Target Curriculum: History and Social Science Target Grades: 9, 10 SOLs: HSS 10.14, HSS 10.11, HSS 9.11 Time: One 45- to 60-minute class at the culmination of Middle East study Objective and Goals: Students will demonstrate basic knowledge of modern Middle Eastern history, politics, and political figures. They will assess the validity of generalizations and stereotypes that impede the Middle East peace process. Through role playing, students will show that they have learned specifics of major conflicts: the 1948 War, 1956 Suez Crisis, 1967 Six-Day War, 1973 Yom Kippur War, Lebanese Civil War, Iran-Iraq War, and Persian Gulf War. Students should clearly display that they understand patterns of prejudice and discrimination between Arabs and Jews. Materials: Name tags, coffee, tea, cream, sugar, cups, and list of roles. Procedure: Students are assigned to research one person on the following list and turn in a short paper with an assessment of their subject's position on peace in the Middle East. Possible roles include the following (living and dead leaders were both included as students often want to play some of the "old timers"): Israel - David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Dayan, Golda Meir, Menachem Begin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yitzhak Rabin, Ehud Barak PLO - Yasir Arafat Egypt - Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat, Hosni Mubarak Syria - Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad Jordan - King Hussein, King Abdullah Iraq - Saddam Hussein U.S. - Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright Russia - BorisYeltsin, Vladimir Putin Students should be told: "On the assigned day, you will pretend to be your person at an imaginary U.N. coffee break. You need to talk to others there, explain your views and learn theirs. The basis of your grade will be the degree to which you express your ideas in an articulate fashion and your ability to draw out other characters' opinions. You may wear a costume if you desire. Your costume will not be a major component of the grade but will help you earn the full number of points. You are encouraged to speak directly to the other characters and to ask them questions." On the day of the activity, each person wears a nametag. As the students fix and drink coffee and tea, they discuss peace possibilities and past problems from their character's point of view. Observation: The use of name tags, costumes, and coffee and teapots sets the mood and makes this a special day. It helps to critique the role playing afterwards. Last year, I was pleased with my students' grasp of issues and personalities. This year I will videotape the activity. Written By: Sue Robertson (robertss4@hotmail.com) Submitted By: Sue Robertson Grade Taught: 9 and 10 School: Mills E. Godwin High School Division: Henrico County Public Schools

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