POLITICS Perhaps the most interesting thing about President Barack Obama’s climate change speech at the United Nations is what he didn’t say. (Politico) Use our resources to learn more about climate change. Discussion Ideas President Barack Obama spoke at the United Nations summit on climate change in New York on Tuesday. Is this the first time the UN has held a major conference on climate … Continue reading Obama Offers Few Details in Climate Speech
WORLD On September 18, Scottish voters will answer a simple question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the referendum. (Guardian) Use our resources to get an idea about how long England and Scotland have been debating this issue. Discussion Ideas Scots will go to the polls next week to answer Yes or No to a simple, … Continue reading Scots Free?
WORLD Islamic State, formerly known as ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), is responsible for the horrific beheadings of two American hostages. What is Islamic State, and what are its objectives? (BBC) Use our resources to learn more about conflict in Iraq. Discussion Questions The BBC article says that Islamic State is as dangerous as al-Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for 9/11. What are similarities … Continue reading What is ISIS?
UNITED STATES The Common Core State Standards have vaulted into the national consciousness lately thanks to some high-profile dissenters, like Louis C.K. (“Kids teachers parents are vocally suffering.”) and Stephen Colbert (“Common Core testing is preparing students for what they’ll face as adults—pointless stress and confusion.”) NPR wades through the confusion by answering questions about the standards. (NPR) Love them or loathe them, we can … Continue reading Common Core FAQ
WORLD A record 33.3 million people around the world had been internally displaced by conflict at the end of 2013—that’s 4.5 million more than 2012, an international report said this week. (Reuters) Use our mapping resources to better understand internally displaced people, refugees, and asylum-seekers. Discussion Ideas According to the Reuters article and the Norwegian Refugee Council, most internally displaced persons (IDPs) forced to migrate due … Continue reading Record Number of Internally Displaced Persons
