Pass-Ed's Living Textbook
Free Lesson Plans for Teachers
Alpha Stage
Assassination in Lebanon
November 22, 2006






Newspapers across the world are reporting on the assassination of the
Lebanese minister of industry, 34 year old, Pierre Gemayel. The
Washington Post states:

The assassination dealt a hard blow to Lebanese leaders struggling to
maintain control of the country. The government was already fragile
after a mass resignation of opposition Cabinet ministers. Now, the loss
of one more minister could cause the government to fall. Gemayel's
assassination was the latest in a string of attacks on Lebanese leaders
critical of Syria.
Read the article!!


Discussion-Starters for Younger Students:

  • Ask your students if they know who runs a school. Does this
    person run the institution alone? Who helps him/her? You might
    suggest that a secretary (or a teacher) helps the person run the
    institution. You might ask your students to draw a picture or
    write a story about the people who run a school.

  • Tell your students that a small group of people help the leader
    of a school run it. Ask them what would happen to the
    institution if one day the people who run it did not come to
    work? Encourage them to explain their opinions.

  • Inquire as to whether or not your students can think of any
    reason that somebody might not want the school to run
    properly? Can you think of any additional reasons?

  • What would happen if the school stopped running properly?
    You might make a list on the board. Ask your children if they
    think that this would be good or bad. Encourage them to
    explain their opinions. What do you think?

Discussion-Starters for Older Students:

  • Ask your students what the following words mean,
    "assassination," "government minister," "conspiracy," and
    "retaliation."

  • Ask if they have ever wanted to retaliate against somebody for
    something? Why? Ask if retaliation is a good thing. You might
    have them write a paper in response to these questions, or a
    quick-write.

  • The article explains that if one more Lebanese cabinet member
    leaves the cabinet, the Lebanese government will fall. A new
    government will have to be elected. Ask your students if they
    think it is important for a country to have a government.
    Encourage them to explain their opinions. Why might
    somebody in Lebanon not want the country to have a
    government? Students might begin answering these questions
    in small groups and then reconvene as a larger class.

  • If possible, look at a map of the Middle East with your
    students. One map is located here.

  • Why might people think that the situations are related?
If you like these
lesson ideas
you'll love our
newsletter!!
Learn More!!
Google