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Lessons for
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for Grades 9-12
For
Grades 9-12
, week of
Feb. 10, 2025
1. TRAGEDY STRIKES IN SWEDEN
A recent mass shooting in Sweden at a center for migrants left at least 10 people dead. The shooter, who was Swedish, targeted a place where many immigrants, especially those from Syria, go to integrate into Swedish society. The attack, which occurred in Orebro, shocked the country and sparked fears among immigrants that Sweden, once a safe haven, no longer feels welcoming. Sweden had been known for its liberal asylum policies, but recently, there’s been a growing anti-immigrant sentiment, partly due to rising crime and gang violence. This change in public opinion has led to stricter immigration policies. The shooting has made many migrants feel even more vulnerable in a country where they once felt safe, as it coincides with a rise in violence and political movements against immigration. How can violence change how people feel about their safety and belonging in society? How can that affect immigrants differently? Write a paragraph from the perspective of a citizen and another from the paragraph of a new immigrant. Then, write a short paragraph that compares the differences between the two.
2. CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS
President Trump has been breaking the rules and acting as though the normal checks and balances in the U.S. government don’t apply to him. He’s done things like shutting down government agencies and firing officials without following proper procedures, even though Congress and the courts are supposed to stop this. Some lawmakers and courts are trying to fight back, but they’re not able to keep up with all the changes Trump is making. Because of the way the government is divided right now, Congress and the courts are too weak to stand up to him, and this could set a dangerous precedent where the president acts like a king. If nothing changes, Trump or future presidents might push even further beyond their constitutional limits, leading to big changes in government policies. If you aren’t already familiar, look up the system of checks and balances in place in the U.S. government. What do you think happens when the powers become out of balance? Using what you looked up, write an opinion article that addresses how important you feel it is (or isn’t) for power to be separated among the branches of government.
3. CONTAGIOUS OUTBREAK
Kansas is facing one of the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks in U.S. history, with 67 active cases and 79 latent cases (where people don’t have symptoms but could develop them later). Over 380 people are being monitored. TB spreads in crowded places like prisons and homeless shelters, where people often lack good healthcare. Public health officials are struggling to contain the outbreak because Kansas laws have weakened their authority—they can’t require testing, isolation, or business closures in a public health emergency. At the national level, the CDC has been restricted, making it harder to track and prevent outbreaks. Experts worry that these weakened public health systems could make future outbreaks more common and harder to stop. Even though this outbreak is serious, TB cases in Kansas are less than 1% of all U.S. cases, most of which come from people exposed to the disease in other countries. A past TB outbreak in Kansas had drug-resistant TB, which is harder to treat. If drug-resistant TB spreads again, it might go unnoticed due to recent restrictions on CDC reporting. Choose a role in managing a public health crisis: state health officials, CDC scientists, lawmakers, or community members. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper from the perspective of your role in the outbreak, either expressing concerns, providing information or a warning, or helping to keep everyone calm. Include how the new changes to the CDC have helped or hurt from your role’s perspective.
4. A PLAN IN ACTION
Senate Democrats protested the confirmation of Trump appointee Russell Vought, who was reportedly a key figure in crafting Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint developed by the Heritage Foundation and other right-wing groups in 2023. While Trump has publicly distanced himself from Project 2025, many of his executive actions align with its proposals. His administration has worked to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, revoke protections against employment discrimination, and restrict funding for schools that promote what he calls “gender ideology.” On immigration, Trump has tightened border security, increased detention facilities, and sought to defund sanctuary cities—moves that mirror Project 2025’s recommendations. His administration also halted federal assistance in a manner similar to the policy blueprint’s call for strict fiscal discipline. In foreign policy, Trump has withdrawn from international organizations like the World Health Organization and the United Nations Human Rights Council, aligning with Project 2025’s call for reducing U.S. involvement in global institutions. The administration has also prioritized an “America First” approach, sanctioning countries that refuse to comply with hardline immigration policies. In domestic policy, Trump has rolled back climate change regulations, promoted fossil fuel energy, and reinstated anti-abortion policies like the Hyde Amendment and the Mexico City Policy. He has also restricted transgender rights by banning gender-affirming care for minors, reinstating the transgender military ban, and defunding schools that allow transgender women to compete in women’s sports. Additionally, Trump has moved to replace career civil servants with political appointees, a major goal of Project 2025, and has taken steps to reform FEMA, impose stricter federal regulations, and increase the use of the death penalty. Although Trump claims he is not directly following Project 2025, many of his policies closely reflect its proposals, raising concerns among Democrats. Vought’s nomination remains controversial due to his deep ties to the project and his role in previous efforts to halt federal spending. The full extent of Trump’s alignment with Project 2025 remains uncertain, as a secret 180-day playbook developed by the initiative has not been made public. Choose a policy area (DEI, border security, education) and research how the recently passed executive orders compare to the policy proposals outlined in Project 2025. Write a summary of your findings.
5. PANAMA RESPONDS TO U.S. CLAIMS
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino denied claims from the U.S. State Department that the country had agreed to let U.S. warships pass through the Panama Canal for free. He said that he does not have the power to set or waive canal fees and was surprised by the U.S.’s statement. The Panama Canal Authority also confirmed that no fee adjustments had been made. This issue arose after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama and said that since the U.S. is responsible for protecting the canal under a treaty, it shouldn’t have to pay transit fees. He also warned Panama about China’s growing influence in the canal area, which President Donald Trump believes may violate the treaty that gave Panama control of the canal in 1999. U.S. warships have only made up 0.3% of the canal’s traffic since 1998, paying a total of $25.4 million in fees. The fees are based on ship size, and Panama’s constitution prevents them from being waived. Mulino plans to discuss the situation with Trump, but for now, Panama insists that all ships, including U.S. military vessels, must pay to use the canal. What role to the U.S. have in protecting international trade routes? Look up the country’s history on this topic an write a short summary of what you learned. Then, write a paragraph that synthesizes how the U.S.’s relations with other countries might be affected based on current events surrounding the Panama Canal.
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