NovaNEWS is an international current events forum that gives students the opportunity to discuss a variety of issues on a supervised bulletin board. This collaborative learning environment enhances students' critical reading and thinking skills by encouraging them to analyze, discuss, and debate recent events in the world of politics, national and foreign affairs, economics, the environment, and even entertainment. It also improves the students' ability to express themselves through the written word by prompting them to write responses to a variety of thought-provoking questions.

Each of the articles selected for NovaNEWS is followed by a series of questions designed to promote critical thinking about challenging issues of the day.

This month's edition is titled "Uprising in Libya." It includes articles that discuss the recent protests against the Libyan government under Moammar Gaddafi. The articles describe Libya under Gaddafi and the factors that caused the recent uprising against his regime. The articles focus on key issues surrounding the uprising and the growing concern of a possible civil war that could occur if Gaddafi refuses to step down. Students will explore these key issues, then draw their own conclusions.

The article "Libya Death Toll Rises"describes how Moammar Gaddafi has ruled Libya for the past four decades. The article discusses the conditions in Libya, the factors that led to the protests against Gaddafi, and Gaddafi's initial response to the protests. 

The article "Desperate Gaddafi clings to power" explains how Moammar Gaddafi has become desperate as protests to his rule have intensified. The article describes how protests have emerged in Tripoli, the capital city. The article also reports on the tactics that Gaddafi has employed to curb the opposition's efforts.

And finally, the article "Civil War Threatens If Gaddafi Toughs It Out" explains how Moammar Gaddafi may have the military and economic ability to stay in power. The article explores the military strategies that Gaddafi may use, and it explains how Gaddafi may still have access to money despite being faced with declining oil export revenues.

NovaNEWS resides as a lesson in every social studies alignment, as well as in the Additional Areas folder under Student Forums in the All Curricula location. NovaNEWS can be assigned alone or as part of a course. As with NovaKEYS, you might want to make NovaNEWS an initial assignment for your students. Once NovaNEWS is assigned, it is always available to students.