USA TODAY Education » Beyond the Election Cross-Curricular Activity Archives

February 23-27, 2009

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:17:33 +0000

On Wednesday, February 18, President Obama announced a plan that will provide federal funding to help people who face foreclosure. (Foreclosure occurs when a homeowner can no longer make mortgage payments on her or his property, so the property is sold by the mortgage holder to pay off the homeowners’ debts.) Opponents of the plan believe it is unfair to use taxpayer dollars to help people who, in many cases, bought homes they could not afford or did not manage their money properly. In short, people who pay their mortgages will, through taxes, be helping to fund the mortgages of those who, for whatever reason, can’t. Proponents of the plan think that if nothing is done to stop the foreclosure crisis, property values will fall as will funding for schools, libraries and police — all of whom rely on property taxes to pay for their programs. As a class, discuss your opinions on the issue. Then, as individuals, read an article in USA TODAY about the foreclosure crisis or another problem that is affecting the economy. In writing, explain how saving, investing and/or budgeting would have helped prevent the problem. Then, over the next week, peruse the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ "Building Wealth" guide at www.dallasfed.org/ca/wealth/index.cfm to learn how you can prevent personal financial troubles in your future. Identify three tips from the guide and discuss them with your parents.

February 2-5, 2009

admin — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:17:29 +0000

On Thursday, Jan. 29, President Obama signed a gender pay equity law that will make it easier for women to sue companies for pay discrimination. Pay discrimination occurs when female workers who perform the same job functions as men earn less than their male counterparts. The bill is named for Lilly Ledbetter, a Goodyear Tire & Rubber employee, who learned late in her 20-year career that her male counterparts were making more money than she was. Ledbetter sued and her case eventually went to the Supreme Court, which ruled against her simply because she hadn’t filed a claim within 180 days. Ledbetter has tirelessly championed the gender pay inequity law, which extends the time a worker can file a claim, even though it will not give her back pay. At a reception after the signing of the bill, Michelle Obama stated that Ledbetter "knew unfairness and was willing to do something about it because it was the right thing to do, plain and simple."

Find an example of unfairness mentioned in today’s paper. In writing, explain what the "right thing to do, plain and simple" is. Then, think of an injustice that takes place in your school or community and again, explain what obvious action should be taken to stop it.

January 26-30, 2009

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:25:57 +0000

President Obama will be the twelfth U.S. president to try to bring peace to the Middle East. Since Israel was created in 1948 from land the Palestinians claim as their own, there have been multiple wars and bloodshed. Read USA TODAY’s coverage of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict currently occurring in Gaza. (If possible, read several days worth of coverage.) Next, in small groups, write down the five Ws (who, what, when, where and why) and one H (how) of the conflict. Then, develop one traditional and one non-traditional (i.e., creative, innovative or unusual) action that the U.S. could take to help solve the current crisis. Finally, develop one traditional and one non-traditional solution that would help bring lasting peace to the Middle East. Do outside research, if necessary.

January 19-23, 2009

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:34:12 +0000

During an interview on Thursday, January 15, USA TODAY asked President-elect Barack Obama to talk about his inaugural speech. Obama stated, “My job in this speech and in my presidency is just to remind people of the road we’ve traveled and the extraordinary odds that we’ve already overcome.” He also stated that he believes the American people are up to the challenges facing them right now.

Look through USA TODAY and identify three accomplishments that the American people can be proud of. Next, imagine that you were putting together a newspaper page of only positive news. Write inspiring headlines that tout each of the accomplishments you found. Then, write the first paragraph of each story.

January 12-16, 2009

admin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:14:27 +0000

An adage that many politicians cite says, “to govern is to choose.” With a partner, scan the articles in today’s USA TODAY and list five significant choices that President-elect Barack Obama will have to make (e.g., whether to end the war in Iraq). Briefly describe the importance of each choice in writing. Then, adopt the role of Obama and imagine that due to circumstances beyond your control, you are only able to make two of the choices on your list. Explain which two choices you would make and how inaction on the other three would affect Americans and/or the world.

January 5-9, 2009

admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:17:45 +0000

When he takes office on January 20, President-elect Obama will have to deal with the war in Afghanistan and the controversial conflict in Iraq. In Afghanistan, the plan is to send in 20,000 additional troops to fight the Taliban. In Iraq, Obama will work toward bringing all U.S. combat troops home within 16 months.

In small groups, read coverage of both wars in USA TODAY. Using the paper and other resources as necessary, research and list the causes of both wars. Next, jot down the conditions, if any, that make war a moral necessity. Then, use your criteria to decide whether the U.S.’s invasion of Iraq or Afghanistan (choose one) was just or unjust. Based on your opinion, what immediate action would you urge Obama to take once he enters office?

December 22-26, 2008

admin — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:56:27 +0000

Last week, President-elect Obama chose controversial pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration in January. The selection of Warren, who opposes gay marriage and abortion rights, has disappointed gay rights advocates and some liberal and religious groups. Obama however, defended his decision, saying, “We’re not going to agree on every single issue, but what we have to do is be able to create an atmosphere . . . where we can disagree without being disagreeable and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans.”
Read the letters to the editor on the editorial page (in the back of the News section). Find a letter you disagree with (or if you agree with all of them, choose a letter that interests you and adopt the role of a person who disagrees with it). In a paragraph, respectfully explain why you disagree with the writer and outline your own view on the matter. Give at least two examples or facts to back up your opinion. Finally, in a second paragraph, suggest a point or action item that you and the letter writer could both agree on.

December 15-19, 2008

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:51:04 +0000

President-elect Obama knows that his plans to stimulate the economy, cut the country’s dependence on foreign oil, bring closure to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, reform the health care system and make other important changes will not succeed without the approval of Congress. Consequently, Obama has taken the unprecedented step of personally calling both Republican and Democratic members of Congress to discuss his plans. He has also chosen many people with ties to Congress to be a part of his team. Sen. Hillary Clinton will soon become secretary of State. Former Senate democratic leader Tom Daschle will serve as secretary of Health and Human Services. Phil Schiliro, who will be Obama’s legislative affairs assistant, worked in Congress for 25 years, most recently as chief of staff for Rep. Henry Waxman.
Locate a copy of the U.S. Constitution. Next, find three examples in the newspaper of a House or Senate member exercising one of the powers or fulfilling one of the responsibilities outlined in Article 1, Sections 7 and 8. Finally, as a class, discuss the specific ways that Congress could help or hinder President-elect Obama’s plans for change.

December 8-12, 2008

admin — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:03:27 +0000

During the Great Depression, when so many people were unemployed, President Franklin Roosevelt moved to create jobs through public works programs that built dams, schools and roads. Today, the country is also facing an increase in unemployment. President-elect Barack Obama has stated that he will “put people back to work” by creating jobs dedicated to producing green energy sources like wind farms, solar panels and energy-efficient cars. President-elect Obama’s hope is to increase both employment and the country’s energy independence. With a partner, skim USA TODAY and list some of the other problems that the nation is facing. Then, in writing, explain how one problem could be fixed or improved by dedicating new jobs to it.

December 1-5, 2008

admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:29:38 +0000

At a news conference on Wednesday, Nov. 26, President-elect Barack Obama said, “At this defining moment in our nation’s history, the old ways of thinking and the old ways of acting just won’t do.” In small groups, identify and list the reasons for the nation’s critical condition. Then, describe two “old ways of thinking” that the nation needs to abandon and two new ways of thinking that it needs to embrace. Share your ideas with classmates.