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Activities and Resources

Activities

War Cries

 

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union had a tight grip on the governments of most of eastern Europe. The line dividing the Soviets’ sphere of influence from the NATO allies became known as the “iron curtain.” British Prime Minister Winston Churchill popularized the term in a 1946 speech in the small town of Fulton, Missouri. His speech captured the fears and the economic situation in the world at that time.

 

• Have students read Churchill’s iron curtain speech. As a class, discuss the emotions and the lack of understanding between the two superpowers. Have students compare the fear and mistrust of the Cold War era to the relationship between Russia and the West today. Read Churchill's Iron Curtain speech here or here. Watch part of the speech here. 

 

• Bring sound into the mix by playing Sting’s 1985 song “Russians,” which reflected those Cold War fears almost 40 years later. Go to www.last.fm/music/Sting/_/Russians for audio and video.


Looking for Smart Stuff? Click here to download issue 1's edition (PDF).

Answers to the issue 1 SmartStuff are listed on Page 2 of the Issue 1 Teacher's Guide that accompanies Current Events magazine.

 

Resources

 

WAR CRIES:

• The Cold War Museum: www.coldwar.org/

• CNN’s history of the Cold War: www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/

• The U.S. State Department’s profile of Russia: www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3183.htm

• The Russian embassy in Washington, D.C.: www.russianembassy.org/

TEENS UNDER THE KNIFE:

• Learn about plastic surgery: kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/body_image/plastic_surgery.html

• Read about changing attitudes toward plastic surgery: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25576627/

• Compare celebrities’ noses before and after their rhinoplasty: www.totalbeauty.com/content/drag-drop/f_nose_jobs

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