The Congressional Debate on Syria
A zero-prep, Common Core-friendly, ready-to-use activity for your class today
Step One: Background and Introduction for Educators
What you do matters.
This lesson is designed for the busy teacher who is interested in involving their students in the debate on Syria. You'll be pleased to see that no additional work or research is required--other than simply following the steps below. While it is assumed that you have some working knowledge of the recent poison gas attacks in Syria, it is also recommended that you review the basics of the conflict, its background, and why teaching about it is important. It is also predicated on your students having a working knowledge of what Congress is and does. Given your expertise and unique classroom situation, we encourage you to modify as you see fit.
Step Two: Setting the stage and getting your students involved as Congress (5-7 min.)
A joint session of Congress
To make the situation as realistic as possible, it is recommended that as soon as your students sit down, you assume the role as Speaker of the House of Representatives, banging the gavel immediately to welcome them to a special joint session of Congress. (Have the ready-to-use PowerPoint on that will guide your remarks with its already embedded talking points.) Tell them that given the recent poison gas attacks on Syria, the President has asked that Congress meet to discuss and vote on whether the America should have a limited Cruise missile attack on Syria's chemical weapons supplies. It is critical that you keep your opening remarks brief, allowing your students to get into the debate as soon as possible.
Step Three: Providing the background knowledge for and against the American intervention in Syria (5-7 min.)
The flag and symbol of the C.I.A.
To add to the realism of the situation, you should then inform your students that the Central Intelligence Agency has prepared an intelligence briefing on the pros and cons of an American intervention in Syria. Please note that while every attempt was made to keep it non-partisan and nuanced, it was designed to be student-friendly--and really is not from the CIA!. With that said, it is recommended that you have each student quietly read and underline its key points. Upon completion, have them then ask their partner what their initial thoughts were--then open up the floor for debate!.
Step Four: Having the Congressional student debate roll call vote (10 min.)
Debating the issue in class...
Now that the students have the arguments for and against the intervention, you as the teacher/Speaker should work the room, provoking conversation, adding follow-up questions, and keeping the conversation going. Remember that your role is that of moderator. Try to make sure that all points of view are recognized and heard from. Be careful not to monopolize the conversation, go off on any tangents, or add any needless commentary. Your students will appreciate you giving them the floor and enjoy their time in the spotlight. Once complete, bring things to a vote by calling each member's last name ("Senator Brown", etc.), to which the students should respond "Yea", or "Nay", adding to the drama. Have a student keep a tally on the front board to follow the action. Afterwards, assign the bottom of the CIA briefing for homework.
Optional Homework: Assign a Common Core-Friendly Document
Enhance your students' literacy skills by providing a Common Core-friendly homework assignment that exposes them to rich, new vocabulary on this subject matter. Perfect for close reads, feel free to download and use the following documents:
-Text of the legislation submitted by President Obama to Congress on August 31st.
-The Right Questions to Ask on Syria, by Nicholas Kristof, September 4, 2013, NY Times
-Text of the legislation submitted by President Obama to Congress on August 31st.
-The Right Questions to Ask on Syria, by Nicholas Kristof, September 4, 2013, NY Times
The Next Day: Connecting the debate to the real world
After recapping the discussion the next day, it is recommended showing the students some actual members of Congress discussing Syria; or, of Representative Brian Higgins. (Your students will be please to see that their conversation in some way resembles the real thing!) Likewise, making a human connection to the crisis provides a vital context. Given that close to 5,000 refugees are leaving Syria every day, it is important that your students understand the human dimension of what they've been discussing. Play them the "I Am Syria" video, have them post their own "I Am Syria" signs, or host a Day of Silence or Refugee Sleepover as a fundraiser for the International Rescue Committee's Fund for Syrian Refugees. Doing so reconnects them to our shared humanity as citizens not only of America, but of the world.
Optional Enrichment Activities:
Advanced Placement Teachers: Access In-Depth Information on Syria Deeply
Syria Deeply is an independent digital media project led by journalists and technologists that explores a new model of storytelling around a global crisis. Our goal is to build a better user experience of the story by adding context to content, using the latest digital tools of the day. Over time the hope is to add greater clarity, deeper understanding and more sustained engagement to the global conversation. Syria Deeply is a part of News Deeply, a new media startup and social enterprise based in New York. Along the way, we’ve collaborated with some fantastic partners in media and technology, including Prezi, Soundcloud and Ushahidi. We want anyone who comes to Syria Deeply to walk away smarter and better informed about what’s happening in our world. We’re fielding your feedback and story ideas through info@syriadeeply.org.
Make it personal: Play a video of a Syrian student living in the refugee camps
One of the more challenging and fundamental aspects of human rights education is to shrink the conflict to a more personal level that we as human beings can understand and process. By clicking on and playing the short video of a Syrian child in a refugee camp, you humanize Syria for your students, which in turn allows them to understand it in greater depth and relevance. Under five minutes in length from the Guardian, click here to play and get started.
Expand their horizons: Play a CBS video on Syria--Viewer discretion advised--recommended only for high school students
In October 2012, CBS produced a portion of their 60 Minutes program on the Syrian conflict that serves as student-friendly background information. This information is perfect for a more in-depth look at the situation. Click here to play.
Hear Syrian Activist Discussing why speaking out matters:
Ammar Abdulhamid
Ammar Abdulhamid is a Syrian human rights activist who in 2003 founded the Tharwa Foundation, a grassroots organization that enlists local activists and citizen journalists to document conditions in Syria. In response to his activities, the Syrian government subjected Abdulhamid to repeat interrogation and threats. In September 2005, he and his family were forced into exile in the U.S. From his home in Maryland, Abdulhamid remains one of the leading commentators on events in Syria through the Syrian Revolution Digest. See a short video interview with him from the Freedom Collection describing why Syria matters and what the price of our silence actually is.
Viewer Discretion Advised: Graphic Information for Teacher Background and Preparation
-Video of Breadline Massacre
-Attacks on Playgrounds
-"The World's Next Genocide", by Simon Adams
-"The Men Are Vanishing Here", by Nicholas Kristof
-Attacks on Playgrounds
-"The World's Next Genocide", by Simon Adams
-"The Men Are Vanishing Here", by Nicholas Kristof
