Take Off!!

CNN is running an article entitled, "From Doughnuts to Lift Off, Apollo 11 Launch was Blast." (Sometimes intriguing articles get silly titles. Jack King, Chief of Public Information at the Kennedy Center in 1969, stopped for donuts before heading to the launch and becoming known as "the voice of Appollo 11.") The article states, "Forty years after America's launch of Apollo 11, the U.S. space program is at a different crossroads, challenged in recent years to return to the moon and to recapture the ambition that launched the space race in 1961. Back then, a dazzled nation heard the big dreams of a youthful Ivy League-educated, senator-turned president."

1. What information do you think that you would need to know in order to intelligently decide if human-beings will ever reach Mars? Do you think that it makes sense for government to spend money towards this objective? Why or why not?

2. The Apollo 11 Mission represented something far larger than itself. Can you think of anything else that represents something far larger than itself? What does it even mean for something to represent something larger than itself?

3. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people were involved in the Apollo 11 Mission. What does it take to work together effectively? What is the hardest part of working collaborative work? What is the easiest part? Why?

4. Do you think that intelligent life forms exist elsewhere in the world? Why or why not? If so, do you think that human beings will ever make contact with these beings? What would you do if one day you looked into the sky and actually saw a UFO hovering above the ground? Why would you do this? What would you think?

Sotomayor's Demeanor During the Hearings

The Washington Post is running an article entitled, "Warming the Room with a Confident Touch." The article states, "Senators hammered Sotomayor for that ('wise Latina') remark all day, but she took no umbrage at any of the questioning. When Jeff Sessions (Ala.), the ranking Republican on the panel, was grilling her for a decision and suggested she could have voted along with one of her fellow judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, "himself of Puerto Rican ancestry," several of Sotomayor's friends and colleagues behind her grimaced in exasperation. The judge's face betrayed no change in her expression of active listening."

According to the article, Senator Diane Feinstein, one of two women on the committee said, "This nominee, I think, has been very straightforward...She has not used catchy phrases. She has answered the questions directly the best she could. And to me, that gets points. I must say that, if there's a test for judicial temperament, you pass it with an A-plus-plus. I want you to know that, because I wanted to respond, and my adrenaline was moving along. And you have just sat there, very quietly, and responded to questions that, in their very nature, are quite provocative. So I want to congratulate you about that."

1. Why do students think that people make certain kinds of faces when they feel specific ways? Do students think that people can always control the faces they make? Why or why not?

2. When it comes to physical demeanor, what is the best way to listen to somebody else? Do students feel that they are more respected when students look at them in certain ways? Why or why not?

3. Why do students think that people shake hands with one another? Is there a difference between shaking hands and hugging? Is there a difference between shaking hands and touching somebody on the shoulder? Are there certain times when certain actions are more appropriate than others?

4. Do students think that it's worthwhile to pay attention to the physical demeanor of Judge Sotomayor? Why or why not? What can we learn from other people by paying attention to their demeanor?

Senate Confirmation Hearings

The Washington Post is running an article entitled, "In Senate Confirmation Hearings, Sotomayor Pledges, 'Fidelity to the Law.'" The article begins, "Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor said yesterday that a simple 'fidelity to the law' is at the heart of her judicial philosophy, as her confirmation hearings began with Senate Republicans delivering a surprisingly strong critique of her fairness and President Obama's reliance on ephemeral qualities of life experience and 'empathy' in nominating her."

1. What do students think that the word "empathy" means? Can they think of any times in which they have been empathetic towards another? Can they think of any times in which somebody has been empathetic towards them?

2. Challenge students to identify the three most important characteristics of a judge. Is it more important for a judge to be caring or a judge to be impartial? Why?

3. Do students think that in some cases a woman judge may rule differently than a male judge? Why or why not?

4. If students could ask Judge Sotomayor one question before the Senate votes on her confirmation, what would they ask? Why? What if they could ask two questions? Why do they think that the first question is more important than the second question?

