Free Lesson Plans for Teachers: The Fall Guy

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Free Lesson Plans for Teachers
Alpha Stage

The Fall Guy
April 27, 2007

The New York Times is running an article entitled, "Ex-C.I.A. Chief, in
Book, Assails Cheney on Iraq."

The article begins, "George J. Tenet, the former director of central
intelligence, has lashed out against Vice President Dick Cheney and other
Bush administration officials in a new book, saying they pushed the
country to war in Iraq without ever conducting a "serious debate" about
whether Saddam Hussein posed an imminent threat to the United States."

It adds, "Mr. Tenet admits that he made his famous "slam dunk" remark
about the evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. But he
argues that the quote was taken out of context and that it had little impact
on President Bush's decision to go to war. He also makes clear his bitter
view that the administration made him a scapegoat for the Iraq war."

Read the article!

Discussion-Starters for Younger Children

Have your students ever gotten into trouble for something that
they did not do? What? Have they ever gotten into trouble for
something that somebody else did? What? How did this make
them feel? Why?

Consider asking your students to identify when it's fair to
punish somebody. As a class consider listing three criteria
that must be met before punishing somebody.

Have your students ever spied on somebody else? Whom did they
spy on? Why did they spy? Did they get caught?

Students could draw a picture of a spy scene.

Have your students ever gotten frustrated when something did not
go their way? What didn't go their way? What could have helped
them avoid getting frustrated?

Students could write a few sentences about a situation
within which they became frustrated.

Do your students have any responsibilities at home? What are
their responsibilities? Are their consequences if they don't fulfill
their responsibilities? What are they? Do your students think it's
fair that their are consequences if they don't fulfill their
responsibilities? Why/Why not? Do adults face consequences if
they don't fulfill their responsibilities?

Ask your students to list three responsibilities that they
have. Consider posting these lists on a class wall titled,
"Our Responsibilities!"

Discussion-Starters for Older Students

Vocabulary terms to discuss: Imminent; Accusatory; "Taken Out
of Context"; and, Indictments.

What motivations do your students think that Mr. Tenet might
have had for writing his book? What are some of the various
reasons that anybody might write anything?

In groups of two or three students could identify four
purposes of writing. Afterwards, the groups can report out
to the rest of the class.

What is a "fall guy"? How might the existence of fall guys be good
for American society? How might their existence have a negative
impact on society? Explain!

These questions might prompt interesting five point essays.

The article explains, "Mr. Tenet confesses to "a black, black time"
two months after the 2001 attacks when, sitting in front of his
house in his favorite Adirondack chair, he 'just lost it.'" Ask your
students to describe a time in which they've been overwhelmed
about something. How did they (might they have) effectively
overcome this feeling? Do your students think it's ever beneficial
to feel overwhelmed? Why/why not?

Students could develop graphic organizers depicting
actions they can take to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
Consider distributing colored paper and glue. Ask students
to produce a product, by tearing and gluing paper together,
of something that they can do to avoid becoming
frustrated. Ask students not to write on or cut the paper.
(These constraints eliminate undue stress from the activity
as most people do not have much experience tearing and
gluing paper.

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