U.S. Role in the World

An important debate is taking place in the United States concerning America's role in the world today.The U.S. Role in the World includes a lesson plan involving discussion of four distinct alternatives - or Futures - that frame the current debate. This activity features an online student ballot that allows your students' opinions to be included in a nationally distrubuted report. The material is available at no charge from the Choices web site.

The material is drawn from The U.S. Role in a Changing World.

The U.S. and Iran: Confronting Policy Alternatives

News about the U.S. relationship with Iran and Iran's uranium enrichment program appears frequently in the headlines these days. There is much debate about how to respond to this issue. The U.S. and Iran: Confronting Policy Alternatives is an interactive lesson plan that engages students in consideration of divergent policy alternatives concerning U.S. policy on Iran.

This lesson on current issues is an excellent follow up to Iran Through the Looking Glass: History, Reform, and Revolution

Conflict in Iraq: Confronting Policy Alternatives

Updated Edition: Conflict in Iraq: Confronting Policy Alternatives engages students in consideration of a balanced range of views on the question of U.S. policy in Iraq. What is our purpose? Who should be involved in solutions? Are our troop levels right? How long should U.S. troops stay? What does this mean for the larger question of America's role in the world today? The material is available at no charge from the Choices web site.

This online resource is drawn from Conflict in Iraq: Searching for Solutions

Russia and Georgia: Conflict and War

The violence and war in Georgia has brought the U.S. relationship with Russia back to the front pages and rekindled an important debate. How should the United States view Russia? How do Russian policies affect the United States? What policies should the United States follow to manage its relationship with Russia? Russia's Transformation: Challenges for U.S. Policy provides background and lessons that can help your students make sense of the news and explain why American leaders are paying close attention to the conflict.

Castro's Legacy and the Future of Cuba

On February 19, 2008, Fidel Castro announced to Cuba and to the world that he would not be a candidate for Cuba's presidency. In this lesson students will explore the reaction to Fidel Castro's decision, categorize competing perspectives on Castro and the future of Cuba, and consider the international response to Castro's resignation and assess possible consequences.

A full unit on the future of Cuba, Contesting Cuba's Past and Future, is new from the Choices Program.

Events in Taiwan, Tibet, and China

Events in Taiwan, Tibet, and China are in the news. In and around Tibet, protests against the Chinese government have been met with a crackdown from Chinese security forces. The violence in Tibet has escalated to levels not seen in twenty years, and influenced the spring 2008 presidential elections in Taiwan. China on the World Stage: Weighing the U.S. Response (2008 edition) provides background on these issues, including an extensive lesson plan on the relationship among China, Taiwan, and the United States. These resources can help your students make sense of the news and explain why American leaders are paying close attention to the conflicts.

Global Environment: Considering U.S. Policy

Climate change is a central focus of policy discussions in the U.S. and around the world. What should U.S. policy be concerning global environmental issues? This 2-day lesson plan invites students to explore four divergent policy options and then to articulate their own views. This online resource is available free from the Choices web site.

This material is drawn from Global Environmental Problems: Implications for U.S. Policy

Nuclear Weapons: What Should Our Policy Be?

Nuclear Weapons: What Should Our Policy Be? engages students in consideration of a balanced range of views on the questions that surround the future of nuclear weapons. This 2-day lesson is available at no charge from the Choices web site.

The material is drawn from The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons.

U.S. Immigration Policy: What should we do?

The Senate and House of Representatives are considering changes to current immigration law that will fundamentally change the rules on immigration. U.S. Immigration Policy: What should we do? enables students to consider U.S. immigration policy within the context of long-term goals for the country. This 2-day lesson is available at no charge from the Choices web site.

The material is drawn from U.S. Immigration Policy in an Unsettled World

Violence in Darfur, Sudan

Sudan has been embroiled in internal conflicts since independence in 1956. Most recently, a violent conflict between the central government and several opposition groups has devastated Darfur, the westernmost region of Sudan.

This online lesson is available at no charge from the Choices web site. Use it as a supplement to Confronting Genocide: Never Again? or as a single lesson.

Terrorism: How Should We Respond?

This online lesson plan invites students to explore four divergent policy options on the question of how the United States should respond to terrorism and then to articulate their own considered perspective. This 2-day lesson is available at no charge from the Choices web site.

This material is drawn from Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for Democracy.

Are We Winning the Global War on Terror?

Students consider whether and how the United States can determine the success or failure of our efforts to combat terrorism.

This lesson is a supplement to Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for Democracy.

North Korea and Nuclear Weapons

The six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program have resulted in a tentative agreement. This promises to be the beginning of a long and challenging process. North Korea and Nuclear Weapons engages students in consideration of the range of options that continue to face policymakers. The material is available at no charge from the Choices web site.

See also The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons.

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Guidelines for Deliberation and Deliberating "Pros" and "Cons" of Policy Options are resources that work well with all Teaching with the News activities.

Contacting Elected Officials: Encourage your students to communicate their views on international issues to elected officials and in public spaces such as letters to the editor. You can find contact information for the White House at www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ and your U.S. Senators and Representatives at /thomas.loc.gov/.