Lesson Plans

Museum of Current Crises

Image by Amy Toensing.

Go to the Pulitzer Center Issues page and explore at least four different Issues.

You will be assigned one of the countries covered in one of these gateways.

You should begin your research at the Pulitzer Gateways, but it does not need to end there. As you need more information or search for ideas, make use of reliable sources as needed.

You will create a museum-style exhibit that will cover the country and issue you are assigned. This exhibit should:

  1. Summarize the issue and country
  2. What is the crisis?
  3. Where and when is it concentrated?
  4. What caused it?
  5. Why is it happening there and now?
  6. Who is affected and how?
  7. Explain 2-3 different ways in which this modern problem could be taught.
    • How would you teach this issue?
    • What ways does it connect to the essential theme or questions of the course? Where does it fit in?
  8. Outline a concrete action plan.
    • Identify one specific way in which you can do something about this crisis and how you would implement this social action plan.
    • Be sure to include the details of what action should be taken and what the desired result will be.
    • Try to identify a way to address the issue that is satisfying to you and that would make you feel like you really accomplished something.

Create a presentation of no more than five minutes to share in class.

Include a printed bibliography of any sources beyond the Pulitzer Center Issues.

Educator Notes: 

This lesson plan was used at Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. Martin Moran's 9th grade history class used the Pulitzer Gateways as a guidepost for a semester-long project.

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