Teaching resources on current and historical international issues Watson Institute for International Studies and Continuing Education The Choices Program Explore the Past… Shape the Future

To empower young people with the skills, knowledge, and habits necessary to be engaged citizens who are capable of addressing international issues with thoughtful public discourse and informed decision making. Our Mission

Curriculum 40 published curriculum units Paper, PDF, E-Text versions for all units, iBooks coming soon Free Digital Materials Almost 1,000 Scholars Online videos Online “Teaching with the News” current issues lessons Professional Development Teacher Leadership Summer Institute Webinars State, regional and national conferences

Unit Structure Well-crafted readings that make complex ideas and rich histories accessible to students pages of background reading provided. Each narrative leads students to consider a central controversial issue. The central controversy is presented in a framework of competing options to be explored through a role play. Supplemental documents included to enhance the unit of study. Five to ten days worth of lesson plans provided. Lessons are student-centered, focused on higher-order thinking, and address multiple learning styles. Lessons draw on photos, literature, graphs, primary sources, etc. Basic and advanced study guides included to correspond with each reading section. Graphic organizers incorporated to help students organize and process the background readings. Student TextTeacher Resource Book

Types of Curriculum Units U.S. PerspectiveForeign Perspective Current Issues1.Responding to Terrorism 2.Genocide: Never Again 3.The Middle East in Transition: Questions for U.S. Policy 1.Caught Between Two Worlds: Mexico at the Crossroads 2.Contesting Cuba’s Past and Present Historical Turning Points 1.Westward Expansion: A New History 2. A Global Controversy: The U.S. Invasion of Iraq 3. WW I and the League of Nations Debate 4. The Origins of the Cold War 1.Colonialism in the Congo: Conquest, Conflict and Commerce 2.Indian Independence and the Question of Pakistan 3.Freedom in our Lifetime: South Africa’s Struggle 4.Iran Through the Looking Glass

Lesson Types in Choices Units Map & Data Analysis Speech/Rhetoric Analysis Document Analysis Historical Reenactment Creative Drama Poetry/Song Analysis Role Play Simulations Persuasive Writing Fiction Writing Literature Analysis Concept Formation Image Analysis Ethics Chronology Analysis The cornerstone of any Choices curriculum unit is an options role play.

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The Options Role Play The role play asks students to consider multiple perspectives on a current or historical policy issue Students take on the role of Advocates for a policy option TASK: Develop and present a persuasive presentation about their option A group of citizens or a senate or congressional committee TASK: Compare and evaluate the presentations made by the policy option groups and pose challenging questions to each of the policy option groups.

Hints for Implementing the Options Role Play Identify the core concept and issues that your students will need to know for the role-play activity and teach to these points. Make the performance expectation clear to your students before they begin their preparations. Provide concrete tasks for students to complete during their preparation. Make sure that there is a balance in workload between the option presenters and the committee/citizens groups. Take time to set the stage and establish the mood for the role play scenario.

More Hints Clearly explain the mechanisms of the role play and explicitly outline behavior etiquette. During the role play, give as much control over to the students as they can handle. Take time afterwards to debrief with your students. Keep in mind that the students are learning both the role play process and the historical content.

1,000 Scholars Online Free digital resource Featuring renowned scholars and policymakers Tailored for the high school learner Complements our printed materials Organized by student readings, lessons and by scholar

Today’s Objectives Participants will: explore a student-centered approach to teaching social studies. experience a sample Choices lesson from the student’s perspective. examine controversial issues from multiple perspectives.

Experiencing the Options Role Play You will be assigned to one of the following groups: Option 1: Type in the title for each option Option 2: Option 3: Option 4 Type in the name of the committee or citizen group here

Role Play Preparation Option Groups: You will need to prepare a persuasive presentation to convince the committee group/citizens that your option is the best one to pursue. Be sure to address the following: What values underlie your option? Add in tasks specific to this role play here. Committee Group: Develop question aimed at each option group that are challenging and designed to clarify differences among the options.

The Choices Approach Student-Centered Incorporates Scholarship Multiple Perspectives Balanced Deliberative Emphasize 21 st Century Skills

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