A New GM

The New York Times is running an article entitled, "With Sale of Its Good Assets, G.M. Tries for a Fresh Start." The article states, "'G.M.’s goal,' (G.M. CEO)Mr. Henderson said, 'is to design, build and sell the best vehicles in the world, something that the company had forgotten. He listed the company’s priorities, in order, as its customers, its cars and its culture.'"

1. Challenge students to consider the three most important characteristics of a high quality car. What separates a high quality car from a low quality car?

2. In the article Mr. Henderson describes G.M.'s top three priorities as customers, cars, and culture. What does it mean to take care of customers well? Do students think that it's easier for a small company to take care of customers or a small company? Why? Should a company agree to all of a customer's demands? Why or why not?

3. Challenge students to define the word "culture". What is the difference between a national culture and a corporate culture? Students could describe the school culture.

4. Do students think that a company should have responsibilities towards employees who lose their jobs after a restructuring? Why or why not?

Economic Stabilization?

Newspapers around the world are reporting on the G8 meetings in Italy. The Wall Street Journal is running an article entitled, "Some Stabilization Signs but Risks Remain." One particular paragraph caught my attention.

Ahead of the meeting, the G8 were split on how to manage the exit from the current downturn, the steepest since World War II, with the U.S. concerned that reversing the stimulus too quickly may hurt the recovery, and Germany fearing that pumping too much public money into the economy may unleash a strong inflation. The leaders pledged to coordinate in repairing the financial system, helping banks to rid their balance sheets of bad assets, while making sure that global competition remains fair.

1. Challenge students to develop a graphic image explaining why reversing the stimulus too quickly may hurt the economy, while injecting too much money into the economy may unleash a strong inflation.

2. Can students think of any ways in which stimulus packages and their potential negative consequences can be compared to rain? What do you think about this comparison?

3. Do students think its important for the leaders of the world to meet together to discuss the economy? Why or why not? Would such conversations have been as important one hundred years ago as they are today? Why or why not?

4. Do students see any signs of economic stimulus in their own communities? If so, what signs?

Michael Jackson's Death

The Washington Post, similar to newspapers around the world, is reporting on the Michael Jackson memorial at the Staple Center in Los Angeles. The article, entitled "Private Funeral Begins; Crowd Gathers at Staple Center," concludes, "...Jackson's Facebook page was clocking up to around 20 new fans per second and was hovering around the 7 million mark -- making it the most popular page on the social media outlet."

View Michael Jackson's Facebook page here.

Questions to Consider:
1. Ask students why they think that so many people are interested in Michael Jackson's death. What does this reveal about human nature? What role does music play in life? Does it play a different role in death?

2. Challenge students to define Facebook? What is a social network site? What can we learn about human nature from the popularity of social network sites? What kinds of skills does somebody need to use social networking skills effectively? In what ways can these skills benefit people in other areas of life?

3. Do students think that the Michael Jackson memorial deserves so much attention? Why or why not?

Pact Between Obama and Russian Leader

The New York Times is running an article entitled, "Obama and Russian Leader Announce Nuclear Deal." The article begins, "The United States and Russia, seeking to move forward on one of the most significant arms control treaties since the end of the cold war, announced Monday that they had reached a preliminary agreement on cutting each country’s stockpiles of strategic nuclear weapons by as much as one-third."

According to the article, “It’s our common, joint responsibility, and we should do our utmost to prevent any negative trends there, and we are ready to do that,” (Russian President) Mr. Medvedev said. “Our negotiations with President Obama have demonstrated that we share the same attitude towards this problem.

Read the Article Here!!

Challenge students to consider whether or not they think that the United States and/or the Soviet Union should keep any nuclear weapons. They should support their opinions thoughtfully.

What one principle do students think that negotiators should keep in mind when they are at the negotiating table? Why?

Do students think that we live in a safe world? Why or why not? What one change would most make this world a safer place? Challenge students to support their suggestions.

If students could say one thing that the entire world would hear in order to try and promote world peace, what would they say? Why?

Check out our unit on the Cuban Missile Crisis!!