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Objectives
Main News: Students will learn about the revolt in Syria to overthrow longtime leader Bashar al-Assad. Time Trip takes a tour of the ancient city of Ebla.
News Debate: Students will be able to conduct an informed debate about whether animals should have greater rights.

Standards
COMMON CORE STATE STANDARD
Main News: Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text.

SOCIAL STUDIES (NCSS)
Main News: Power, authority, and governance
News Debate: Science, technology, and society; Civic ideals and practices

Language Arts (NCTE)
Main News: Students read to acquire new information.
News Debate: Students generate ideas and questions.

Geography (NCGE)
Main News: How the forces of conflict and cooperation affect the division and control of Earth’s surfaces

Social Studies Vocabulary
The League of Arab States; U.N. high commissioner for human rights

Skills Builders
Page 3: Comprehension Skills
Page 4: News Crossword

PREVIOUS ISSUES

Issue 1: Game Over?

Issue 2: Always Remember

Issue 3: Got Work?

Issue 4: In Our Galaxy Far, Far Away

Issue 5: Cyberbullying Crackdown

Issue 6: Three Women for Peace

Issue 7: Republican Rumble

Issue 8: Hit Men

Issue 9: War Worries

Issue 10: The War's End

Issue 11: Russia Un-United?

Issue 12: A Fight for Democracy

Issue 13: Dot-Com Revolt

Issue 14: Big Snakes

Coming Apart

Get Talking
Have students locate Syria on a world map. Ask: Why might there be a major revolt there?

Notes Behind the News
• On Nov. 2, 2011, Bashar al-Assad said he would agree to a proposal by the Arab League to stop killing civilians, begin talks with the opposition, and withdraw his soldiers and tanks from city streets. But he didn’t follow through and actually increased his attacks. In response, the Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in the organization and imposed sanctions on Syria. The sanctions included a travel ban on high-ranking Syrian officials, the freezing of Syrian government assets in other Arab nations, and a halt on all transactions with the Syrian government and central bank. It marked the first time the Arab League had taken such actions against a member nation.
• In early February, Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution against the al-Assad regime. The resolution, supported by the United States, Great Britain, and the other members of the council, called for an end to the violence in Syria, for al-Assad to hand over power to his vice president, and for the creation of a unity government that included representatives of the rebels. The vetoes were a clear blow to international efforts to stop the civil war in Syria. On February 6, the U.S. government closed its embassy in Damascus and withdrew diplomatic personnel.

Doing More
What happens in Syria is very important to the United States and its position in the Middle East. Have students use the Internet to research one of the following prompts:
1. Israel is the most important U.S. ally in the Middle East. What has been the relationship between Israel and Syria?
2. Iran is an enemy of both Israel and the United States and a friend of the al-Assad regime in Syria. How does Iran help and support Syria?
3. What is Hezbollah in Lebanon? What is the organization’s chief goal? Which nations support Hezbollah and its goals?

Spouting Off

Get Talking
Ask: Do you think animals deserve to be legally protected from harm? Why or why not? What might be some of the benefits of granting animals greater rights? What might be some of the problems?

Notes Behind the News
• Lawyers for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed suit against SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment in October 2011, complaining that whales were taken from their families, held captive at SeaWorld, and forced to perform for SeaWorld’s profit. PETA went on to note that “slavery doesn’t depend upon the species of the slave, any more than it depends upon the race, gender, or ethnicity of the slave.”
• U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller became the first judge to agree to hear a case about constitutional rights for animals. Shortly afterward, however, he dismissed the case, writing that “the only reasonable interpretation of the Thirteenth Amendment’s plain language is that it applies to persons, and not to non-persons such as orcas.” The judge did agree, however, with PETA’s assertions that orcas are remarkably intelligent creatures. For instance, orcas are very social and family oriented. They communicate using complex vocalizations, and different groups of orcas have distinct dialects as well as different cultures.
• Primates have gained some legal rights and protections in recent years. In June 2008, Spain passed a resolution granting gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans the right to life, liberty, and protection from torture. The law was a victory for the Great Ape Project, an international campaign that lobbies governments to pass laws protecting nonhuman primates. In December 2011, the National Institutes of Health suspended funding for scientific testing on chimpanzees.

Doing More
Hold a class discussion. How are different kinds of animals viewed and treated by humans? What rights do humans have compared with animals? Which, if any, of those rights should be granted to animals? What might be some of the effects of animals having rights? Have students write one-page papers arguing their views.

Click here for the issue's answer key.

Test students' comprehension with this comprehension activity.    

Be sure to try this issue's News Crossword. 

And don't miss this issue's Smart Stuff. 

Teaching Centers and Issue Dates, 2011-2012

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