terrorism
Designed for high school students,
this lesson plan asks the question, "Who can stop international terrorism?" Students
learn about international justice (including the U.N.'s call for an international
criminal court) and debate the effectiveness of various proposed measures. A
World At Peace:
Designed
for younger students (grades 2-6), this lesson plan invites students to brainstorm
the basic rights of people everywhere, explore the United Nation's Declaration
of Human Rights, and then use international photography galleries as part of a
multimedia creative writing assignment
imagining a world at peace. Cultural
Studies: Arab-Americans
In this time of strife,
there has been a lot of intolerance directed at Arab Americans. Already, there
is much concern within Arab American communities in our nation about the backlash
that resulting from Tuesday's attacks. Covering
the attacks in school papers
Resources from
ASNE for high school newspaper advisors and journalists covering local stories
emerging from the Sept. 11 attacks. There
are more lesson plans in our teacher resource
section. If you would like to
help create curriculum for this page, please contact Leah Clapman at extra@newshour.org | 
