Students need more than the facts. They need a basic understanding of history--where people came from or how civilizations have evolved and interacted. But they also need to understand why this knowledge is important and how it relates to their present. History doesn't just happen; it is made--made by real people who faced real challenges, who had uncertainty about the future. This article includes a lesson plan, excerpted from a longer unit on the subject of U.S. foreign policy, which places students in the role of decision-makers as they explore four divergent policy alternatives--"Futures"--and then articulate their own views. It is best done after consideration of one or more current foreign policy issues. (Contains 3 notes.)