The United States in the
International Scene
Nathan Helmstetter
ED 639
Table of Contents
People in Societies
Geography
Economics
Government
Citizenship
History
Social Studies Skills
and Methods
4-6
7-9
10-11
12-14
15-16
17-19
20-21
Objectives
12th grade government
The objective is to teach the student about
issues that are relevant to the United
States and the world that it is involved
with. Based on the seven Ohio Academic
Content Standards.
People in Societies
Activity 1- The U.S. sends billions in international
aid to foreign nations, name those nations, the
amount, and what type of aid is received. Click
on the picture:
Activity 2- What is the stand of the Christian
Coalition on gay marriage? Why do you think
this is? Click on the Picture:
Activity 1: Benchmark B, #4; Activity 2: Benchmark C, #5
People in Societies
Activity 3- Identify and summarize the role
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO). Is it effective?
Activity 4- Identify and summarized the
role of the Red Cross. Is it effective?
Activity 3: Benchmark B, #3; Activity 4: Benchmark B, #3.
People in Societies
Activity 5- What
solution is being
taken in relation to
medicinal marijuana
by state
governments?
Click the picture to find
more:
Activity 5: Benchmark C, #5
Geography
Activity 1- What type
of policy has
President Bush taken
on wetland
conservation?
Describe and
Summarize.
Activity 1: Benchmark B, #2; Activity 2: Benchmark B, #3
Activity 2- What would
be three positives and
three negatives to
drilling for oil in the
Artic National Wildlife
Refuge?
Geography
Activity 3- Read the
linked articles on the
Freedom Tower that
will be built on the site
of the World Trade
Center and tell how
you feel it reflects the
culture, needs, and
values of America.
Benchmark A, #1.
Geography
Activity 4- Read the
article on “Rural
Development Fund for
Ohio” and describe what
it is to do and if it will be
beneficial.
Activity 5- Browse the
Agricultural Census
Statistics and give your
opinion on how you feel
the numbers shown
reflect urban
development.
Benchmark B, #2 for both
Economics
Activity 1- Identify the
social and economic
costs and benefits of
going to college.
Activity 3- Identify the
purpose of the North
American Free-Trade
Agreement.
Activity 2- Identify the
impact of the
Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) on oil
prices.
Activity #1: Benchmark A, #3; Activity #2: Benchmark C, #5; Activity 3: Benchmark C, #5
Economics
Activity 4- What is the
reasoning in lowering
and/or raising the
interest rates by the
Federal Reserve.
Activity 5- Explain the
flow of goods based
on the Circular Flow
Model.
Act. 4: Benchmark D, #6; Act. 5 Benchmark B, #4.
Government
Activity 1- Give five
examples and short
summaries of what the
United States has/is
doing in Afghanistan.
Activity 2- Give five
examples and short
summaries of what the
president is aiming policy
at in Africa.
Both Activities use Benchmark A, #1
Government
Activity 3- Explain two
arguments for ratification
of the Constitution and
tell how they may be
included in political
discussion of today.
Activity 4- Explain two
arguments against the
ratification of the
Constitution and tell how
they may be included in
political discussion of
today.
Benchmark B, #3 for both
Government
Activity 5- Analyze
how much you
believe the media will
have an impact on the
results of the 2004
elections.
Benchmark C, #4
Citizenship
Activity 1- Evaluate and debate the proposition
of gay marriages and civil unions.
Activity 2- Explain how to request or find
information as allowed by the Ohio freedom of
information statute.
Activity 3- Find out when your city council meets
and attend a meeting writing a summary of the
activities on the agenda that day.
Act. 1: Benchmark A, #2; Act. 2 Benchmark A, #4-5, Act. 3 Benchmark A #1
Citizenship
Activity 4- Analyze a court case and
determine if the case was decided as a
result of: mediation, arbitration, alternative
dispute resolution, or plea-bargaining.
Activity 5- Write a 4-5 minute persuasive
speech on an issue that involves your
rights as a citizen of the United States (ie:
Persuade someone Concealed Weapons
are beneficial to the rights of gun owners).
Activity 4: Benchmark B, #9; Activity 5: Benchmark A, #1.
History
Activity 1- How may certain choices made
by President Kennedy during the Cuban
Missile Crisis have been handled
differently in order to achieve the same
result?
Activity 2- Try to show reasons for
diplomacy to have continued prior to the
beginning of the American Civil War.
Activities 1&2 Benchmark A, #1.
History
Activity 3- What, if any,
parallels are there
between the United
States’ involvement,
tactics, and atmosphere
in Iraq and Vietnam?
Activity 4- What type of
connection has Iraq
historically had with the
terror group al-Qaida?
Activities 3 &4: Benchmark B, #2.
History
Activity 5- Give 3
examples of the
economic effects of
9/11 on the United
States and briefly
describe them.
Benchmark B, #2-3
Social Studies Skills and Methods
Activity 1- Decide on a topic for a research
project
Activity 2- Using various cites listed above
gather information on the topic chosen (w/
approval)
Activity 3- Take notes on the chosen topic
and formulate an outline of the notes.
Social Studies Skills and Methods
Activity 4- Compose a written report, 5-7 pages
in length, on the topic chosen with the following
requirements: Statistical evidence, examples,
citation of resources, three visual aids, and
support for main ideas.
Activity 5- Oral Presentation. To be given over
the chosen topic and presented as a three to five
minute presentation with the use of the three
visual aids.
Benchmarks for all 5 activities from A, B, and C; #’s 1-5.