Learning Network: The Midterms and a Lesson on the Threats to Democracy Worldwide

Plus: A new contest begins View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Friday, November 9, 2018 [NYTimes.com/Learning »]( Dear Reader, We [heard]( from many students this week that they followed the midterms elections very closely, and we know that’s at least partly because of the inspired curriculum their teachers created to get them involved. Back in October, we [highlighted]( some of those projects, and this week we heard how two of them turned out. James Smith, who teaches at the Dayton Regional STEM School in Ohio, sent us the link to the thoughtful [first-time voters’ guide]( his students created, as well as to the interesting [rhetorical analyses]( of political advertising done by the students of his colleague Jenn Reid. Now that the elections are over, how are you continuing to address civics in your classroom? Here’s one idea: Our latest [lesson plan]( looks at the risks to democracy around the globe and pushes  students to reflect on why democracies are worth protecting, what elements are essential to their health — and how it is that they sometimes fail. I’ll let two students who posted on our site this week have the last word. Here are their (unedited) reflections on Tuesday’s results: With a split government, it is pretty inevitable that democrats and republicans will being running into conflict now, more than ever, even in our communities as well. As of now, I think we all need to start working together and find common ground, rather than continuously bashing each other because of our opinions and labels— [Sara Desrocher, Massachusetts]( “I wish that the stereotyping of each party would cease, as there are radicals, but there are also many more moderates of each party, which is what we need right now as a nation. Listen.” – [Jonah, Philadelphia]( Katherine Schulten, Editor Resources for Teachers Civics [Is Democracy at Risk? A Lesson Plan for U.S. and Global History Classes]( In this lesson, students reflect on why democracies are worth protecting, what elements are essential to a healthy democracy and how it is that democracies sometimes fail. Contests [Our Fourth Annual Student Editorial Cartoon Contest]( Do your students have something to say about climate change, artificial intelligence, the NFL, immigration, college admissions or anything else in the news? Invite them to create an editorial cartoon to show us what they think. Deadline: Dec. 10. What’s Going On in This Graph? [Nov. 14, 2018]( Plan ahead to join our Nov. 14 live discussion about this Thanksgiving-themed graphic. We won’t give anything else away, but we’d love to have your students visit our site that day to “notice and wonder,” as moderators from the American Statistical Association help them go deeper. LIKE THIS EMAIL? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here](. ADVERTISEMENT Resources for Students Current Events Conversation [What Students Are Saying About: The Midterms, Disciplining Children and 100-Word Stories]( The best recent teenage comments in response to our writing prompts — and an invitation to join the ongoing conversation. Film Club [‘Animated Life: Seeing the Invisible’]( How did the discovery of microorganisms change our view of the biological world and our place in it? What’s Going On in This Picture? [Nov. 5, 2018]( Look closely at this image, stripped of its caption, and join the moderated conversation about what you and other students see. Weekly News Quiz for Students [Midterms, Marathon, World’s Tallest Statue]( How well did you follow the news this past week? How many of these 10 questions can you get right? Country of the Week [How Much Do You Know About Namibia?]( Can you find Namibia on a map? What else do you know about this Southern African nation with 2.5 million people? Student Opinion [If You Had an Extra Billion Dollars, What Cause Would You Support With Your Philanthropy?]( What causes do you, as a student, support now — with either your money or your time and effort? Student Opinion [What Is Your Reaction to These Teachers’ Halloween Costumes Depicting Mexican Stereotypes and a Border Wall?]( What do you think the group was trying to convey with their costume choice? Student Opinion [What’s the Best Way to Discipline Children?]( Should spanking ever be used? Why or why not? Student Opinion [Are You a Patient Person?]( Do you think impatience is a big problem for you? Student Opinion [What Are Your Reactions to the Results of the 2018 Midterm Elections?]( How much attention did you pay to the midterm elections? How do you feel about the results? What do you think they mean for you, your community, your state and our nation as a whole? Article of the Day [Learning With: ‘The Mysteries of Animal Movement’]( Are fire ants a liquid or a solid? What is the ideal eyelash length for mammals? Why can mosquitoes fly in the rain but flies can’t? Is this kind of research useful or wasteful? Article of the Day [Learning With: ‘In a Land of Quakes, Engineering a Future for a Church Made of Mud’]( What is the Seismic Retrofitting Project and what does the group hope to accomplish in Kuño Tambo, Peru? Article of the Day [Learning With: ‘How “Makers” Make the Classroom More Inclusive’]( What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever made? Article of the Day [Learning With: ‘How Yemen Became a Humanitarian Nightmare: Untangling a Complex War’]( Who are the main parties in the Yemeni civil war? How did the conflict begin? Why did Saudi Arabia get involved? What does Saudi involvement look like? Article of the Day [Learning With: ‘Democrats Capture Control of House; G.O.P. Holds Senate’]( What does the Democrats’ House takeover represent for them? What does it signal to Republicans? Picture Prompts [Public Libraries]( Are libraries still relevant and important today? Picture Prompts [Giving and Getting]( By KATHERINE SCHULTEN What’s the best or most memorable gift you’ve ever given? Ever received? Why? Picture Prompts [At Their Computers]( What story could this picture tell? Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this photo. [Words of the Week]( verisimilitude; gable; stymie; piteous; intaglio: How many of these words do your students know? ADVERTISEMENT Elsewhere in The Times [Life Is Complicated: Distance Learning Helps]( By JOHN HANC More than 6.3 million students took at least one distance education course in the fall of 2016, 31.6 percent of all higher education enrollments. [A High School Education and College Degree All in One]( By ABBY ELLIN P-Tech schools team up with business to provide lower-income students with much-needed STEM skills and even a job at IBM if they want one. [Programmed for Success]( By PAULETTE PERHACH Community colleges are relying more and more on technology to help their students succeed. [Colleges Grapple With Teaching the Technology and Ethics of A.I.]( By ALINA TUGEND The rapidly growing demand for skills in artificial intelligence is so high that it is upending educational programs across the country. HOW ARE WE DOING? We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to [LNfeedback@nytimes.com](mailto:lnfeedback@nytimes.com?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback). 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