Crisis with Iraq (Fall 2002 - Revised Winter 2003)

An important debate is taking place in the United States and abroad about U.S. policy toward Iraq and its leader Saddam Hussein. This lesson has been developed by the Choices for the 21st Century Education Program at Brown University?s Watson Institute for International Studies. It is designed to help teachers to engage their students in consideration of this important international issue.

Crisis with Iraq was posted prior to the war with Iraq.
The Choices Program has been built on a belief in the responsibility - not just the right - of all citizens in a democracy to voice their opinions and be heard. Inherent in this belief is a commitment to informed, reasoned, and respectful dialogue among people who hold differing perspectives on the issues of the day.

This lesson includes:

Policy Options: Four Policy Options have been framed to help students think about divergent policy alternatives, each driven by different underlying values, each with merits and trade-offs. The Options provided have been developed with input from the research staff at the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. The Policy Options can be printed for classroom use from the Choices web site.

Lesson Plan: A two-period lesson plan is provided. It is focused on role-play and deliberation exploring the four Policy Options. Teachers are encouraged to integrate the suggested background resources into their courses as appropriate. A map of Iraq is available as a pdf.

Ballot Activity on America's Role in the World: After consideration of this issue, we invite you to give students an opportunity to wrestle with the larger question of America's role in the world using an online ballot activity. What do they think about America's role? What issues are of most concern to them? What kind of world do they want in the 21st century? A 5-day published unit, The U.S. Role in a Changing World, is also available.

Note: This curriculum resource was reprinted with permission in the September issue of Social Education (National Council for the Social Studies).

Additional Online Resources

Shifting Sands: Balancing U.S. Interests in the Middle East
The detailed lessons in this curriculum unit help students to consider thoughtfully the history of the Middle East as well as the current issues that are in the news every day. This unit offers teachers an opportunity to explore a wide variety of complementary issues in their classrooms.

The Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (PBS) provides interviews and news stories on a range of issues related to war with Iraq. NewsHour Extra offers a series of lesson plans being developed as the War with Iraq evolves.

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Review a list of Choices publications: In addition to its online resources, the Choices Program publishes a wide range of curriculum units on historical turning points and current issues. All published units include extensive background readings and accompanying lesson plans. Ordering is available online.