Subject(s)
government, social studies, international studies, geography

Estimated Time
Three class days (Activities can be done independently or adopted to fit time constraints of the classroom)

Grade Level
Grades 9 – 12

Objective
Students will:
1. Gain an understanding of the role of Syria in 20th Century Middle Eastern politics.
2. Understand how the events after WWI created modern boundaries of the Middle Eastern countries and led to continued bitterness among many Arab countries.
3. Review brief histories of Syria’s relations with its neighbors and the United States.
4. Evaluate Syria’s success as a major political player in the Middle East.
5. Analyze how its relationship with terrorists groups has helped or hurt Syria’s interests in the Middle East.
6. Hypothesize why Syria and the U.S. should find common ground in their relationship as it pertains to the future of the Middle East.

Lesson Plan