Mexico Drug Wars

NY Times made another great lesson about Mexico Drug Wars.

Here is the link.

This lesson has an overview of what the drug wars are, an interactive map, a 10 minute video and news articles.

The 2 great things about this lesson:

1) It ties in the influence of social media and then shows how social media as been involved in other uprisings around the world.

2) It links in the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. This connection helps students see how countries affect each others.

I could see this as a great MSDA activity with a variety of stations. Students could read the general explanation of drug cartels in Mexico for homework the night before so they could get some background.

Station 1: Social Media and Drug Cartels
Station 2: 10 minute video on Drug Cartels (focus on relationship with U.S.)
Station 3: Drug Cartels article about teachers
Station 4: Social Media around the World
Station 5: Interactive Map
Station 6: Instructional Conversation with the Teacher--I could ask their opinion of their reading at home and then probe them to make connections.  How does the physical geography, political system, economic system, etc. lend to Drug Cartels?  What can be done about it?  What should be done?

During the IC, you can try to get the students to think about the economics behind the drug war:

IF you limit the supply of drugs, the demand stays the same the price will go up

-There is a great incentive for people to sell drugs (when we try to cut out drugs, they became even more valuable and people have a greater incentive to see them)

-Therefore, this is a tough economic question.  We feel like we should do something, but often our efforts propel the drug cartels even further.