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Activities and Resources

Activities

Pirates of Somalia: The New Blackbeards

 

The West African country of Somalia has scarce resources, a barely functioning central government, and widespread poverty and crime. Have students research modern Somalia, paying close attention to its conflicts, lawlessness, and the lives of its people. Then discuss as a class what some of the underlying reasons may be that allow pirates to flourish in that country. Ask students how other countries might be able to help Somalia recover.

 

Looking for Smart Stuff? Click here to download Issue 6's edition (PDF).

Answers to the Issue 6 SmartStuff are listed on Page 2 of the Issue 6 Teacher's Guide that accompanies Current Events magazine.

 

Resources

 

THE NEW BLACKBEARDS:

• Use a rollover version of the piracy map at the International Maritime Bureau to learn about recent pirate attacks on ships around the world and to compare attack locations this year to previous years: www.icc-ccs.org/imb/overview.php.

• Learn about the wreckage of Blackbeard’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, at the North Carolina Maritime Museum: www.ncmaritime.org.

• Read the United Nations Convention on the Law of the High Seas and learn about its history: www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_historical_perspective.htm.

A SUPERSIZE BAN:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides an overview of obesity issues and related health concerns in the United States: www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/index.htm.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers lesson plans on nutrition and other classroom resources at www.mypyramid.gov/kids/index.html.

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