Most likely, on Monday, your students will arrive with questions and will look to you for some answers. While I can't solve the world's problems or wipe away tears in a post, I can help you by gathering resources to help you approach the attacks in your classes next week. I hope they help and I pray that I won't have to write about another terrorist attack again.
Here are some resources to help you:
First a little background:
A History of IS
*Have students examine the Associated Press' Interactive ISIL Timeline and/or Life in the Islamic State.
Syria's Civil War
*Have your students read this BBC article about Syria's Civil War and/or explore the Associated Press' Interactive on Syria's Civil War.
*While the Washington Post article 9 Questions about Syria You Were Too Embarrassed to Ask was written in 2013, it is still another good resource to direct your student to or for you to read to better understand what is going on.
*Another great resource is Vox Media's 5 Minute History of Syria's War and the Rise of ISIS.
Europe's Migration Crisis
*Have your students read this BBC article, Migrant Crisis: Migration to Europe explained in graphics and/or read Time's The 5 Big Questions About Europe's Migrant Crisis.
*Watch The EU Migrant Crisis Explained in 90 seconds
Russian Plane Crash
Students can learn about the Russian plane crash in Egypt at this Associated Press site.
Paris Attacks: November 13, 2015
*Students can learn how the attacks unfolded and view a timeline of recent deadly attacks in Europe at the Associate Press' France Attacks (more content and posts will become available in the next few days so visit the AP Interactive Twitter feed to find more information during the next several days).
*Students can also read how events unfolded in Paris on The Guardian's blog.
*Students can read a BBC article, Paris attacks: Hollande blames Islamic State for 'act of war.'
After looking over resources about the attacks in Paris and the background events, have students discuss some of the broad or big questions the attacks raise like:
1. How should the United States government react to the Paris attacks?
2. How does the fight against ISIS differ from the wars the United States and Europe traditionally have fought?
3. How should Europe and the United States balance the desire to grant sanctuary to fleeing migrants with the need for national security?

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Thank you for these excellent resources!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your awesome post! I'm glad we could connect ours together.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a wealth of resources on this topic!
ReplyDelete-Lisa
You're welcome!
DeleteThese are EXCELLENT resources. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteWhat an awesome collection of resources for such a sad subject. Thank you for putting all of these together.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found them helpful, Michele.
DeleteI just pinned and posted them everywhere I could. These are exactly what teachers need access to right now!
DeleteI've been doing the same!
DeleteSo much information in one post! Thank you for putting these resources together.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will find the resources helpful this week.
DeleteThanks for all the great resources. I especially loved the article by Max Fisher.
ReplyDeleteMe, too!
DeleteThanks for all the great resources. I especially loved the article by Max Fisher.
ReplyDeleteI so appreciate your timely post...every one of your ideas and resources will provide powerful and important lessons!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteAndrea, thank you for gathering all the information and offering guiding questions so students can look deeper into what's going on. It's so important to get beyond the hysteria and really understand what's happening. This helps! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis just came across my email: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/16/tearful-eiffel-tower-helps-french-schoolchildren-absorb-paris-attacks
ReplyDeleteThanks for the excellent, clear-eyed resources. Here's another to add to the mix: http://www.vox.com/2015/11/14/9735102/syria-isis-history-video Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteThat is a good one! I'm going to add it to my list. Thank you!
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