'The end of days is near': Iraq's Lake Sawa dries up amid water crisis 

• Samya Kullab The Associated Press Staff
• 
  Concepts of Geographic Thinking: Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends, Interrelationships.

Inquiry: What might be needed to bring back the lake before over exploitation? How might the disappearance of the lake impact communities?

Activity: Conduct an issue analysis of the stakeholders impacting the Sawa Lake. Create a spatial journal outlining the location of the stakeholders to provide a visual of the problem. Develop an action plan to help address the issue of this water crisis and communicate via story map.

• 
  
  

 Fears for Taiwan as China lays groundwork for its own ‘special military operation’ 

Telegraph World News

Xi Jinping signs directive allowing for ‘non-war’ uses of the military – a tactic similar to that used by Russia before it invaded Ukraine

Concepts of Geographic Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Spatial Significance, Interrelationships

Inquiry: Why might China "want" Taiwan? How might other countries react if China does invade Taiwan? Could this lead to another Ukraine - Russia conflict?

Activity: Collect evidence of China's interest in Taiwan. Analyze the data to understand why China wants to take Taiwan back. Examine China's' relationship with other countries in the area, the South China Sea. Conduct an issue analysis of the situation. Create a spatial journal to highlight the situations in the area. Determine next steps for the relationship between China and Taiwan and communicate the results using story map.