Pass-Ed's Living Textbook
Free Lesson Plans for Teachers
Alpha Stage
Gaza
September 14, 2006







The top headline on the New York Times' website is titled "Cut Off,
Gazan Economy Nears Collapse." The article reports:

Hamas promised security in its victorious election campaign. But it has
failed at that, said Hamdi Shaqqura of the Palestinian Center for
Human Rights. “There is security chaos and no respect for law,” he
said, and a prime reason is the involvement of the police and security
forces, many of them from Fatah, in the lawlessness, and the constant
clashes with militia and gunmen affiliated with Hamas.

I've got to be honest, as a strong supporter of Israel I feel a little
awkward posting this entry this morning. Not because I blame the
Israelis for what is happening in Gaza. I know that while Israel has
recognized the right of the Palestinian Authority to exist, Hamas is bent
on destroying the Israeli nation. At the same time, I fear that many
people will blame Israel for what is happening in Gaza. But alas, I felt
like I was weaseling out if I didn't post the article that most caught my
attention this morning.
Read the article!!


Discussion Starters

  • Tell students to pretend that they are a living in Gaza. Ask them
    to write a journal entry, perhaps a blog entry, of what their life
    might be like.

  • Tell students that many people blame the situation in Gaza on
    the Israelis. After either explaining the article to them or having
    them read it, ask who they think is to blame for the economic
    unrest in Gaza. Encourage them to explain thier positions. They
    might even blog on this.

  • Show students the map pasted at the top of this blog. Ask them
    to explain what they see. Be sure to tell them to pay attention to
    the insert as well as the larger map. You might ask them to
    work in groups of two or three to make notes on what they
    see. Then reconvene the class and compare notes.

  • The people of Gaza (and the people of the West Bank) are
    going to have to establish their own nation and support
    themselves, if they are to ever live at a higher socio-economic
    status. Ask students what it would take to establish a nation.
    Have them work in groups to consider what the people of Gaza
    should do to lift themselves out of poverty. (Tell students that
    their plan has to have at least four different parts.) They might
    present their thoughts back to the class, or to the larger
    community, in a podcast. After students have had a chance to
    consider these ideas and present them back to the class,
    discuss them.

  • What else could a teacher do to effectively use this article in
    teaching?
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