Provided by: Council on Foreign Relations |Published on: September 18, 2023
Articles/Websites Grades 9-12, ap-college
Synopsis
This case study describes the tactical and economic implications of the Arctic sea ice melting and provides guidelines for students to discuss their thoughts on the best course of action.
Students will read the article and can then choose one of the three given courses of action to support in a class discussion.
This provides enough information for students to take a position on the topic, but encourages them to learn more about each option.
There is a wide range of discussion options to choose from.
Additional Prerequisites
Students may need the terms icebreakers, infrastructure, fetter, diplomatic, and others defined, prior to reading the article.
Consider including background or supporting reading assignments prior to using this article for discussion.
Differentiation
Geography students can further discuss the advantages and drawbacks of an ice-free Arctic, then predict other changes and events that may occur as a result.
Geography students can also create a map, demonstrating the tactical and trade advantages an ice-free Arctic provides.
Students can research the types of resources that are becoming available for extraction in the Arctic and discuss the effects on global warming, wildlife habitat, water quality, and global ecosystems if they are used or extracted.
Students may benefit from a graphic organizer as they read and determine what stance they side with in the decision point.
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CFR Education from the Council on Foreign Relations
CFR Education provides accurate, accessible, authoritative resources that build the knowledge, skills, and perspective high school and higher education students need to understand and engage with today’s most pressing global issues.
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