Most Recent Current Events Lessons

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In this section, the most recent lesson plans are listed in chronological order by post date.

  • Hantavirus Outbreak Lesson Plan

    How can a disease outbreak shows us the strengths and limitations of international cooperation and international organizations like the WHO? This differentiated lesson for Grades 6-12 explores globalization, sovereignty, and the limits of international health cooperation through the 2026 Hantavirus outbreak.

  • Indian Census 2027 Lesson Plan

    India’s first census in 16 years includes a controversial first: counting caste. This differentiated lesson explores what governments choose to count, who benefits from that data, and what it means for identity and power. Lesson differentiated for grades 6-12, GCSE, A-Level, and IB/AP.

  • 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 can (and can’t) do.

  • 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 why global shocks land harder on poorer countries, with differentiated readings and real price data for Grades 6-12.

  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Quits OPEC Lesson Plan

    Should countries stay in organizations even if they feel the rules aren’t fair? The UAE just walked away from OPEC after nearly 60 years. This lesson uses that decision to explore sovereignty, interdependence, and the limits of international cooperation.

  • Peru’s Disrupted 2026 Election Lesson Plan

    What happens when you can’t trust the results of an election, and how can you build that trust back? Peru’s 2026 election hit turbulence before a single vote was counted. This lesson will have students explore the importance of trust in elections, in three reading levels from grades 6-12.

  • EU vs. Hungary’s Anti-LGBTQ Law

    The EU’s top court ordered Hungary to scrap its anti-LGBTQ+ law. Can the EU actually enforce it? A lesson in three reading levels on rights, sovereignty, and supranational power.

  • Anthropic’s Mythos AI Lesson Plan

    Is AI getting too dangerous? When Anthropic announced in April 2026 that its new AI model, Mythos, was too dangerous to release publicly, it sparked a global debate: who gets to decide how powerful AI can become, and who should be in charge of the rules? This lesson uses the Mythos case and the EU’s…

  • ‘Lost Canadians’ Citizenship Law Lesson Plan

    A new Canadian law has made millions of Americans eligible for citizenship by descent and thousands are already applying. This ready-to-teach lesson unpacks the “Lost Canadians” story through the lens of identity, equality, and rights. Includes differentiated readings and discussion questions for Grades 6–12 in three levels.

  • Hungary Election 2026 Lesson Plan

    Hungary’s 2026 election ended 16 years of Orbán’s rule in a historic landslide. Three differentiated readings explore legitimacy, power, sovereignty and what truly makes an election democratic.

  • 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 families. This lesson explores the competing values of protection, rights, and government power through three differentiated readings for Grades 6–12, plus tiered discussion questions and a critical thinking task.

  • Solar Farming Tractors in Malawi Lesson Plan

    A UK university spin-out is bringing solar-powered micro tractors to rural Malawi — doubling crop yields and delivering electricity to communities with almost no grid access. This lesson uses the Aftrak case to explore the concepts of power and equality across three differentiated reading levels for Grades 6–12.

  • Iran War Ceasefire Lesson Plan

    A two-week ceasefire in the Iran War. One big question: why is stopping a war so much easier than making peace last? Current events lesson in three grade levels.

  • Artemis Space Program Lesson Plan

    Who goes to the Moon, and who makes the rules when they get there? This lesson uses the Artemis II launch to explore nationalism, sovereignty, and global governance in three reading levels for Grades 6–12.

  • Strait of Hormuz Crisis Lesson Plan

    Iran’s declaration that the Strait of Hormuz is closed has triggered an energy crisis felt from the Persian Gulf to Southeast Asia and Europe. This three-level lesson (Grades 6–12) unpacks how a regional conflict becomes a global economic shock — and what that reveals about sovereignty, globalization, and the hidden vulnerabilities of an interconnected world.

  • Europe’s Fiscal Policies Lesson Plan

    When France’s deficit hit nearly double the EU limit, Brussels stepped in. This three-level lesson unpacks government debt, austerity, and who bears the cost.

  • Elbows Up, Canada Lesson Plan

    When the U.S. threatened tariffs and annexation in 2025, Canadians responded with rallies, boycotts, and a hockey phrase that went global. Explore nationalism and sovereignty through three differentiated grade bands.

  • Shrinking Aral Sea Lesson Plan

    Can the world help restore a sea that humans destroyed? This differentiated lesson uses the Aral Sea’s unequal recovery to teach globalization and equality across three grade bands.

  • Kenya Gen-Z Protests Lesson Plan

    Kenya’s Gen Z protesters defeated a tax bill using TikTok, WhatsApp, and a shared generational identity. Explore civic power, rights, and accountability across three grade bands.

  • Bangladesh Factory Fire Lesson Plan

    A classroom-ready current events lesson on the 2025 Bangladesh garment factory fire. Explores globalization and interdependence through three differentiated reading bands for grades 6–12.

  • 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 and legitimacy for Grades 6–12, built around one of Asia’s most significant democratic moments.

  • Social Media Addiction Case

    A landmark trial is underway in Los Angeles. A young woman named Kaley is suing Meta and Google, claiming their platforms — Instagram and YouTube — were deliberately designed to be addictive to young users. The case is one of roughly 1,600 similar lawsuits in the United States.

  • Cuban Fuel Crisis Lesson Plan

    Cuba’s 2026 fuel crisis and U.S. sanctions left thousands stranded. Explore interdependence, energy security, and global power in this ready-to-use lesson.

  • Iran Protests Lesson Plan

    Iran Protests Lesson Plan

    Included in this lesson: Lesson Sources and Further Reading Amnesty International – What Happened at the Protests in Iran? Reuters – Iran President says Trump, Netanyahu stirred tensions in protests The Guardian – “We Want the Mullah’s Gone”: economic crisis sparks biggest protests in Iran since 2022 UN – Briefing of High Commissioner for Human…

  • The Capture of Nicolas Maduro Lesson Plan

    Included in this lesson: Lesson Sources and Further Reading Council on Foreign Relations – Maduro’s Capture and International Law: The Noriega Precedent University of Cambridge – The US capture of Venezuela’s Maduro: An international legal analysis The Guardian – Is there any legal justification for the US attack on Venezuela? CBC Kids News – Why…

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