Free Lesson Plans for Teachers: Congress and the President Agree

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Free Lesson Plans for Teachers
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Congress and the President Agree - Not
May 25, 2007

The Boston Globe is running an article entitled, "Bush Predicts Bloody
Summer in Iraq; House Oks Funding."

The article states, "Before the House approved a measure to continue
funding for the war, the president warned that insurgent forces in Iraq
would deliberately step up attacks against US troops and Iraqi civilians
in advance of September, when administration officials are scheduled
to deliver progress reports on the war to Congress."

The article explains, "Despite growing public discontent with the war,
Bush won a key victory on Capitol Hill, where the House voted 280 to
142 for a measure that would continue funding for the war without
imposing any schedule for troop withdrawals. Many Democrats voted
against it -- including the entire Massachusetts delegation -- but strong
GOP support ensured passage of the bill, which would provide $120
billion for the war and some domestic programs unrelated to the
conflict." The Senate approved the bill last night.

Read the A rticle!!

Discussion-Starters for Younger Children

Have your students ever been in an argument or fight that
ended with nobody getting exactly what they wanted? What
happened? Why didn't anybody get what they wanted?

Write the word "Compromise" on the board. Explain it's
meaning. Then ask students to write words that start
with each of the letters of "compromise."

What kind of clothes do your students like to wear in the
winter? Why? What kind of clothes do they like to wear in the
summer? Why? How would they feel if they had to wear
summer clothes in the winter and winter clothes in the
summer? Why? Can your students imagine any situation in
which they would wear heavy clothes in the summer?
Encourage them to explain!!

Students could write a list of adjectives to describe
winter clothes and summer clothes.

What do your students think is the most important thing in the
word? Why do they think this way?

Students could write several short sentences in response
to these questions.

Have your students ever been told that they have five minutes
before they have to go to bed? What do they like to do during
these five minutes? Do they like knowing that they have five
minutes left or would they prefer to just be told to go to sleep?
Encourage them to explain!!

Students could develop skits as if they had five minutes
left before they have to go to bed.

Discussion-Starters for Older Students

Vocabulary terms to discuss: Catastrophic; Undermined;
Benchmarks; and, Jeopardizing.

Though Congress does not have the power to end the war, it
does have the power to fund the war. Should Congress simply
stop funding the war which would require the troops to come
home? Why/why not?

Ask students to consider these questions from the
perspectives of soldiers in Iraq, Iraqis themselves, and
political leaders. How are these perspectives similar and
how are they different?

Do your students think it's appropriate to ask who won the
debate over Iraq, President Bush or the Democratic led
Congress. Why/why not? The Democrats wanted to include a
definite date when troops serving in Iraq should begin to come
home. The legislation does not include such a date. Does this
mean that President Bush, who did not want the date included,
won? Why/why not?

Consider asking students to respond to these questions
in the voice of Thomas Jefferson, a great champion of
democracy.

Why does President Bush believe that the summer has the
potential to be very bloody? Explain!! Do your students agree
or disagree with the President? Why?

These questions might prompt an interesting class
discussion.

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