Lesson Plan

The Tsunami Disaster: Putting it in the Context of Foreign Aid

Objectives

Students will:

  • Be introduced to different types of U.S. foreign aid
  • Examine the world response to the tsunami
  • Explore their own thinking about foreign assistance

Handouts

[Download all handouts as one pdf.]

Selected Online News Sources

NewsHour Extra: Information on the science of the Tsunami
www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec04/tsunami_12-30.html

NewsHour Extra: Information on the Tsunami relief efforts
www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june05/aid_1-05.html

BBC World Service: Information on levels and type of aid from different countries
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4145259.stm

Note: Teachers may wish to assign these web resources for homework or as additional class work.

In the Classroom

The Hook—Distribute "Hurricane Mitch" to students, or use an overhead transparency. Ask students to consider why much of the promised aid to Central America did not materialize. What factors can they think of that would have prevented countries from supplying the aid they promised?
Understanding the Background—Distribute the Background Reading to each student, and have students read the handout on their own. Alternatively, read the handout as a class. After students have had a chance to read over the handout, distribute " Focusing Your Thoughts" to students, and ask them to answer the questions individually.

Large Group Discussion—Ask students to share their responses to "Focusing Your Thoughts." What do students believe is the purpose of foreign aid? How should U.S. government funds be spent, if at all, abroad? Point students to the statistic that 2.2 million people die from unclean water each year. Can students think of reasons why more citizens give to disaster relief than to persistent deadly problems? Finally, return to the story about Hurricane Mitch. Can students imagine a similar situation occurring in South Asia?

Expressing Student Views—Ask students to write an editorial to a newspaper or a letter to Congress or the White House expressing their views on foreign aid. Students can find contact information for the White House at www.whitehouse.gov/contact and their U.S. Senators and their Representatives at thomas.loc.gov.

Teachers may also find the complete unit Dilemmas of Foreign Aid: U.S. Priorities, Policies, and Practices helpful.

Let Your Voice Be Heard: Encourage your students to express their views to elected officials. Students can find contact information for the White House at www.whitehouse.gov/contact and their U.S. Senators and their Representatives at thomas.loc.gov.