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Vibrant Cultures – Diverse Perspectives – Meaningful Experiences

Resources for CTE Students

CTE Online Comprehensive online lesson library EverFi Online lessons for middle school and high school students, including STEM, Digital Wellness, Character Ed, Financial Literacy, and more iCEV College and career readiness Kuder Navigator All PISD students have...

Online International Education Resources

Online International Education Resources

Thankfully, you don’t have to leave your home for a global education. Here, you’ll find a curated list of free educational resources that we will continuously update for your use.

Community News

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Japan-U.S. Relations (Handout)

China-Japan ties at ‘historic turning point’ after Shinzo Abe’s visit, but can the goodwill hold? Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s latest China visit marked a major effort to reset the tumultuous relations between the two Asian giants amid a backdrop of historical...

Country in Focus: Qatar (Student Handout)

Country in Focus: Qatar (Student Handout)

Qatar Lesson Handout CURRENT DIPLOMATIC STRUGGLES IN QATAR https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40173757 https://www.cfr.org/conference-calls/understanding-qatars-diplomatic-crisis ****...

Global Energy Demand ( Handout)

Lesson Handout Sustainable Development Environmental problems are considered a significant issue by the international community. Due to various factors such as population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and poverty, many countries are facing problems such as...

Global Energy Demand (Background & Activities)

Global Energy Demand   BACKGROUND The global demand for energy has been accelerated by the increasing dependence of it in the modern world. However, consumption and demand growth could have dangerous consequences for the world’s climate. It is estimated that...

NATO (Handout)

1. NATO is seen favorably in many member countries, but almost half of Americans say it does too little Representatives from the 29 countries that form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will gather for a summit this month in Brussels. The meeting takes...

NATO (Background & Activities)

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) BACKGROUND The nations of Europe struggled to rebuild their economies and ensure their securities after WWII, and Secretary of State George Marshall proposed a program of large-scale economic aid to Europe. The European...

The State Department(Handout)

HISTORY AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT The State Department known originally as the Department of Foreign Affairs, was approved by Congress and President George Washington in July 1789. In that same year its name was changed to the Department of State...

The State Department (Background & Activities)

BACKGROUND Established in 1789 as the nation’s first executive department, the U.S. Department of State was created for the purpose of furthering U.S. foreign policy abroad. Through a team of diplomats, among those including Foreign Service officers and Civil Service...

Mexican Elections

Mexican Elections BACKGROUND In September 2018 WAC will focus on the Mexican Elections and learned about how past and current elections have effected Mexican citizens and Mexico-US  relations. Given the current humanitarian crisis on the border, discussing the Mexican...

The Catalonian Question

The Catalonian Question

THE CATALONIAN QUESTION   BACKGROUND   In April, WAC learned about the Catalonian desire to separate from Spain. To understand Spain’s cultural predicament, we must go back to the Reconquista1: Spain does not yet exist as a nation, instead there are six...

A Prince’s Vision (Saudi Arabia)

A Prince’s Vision (Saudi Arabia)

MAY A PRINCE’S VISION BACKGROUND In May WAC learned about the current state of the Saudi Arabian throne and its history starting in 1932, most of the central Arabian Peninsula was united under a certain chieftain, known to many as Ibn Saud1. His name lives on in the...

The Turkey of Today (Erdogan’s Turkey)

The Turkey of Today (Erdogan’s Turkey)

MARCH THE TURKEY OF TODAY Background In March, WAC discussed the history of Atatürk’s Turkey and its differences today. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk1 is known as the father of the modern Turkish state; he founded Turkey as we know it today, with its modern, Western, secular...

Country in Focus: Qatar (Background & Activities )

BACKGROUND Qatar, a small country located on the Arabian (Persian) gulf off the Eastern shore of Saudi Arabia, gained its independence in 1971 and has been taking the world by storm ever since. As of 2007, Qatar is the wealthiest nation per capita in the world. This...

The Israel-Palestine Conflict

The Israel-Palestine Conflict

NOVEMBER THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT BACKGROUND In November WAC learned about the history of the Holy Land and the current divide between the Muslim Palestinians and Jewish Israelites. The region of Palestine1 traces its history to Neolithic times; situated in the...

Militancy in the Middle East

Militancy in the Middle East

NOVEMBER MILITANCY IN THE MIDDLE EAST BACKGROUND In November WAC learned about the Middle East and its militant past. Known for this reason as the Cradle of Civilization, the Middle East1 was one of the earliest birthplaces of civilization. It saw the rise and fall of...

Southeast Asia Geography Lesson Plan

GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHEAST ASIA Introduction A. Historical Background Foreign countries controlled all of Southeast Asia, except Thailand, during the early 1900s. Britain ruled Burma and Malaya. The Philippines fought a war of independence against Spain from 1896 to 1898;...

Politics and Security in Taiwan Lesson Plan

Introduction Throughout its history, Taiwan’s internal politics have been inextricably linked with its cross-Strait relations with China. This lesson examines the modern history of Taiwan, and then focuses on the current political and security situation of the island....

Introduction to Southeast Asia Lesson Plan

An Introduction to Southeast Asia Today By Linda G. Levister Overarching goal: To introduce students to the effects of natural and man made environments on some of the people of Southeast Asia that they will develop a greater understanding of Diaspora and in turn...

Cambodia and Angkor Wat Lesson Plan

Cambodia and Angkor Wat Lesson Plan

Angkor What? Angkor Wat! Introduction Beginning in the 9th century the Khmer empire, which was based in what is today northwestern Cambodia, began to gather power and territory in mainland Southeast Asia. It would grow to be one of the largest empires in Southeast...

The Khmer Rouge in Cambodia Lesson Plan

Cambodia Lesson Plan: the Khmer Rouge Scott Church, Guilford High School, Rockford, Illinois July 2003 Grade Level(s):  9-11 Subject:    Honors World History; Regular US History Topic: What are the social, economic and political effects of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia?...