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Free Lesson Plans for Teachers
Alpha Stage
British Sailors Captured
March 23, 2007







The BBC is running an article entitled, "UK Sailors Captured at
Gunpoint."

Iranian forces captured two boats of sailors. The British government
maintains that these ships did not leave Iraqi waterways.

According to the article, Commodore Kevin Aandahl of the U.S. Navy
said, "that the Royal Navy personnel should be given credit for a 'very
cool' response and not escalating the situation."

Read the Article!!


Discussion-Starters for Younger Children

  • Ask your students to explain the meaning of the word, "wall."
  • Consider asking them to right a sentence or two in
    which they explain what this word means.

  • Ask your students what they think that somebody should do
    when they get mad at somebody else instead of hitting them.
  • Ask students to pretend that they are teachers and have
    to teach their students what to do. In groups of two or
    three ask them to prepare short "lessons." After the
    students have presented, they should consider that they
    likely saw lessons with several different strategies.

  • Ask your students what they think it would feel like to be
    captured by an enemy. (This might be a good opportunity to
    discuss the importance of safety with your child(ren) and
    remind them not to fully trust people whom they do not know.)
  • Consider asking students to develop lists with "feeling
    words." The entire class could work together
    collaboratively.

  • Do your students think that it is ever appropriate to hit or kick
    somebody? When and why might it be appropriate to do so?
  • Consider asking students to interview their parents, or
    other adults significant to them. using these questions as
    prompts.


Discussion-Starters for Older Students

  • Vocabulary terms to discuss: Maritime; Territorial; Tactical;
    and, Professional.

  • Tell your students to imagine that a British boat had watched
    from a distance as the Iranians captured the British sailors.
    Assuming that the British boat was heavily armed, should the
    boat have entered Iranian waters to secure their comrades'
    freedom? Why/why not?
  • These questions might prompt an interesting class
    discussion. What might have been the consequence(s) if
    the British boat had followed the Iranians and their
    prisoners?

  • The article reports that the last time Iran captured British
    sailors, "The men were paraded blindfolded and made to
    analogy on Iranian TV before their release was agreed." Ask
    your students why Iran might have done this. Was it simply to
    humiliate the soldiers? Why/why not?
  • Tell students to imagine that they are political
    commentators reporting on this parade. What might they
    have said to explain it?

  • Ask your students to respond to the following analogy: The
    capture of British sailors by Iran could start a major war
    between Iran and the West can be compared to a pebble
    causing a pool to overflow. Does this analogy make sense?
    Why/why not? Ask your students if they can develop any of
    their own analogies to explain this current event story.
  • In groups of two or three, students could develop their
    own analogies.
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(C) 2007, Andrew Pass Educational Services, LLC.