Lesson Plan - Delivering Hope

Build Background Knowledge

Have students analyze the word humanitarian. Invite students to work in pairs to identify a root word and suffix. Then have students create a definition. Encourage students to share responses with the class. Then use Words to Know to preteach domain-specific terms from the article.

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently or in pairs. As students read, direct them to circle or highlight any words whose meanings they are unsure of.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion. 

• Explain the role of a humanitarian aid worker. (Central Idea)
The role of a humanitarian aid worker is to provide support to people in need. Aid workers help people affected by natural disasters, wars, and long-term challenges. They provide life-saving essentials, such as water and food.

• Using the text and sidebar, summarize how the Taliban’s leadership has affected the lives of Afghans. (Summarizing) 
The Taliban’s leadership has affected the lives of Afghans in many ways. The Taliban sheltered the terrorist group Al Qaeda. After Al Qaeda carried out the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the U.S. and its allies went to war in Afghanistan. The fighting damaged villages, roads, farmland, and water systems. It forced many Afghans to flee and made it harder for others to grow and distribute food. Under the Taliban’s leadership today, Afghans face food insecurity, poverty, and unemployment. Many nations have reduced or ended the aid they had been giving to Afghanistan. Women and girls have few rights.  

• What is the purpose of the sidebar on page 17? How does it support the article? (Text Features) 
The purpose is to identify a major problem Afghans are facing: food insecurity. The sidebar lists causes that contribute to this problem and a solution that may help. The sidebar supports the article because it further explains the need for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. 

Your Turn: Make Connections 

Direct students to the “Your Turn” activity at the end of the article. Students will underline two hardships facing the people of Afghanistan and explain how Dayne Curry is working with Afghans to help address those hardships. 

Assess Comprehension

Assign the Know the News quiz, available in PDF and interactive forms. You can also use the Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension of this article and three others.