Pass-Ed's Living Textbook
Free Lesson Plans for Teachers
Alpha Stage
Anna
February 14, 2007





Last night Larry King interviewed Judge Judy about her perceptions of
the legal issues surrounding Anna Nicole Smith's death and the child
custody case. The judge said that she was dismayed with the amount
of attention that Anna's death and daughter have received given the
significant events of our day.

Today, in searching for an article, I came across a Newsweek story
entitled, "Anna Nicole's Tabloid Odyssey."

The article explains, "There was grittiness and pathos in her pursuit of
celebrity; she was an underdog some cheered for. But her death last
week of unexplained causes seemed more tawdry than sad. Her
psyche did not appear all that complicated. In her guileless way, she
explained that she loved photographers because they gave her the
attention she had missed as a child. More interesting and revealing is
the way the tabloid world created her, exploited her and is now
burying her."
Read it!!


Discussion-Starters for Younger Children

  • Ask your students what they think is more important: learning
    or eating. Why? Encourage them to explain why both are
    important.
  • Consider making a list of reasons why each is
    important. Then have students determine which is most
    important. You might also use a Venn Diagram to
    compare these two concepts.

  • Ask your students if they'd prefer to play or learn about
    something very serious. Encourage them to explain their choice.
  • You could ask students to write a couple of sentences
    explaining their choice.

  • Do your students think it's possible to learn while they are
    having fun? Why/why not? Have they ever learned and had fun
    at the same time? When?
  • Consider asking students to make up a fun way to teach
    somebody else something.

  • Ask your students if they've ever talked about somebody else.
    Why did they talk about this person?
  • Make sure that students do not mention anybody's
    name. Do people tend to talk abut others in nice ways or
    mean ways? Why?


Discussion-Starters for Older Children

  • Vocabulary terms to discuss: Sashayed; Paparazzi; Guileless;
    and, Tawdry.

  • Tell your students to pretend that the producer of a national
    news show asked whether or not the show should cover the
    story surrounding Anna's death if it means cutting down on the
    amount of coverage available to the U.S. presidential election
    and war in Iraq. Clearly the later two topics are more important
    but so much of the American public is interested in Anna's
    death. Encourage your students to explain their thoughts.
  • These questions might make for an interesting class
    discussion.

  • A thoughtful colleague of mine once said that she didn't
    understand why many intelligent people looked down upon
    people who use their bodies to make a living. Ask your students
    if they think that people who use their bodies to make a living
    are immoral. What does it mean to use your body to make a
    living? What does the word "moral" mean? Are garbage
    collectors and other manual laborers, who use their bodies to
    make a living, immoral?
  • It might be easier to ask students to respond to these
    questions in writing rather than in a class discussion.
    Perhaps students could comment on one another's
    writing (in writing) after they have completed it.

  • Ask your students to respond to the following statement: "The
    buzz surrounding Anna Nicole's death is typical of American
    culture. The American people don't care about important things
    anymore. Our lack of concern for important things is going to
    mean the demise of the U.S. as a major superpower."
    Encourage your students to explain their thoughts.
  • You could ask students to develop commentaries in
    which they explain what the buzz around Miss Smith's
    death indicates about the American psyche.

  • This essay written by Newsweek's Andy Borowitz entitled,
    "CNN: 'We Dropped the Ball,'" is definitely worth the read.
  • Consider asking students to write a parody of another
    relevant topic.
If you like these
lesson ideas
you'll love our
newsletter!!
Learn More!!
Google
 
Take a look at these lesson ideas, as well:

Dow Falls        What's in a Promise?        The Best Teacher
British Sailors Captured        Pelosi in Syria
Protecting Private Property       Horrible Day        There's Something about Old Age