• Home
• Post-Viewing Activity and Discussion Questions
• Lesson Plan
  • "United States and Iran: Tracking the Tension and Preparing for the Future"
  • Student Handout 1: "What Happened and Why?"
  • Student Handout 2: "Best/Worst Case Scenarios"
• Additional Lesson Ideas
  • Showdown In Iran: "What It Took To Get This Story"
  • Geography of Shi'a Islam
  • International Forum on Iran's Nuclear Program
• Additional Resources
• Printable .pdf of entire guide
  (Adobe Acrobat required)

Additional Lesson Idea

Showdown in Iran: "What it took to get this Story"

Given the heightened hostility and lack of diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran, U.S. journalists have limited access in Iran. Have students discover the unique challenges in producing FRONTLINE's Showdown with Iran at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/showdown/etc/notebook.html

Have students consider the following questions:

• Why do you think it is difficult for Western journalists to gain entry into Iran?
• Why were the FRONTLINE producers pessimistic about the possibility of meeting with the Iranian press or politicians?
• How did the U.S. campaign in Iraq further complicate the prospect of Iran admitting FRONTLINE journalists?
• If it were possible to arrange, are there any additional interviews with Iranian principals that you would have liked to see and if so, with whom?
• How would such additions affect your understanding of the U.S./Iranian relationship?
• What could be some challenges in arranging these interviews?
• Evaluate the impact of using different types of media, such as FRONTLINE programs or newspaper articles, in terms of your understanding of the U.S./Iranian relationship or problems in the Middle East.

The Geography of Shia Islam

The Islamic Republic of Iran is a Shi'ite Muslim government. Considering that only 16 percent of the Muslim world is Shi'a, this is a remarkable fact. (Source: National Geographic) Access the interactive map at PBS Wide Angle http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/iran/map.html and discover which countries have sizable Shia populations compared to their Sunni "neighborhood."

• How did the schism between Shi'a and Sunni Islam emerge?
• In today's world, how do historic differences between Shi'ites and Sunnis matter?
• How do the Muslim demographics of Iraq pose challenges to stability there?

International Forum on Iran's Nuclear Program

In this PBS NewsHour lesson, students have the opportunity to evaluate international policy to address growing concern over Iran's potential nuclear program. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/world/iran_nuclear.html