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Learning Activity: Examine the history of spying

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• CNN Cold War: Espionage

• Museum of Spying

• FBI: Espionage

• CIA Homepage for Kids

CNN STUDENT NEWS

(CNN Student News) -- Students will examine the history of spying from the time of the Cold War to the present.

Procedure

Point out to students that espionage, the practice of using of spies to obtain military or political secrets, has played an important role in military affairs throughout history. Next, group students, and have each group consult the Internet and other resources to learn about the history of spying from the time of the Cold War to the present. Have students identify the technological advances that have helped spies to do their jobs. In addition, have students note the different conflicts between the U.S. and other countries during this time. After students complete their research, reconvene groups, and have them create a timeline that depicts their findings. Wrap up the activity by posing the following questions for class discussion:

Why might governments engage in espionage?

How has espionage evolved since the Cold War?

Why do you think that these changes have occurred?

Do you think that spying is ever justified? Why or why not? If so, under what conditions?

Correlated Standards

Social Studies

Standard II. Time, Continuity and Change: Students will learn about the ways human beings view themselves in and over time.

Standard VI. Power, Authority and Governance: Students will understand the historical development of structures of power, authority and governance and their evolving functions in contemporary U.S. society as well as other parts of the world.

Standard VIII. Science, Technology and Society: Students will examine the relationships among science, technology and society.

Standard IX. Global Connections: Students will examine global connections and interdependence.

The Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/strands/) are published by the National Council for Social Studies (http://ncss.org/).

Keywords

spying, espionage, Cold War, technology, NSA, Internet, hacker, terrorist, cell phones, surveillance, eavesdropping

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