August 3, 2025
Dear Educator,
Welcome back to the classroom! We hope your summer provided moments to recharge, relax, and revel in excitement for the months ahead.
As you dive into the year, you can rely on CFR Education to offer the resources you need to make global affairs engaging and relevant for your students. Our expert informed content will help you cut through the noise of constant headlines, connect the dots between the past and the present, and cultivate global literacy.
Continue reading to explore the teaching and learning resources we have to offer and bring global affairs to life this fall.
Happy learning,
Caroline Netchvolodoff
Vice President, Education
Council on Foreign Relations
A Guide to Our Content
From ready-to-use lesson plans to interactive student simulations, our resources make complex topics engaging and accessible.
Organized by topic, CFR Education’s classroom ready teaching resources include lesson plans, discussion questions, book guides, and activities that simplify complex global issues. They are designed to help you connect current events to your curriculum, whether you need a quick activity or discussion inspiration.
- Give students a foundation for understanding how countries make decisions on the global stage with this ‘approaches to foreign policy’ lesson plan, or
- encourage critical thinking through this set of essay and discussion questions on globalization
Learn
CFR Education’s learning resources help students explore global issues and understand their place in our interconnected world through engaging videos, articles, and interactive learning journeys that offer accessible explanations and real-world context.
Use this collection of resources to explain how artificial intelligence is reshaping the world, from government and conflict to climate change and the economy, or
- invite your students to explore the different forms of government and how we categorize them using this resource.
Simulations
CFR Education simulations bring global affairs to life by placing students in the shoes of key decision-makers facing real-world challenges. Through immersive classrooms and guided materials, students navigate complex issues, debate diverse perspectives, and collaborate to reach solutions.
- Try an extended simulation such as Cyber Clash with China, or
- check out a mini simulation like The Zimmerman Telegram in 1917, if you have less time
Educator tip: For instructions on how to run a simulation, watch our new video!
New! CFR Education Blog: Global Matters
We are excited to announce the newest feature of our website: a blog! Bookmark this page so you can keep up with all things CFR Education. Take a look at our first four blogs:
- Building the Case for Global Literacy in the U.S. Education System
- How CFR Education Content Gets Made
- AI in Education: Acknowledging and Adapting
- CFR and Arizona State University Launch Bold New Collaboration
Professional Development Reminder
Take advantage of CFR Education’s professional development opportunities designed to fit your schedule and needs. Whether you prefer webinars, virtual seminars, or custom workshops, our expert-facilitated training will equip you with the tools and strategies to confidently teach global affairs.
Check your inboxes next week for a full rundown of our fall events, but in the meantime, we’ll give you a sneak peek: Join CFR Education Tuesday, August 26, 7:00 to 7:30 PM EDT, for our free Back to School: Global Literacy 101 webinar.