East Asia and the Pacific sit at the centre of some of the defining geopolitical and economic stories of the 21st century. This collection draws on cases from China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Island nations — examining trade and interdependence, territorial disputes, democratic governance, and the acute environmental vulnerabilities facing low-lying Pacific communities. Lessons bring genuinely non-Western perspectives into the classroom without reducing complex societies to stereotypes.
East Asia and Pacific Current Events Lessons:
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Japan’s First Mayor to Take Maternity Leave Lesson Plan
When Japan’s youngest female mayor announced maternity leave, she exposed a system with no rule for the situation. This classroom-ready lesson turns that debate into…
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World Cup 2026 Lesson Plan
This classroom-ready current events lesson using the 2026 FIFA World Cup asks: to what extent are international sporting events political? Includes differentiated readings for Grades…
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Underwater Drone Development Lesson Plan
Australia, the UK, and the US have agreed to jointly develop underwater drone technology through AUKUS. What drives countries to cooperate on security? …and what…
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Nepal’s Gen-Z Revolution Lesson Plan
In 2025, Nepal’s Gen Z took to the streets after the government banned social media… and brought down a Prime Minister. Six months later, a…
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Rodrigo Duterte ICC Trial Lesson Plan
When governments abuse human rights, who stops them? This lesson uses the Duterte drug war case to examine how NGOs and international courts work together,…
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High Seas Treaty Lesson Plan
The High Seas Treaty is now law, but who’s actually responsible for enforcing it? A three-level lesson exploring ocean governance, sovereignty, and what international agreements…
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2026 Global Energy Crisis Lesson Plan
The Philippines: +72.6%. Japan: +8.2%. Same crisis, same global oil market, but very different consequences. This no-prep lesson uses the 2026 Hormuz crisis to explore…
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Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Lesson Plan
In December 2025, Australia became the first country to ban under-16s from major social media platforms — putting the legal burden on tech companies, not…
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Thailand Election and Constitutional Referendum Lesson Plan
Thailand voted yes to a new constitution — but does a yes vote mean the people are truly in charge? A differentiated lesson on sovereignty…