GLOBAL HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY 9 and 10

Submitted by: Joyce Lotterhos, Waterloo High School

Topic: Current Events

The most important activity a parent can engage in to support the Global History

and Geography curriculum is discussion of current events with your teen. There are several crisis areas around the world that are an integral part of this curriculum, especially in grade 10 where an emphasis is put on modern history. One of these key areas is the Middle East which includes the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the threat from terrorist groups such as the Hamas. Another area that is critical is southeastern Europe including Bosnia, Yugoslavia (Serbia), and Kosovo where NATO is currently deployed. In Asia, focus on current trends and events in India, China, and Japan as well as Indonesia. Events in Russia are very important to American foreign policy as well. There are also issues involving Latin America that include the environment, terrorism, and the drug cartels. The world is global and interdependent and all these regions impact on American foreign policy, politics, military, trade, and economics.

Discussions should focus on the basic facts - who is involved, what is happening and why, and why it is important to the United States. There are many opportunities for bringing current events into a conversation - while driving in the car and the news comes on the radio station, watching the TV news while fixing dinner, during dinner, or sharing a newspaper article with your teen. At first, your teen will not be very interested. However, if you make an on-going effort to discuss topics in the news that are also being discussed in class, your teen will begin to make the connection and realize the importance of being informed about the vital and pivotal role the United States has in the world today.