I used this article last week to explain the Venezuela conflict (Venezuela article). It is split into 7 sections so I had each group read and discuss one section. It was a great discussion with a lot of good vocabulary learned by the students. I made a list of words for each group to look up to better understand the reading - they enjoy learning new words and showing off when they know a word.
Some of the words they defined included: black market, dire straits, polarization, staples, inflation, personae non gratae, repression, and diplomats. That discussion alone was a good day of social studies. The discussion turned into a debate between capitalism and socialism, freedom of speech, the First Amendment, and oil production.
It would be my dream to teach like this everyday. I'm convinced if we did this in grades 7 - 12, we would have citizens ready to participate in civic life upon graduation. We need to get away from the list of content expectations at each grade level.
You are right. It makes me very excited to think about the possibilities.
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