Putin is Going to Iran

The New York Times is running an article entitled, "Putin Confirms Trip to Iran Despite Reported Threat." The article begins, "President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said today he would travel to Tehran for a meeting of Caspian Sea nations despite a report by a Russian news agency of a possible assassination plot against him there that was immediately dismissed by Iran." President Putin said, " Of course I am going to Iran...If I always listened to all the various threats and the recommendations of the special services I would never leave home.”

Read the Article

Discussion Starters for Younger Students

• Can your students think of any places where it might be dangerous for them to go? If so, where? Why might these places be dangerous?
  
• Consider asking students to make warning signs that can be placed in certain places where students should not go in the school for safety reasons.
  
• Can your students think of any people who work in dangerous places? If so, who? Do your students think that people who do not work in dangerous places should thank people who do work in dangerous places? Why/why not?
  
• Consider asking students to make thank you cards (or thank you pictures) in which they thank people who work in dangerous places, such as police officers or fire fighters.
  
• Do your students think that it's important for people to be able to speak with one another? What can be accomplished when people speak to one another? Ask students to consider why talking might be better than yelling.
  
• Consider asking students to think of as many different ways to communicate with other people, as possible.
  
• If your students did not want somebody to do something what would they try and do to make sure that the person did not do the thing? Why would they try and do this? Have your students ever tried to prevent somebody from doing something? If so, what?
  
• Consider asking students to develop skits in response to these question. Inform students that they should do everything they possibly can, without using force.
  

Discussion Starters for Older Students

• Vocabulary terms to discuss: Disinformation; "Caspian Sea Nations"; Sanctions; and, Arrears.
  
• Ask your students to imagine that they were the thoughts inside of President Putin's head when he heard about the security risk. What might the president have thought? Why might he have thought this?
  
• Students might develop essays in the voice of Putin's thoughts.
  
• Ask students to imagine that they were asked to investigate Iran's intentions for using the nuclear capacity that it is developing. What five questions would they ask if they had the opportunity to speak directly with the Iranian leadership? Why would they ask these five questions?
  
• Students might develop these questions in groups of two or three and then report back to the class.
  
• If the Iranians publicly declared that they were developing nuclear power to use in weapons and refused to stop developing this technology, should the world engage Iran in military conflict to stop the Iranian efforts? Why/why not?
  
• These questions might prompt an interesting class discussion.