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Engage in a thought-provoking activity to rank values for stability in the Middle East. Explore multiple viewpoints, historical context, and civic engagement. Enhance critical thinking skills through role-play simulations. The Choices Program offers a dynamic learning experience rooted in the latest scholarship from Brown University. Join the collaborative environment to deepen your understanding of the region's complexities.
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The Choices Program The Middle East in Transition
Values Activity • In your envelope you will find ten cards with different values on them. • Thinking about the United States role in the Middle East, rank the values based on their importance to establishing stability in the region. • Now with your neighbor/ groups discuss your justifications for your top three rankings.
Who is Choices? • The Choices Program is non-profit organization based at Brown University. • Choices materials incorporate the latest scholarship from Brown University to draw connections between historical events and contemporary international issues. • In each unit, a central activity challenges students to consider multiple viewpoints on a contested issue. Students examine the historical, cultural, and political background of the issue to prepare a coherent presentation.
Choices Core Beliefs • An American public that doesn’t know and doesn’t care about international issues is a dangerous thing. • Most questions in history, geography and current affairs have multiple, conflicting answers. • The who, what, when and where are (usually) not debatable, but the WHY, the HOW and the SO WHAT are perpetually open to reinterpretation.
Why Use Choices • Focus on critical thinking and skills needed for thoughtful, deliberativedialogue (Common Core) • Values inform public policy and encourage civic engagement • The units are flexible and can be modified • Students have active learning through the role play
Options Role Play- Middle East • Read the Presenting Your Option/ Committee on Foreign Relations of the U.S. Senate • Option groups read your option then fill out the Expressing Key Values sheet. Then fill out the graphic organizer for your option only • Senators read The Options in Brief and drafting AT LEAST three questions for the committees • Meet with your option group, use your notes to create your 3- 5 minute presentation • Senators review and share your questions and decide which questions you will ask to each option & which senator will be the lead • As we run through the simulation make sure you are filling out the Graphic Organizer or Evaluation Form
Focusing Your Thoughts • Use the Focusing Your Thoughts sheet to synthesis the simulation & to create your own understanding of what the U.S. role in the Middle East should be. • On the back answer the questions to create your own 5th option. • Reflecting on the process • Questions???????
Choices Website • Apply for the 2017 Choices Institute • Tons of resources on www.choices.edu • Current Events Lessons • Video Clips • http://www.choices.edu/resources/scholars_middle_east_lesson.php#graffiti • Scholars • Curriculum
Contact Info • Mario Fitzpatrick • mfitzpatrick@washoeschools.net