LESSON 12: A LESSON PLAN ABOUT CONFLICTS

GENERAL INFORMATION

- Age group: children of 15-16 years old

- Time: 50 minutes

- Materials: PowerPoint, projector

- Goals of this lesson:

• To make students aware of the situation than other children are living in another country.

• Reflect on negative effects that conflicts cause.

• Become students sensitive of misfortunes of the world.

•  To think about the lives of people living in other places and times, and people with different values and customs.

• To transmit the idea that differences and similarities between people arise from a number of factors, including cultural, ethnic, racial and religious diversity, gender and disability.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:

ACTIVITY 1 (20 minutes)

Introduction: I will read this information to the whole classroom:

·      “Since civil war broke out in Syria in March 2011, more than two million Syrians have fled Syria and are now living as refugees in neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Lebanon. The UN estimates that 80% of refugees are women and children. This lesson explores the life of Israa, a 13-year-old refugee”

After that, I will show them a PowerPoint of Israa and I will ask some questions:

•       Who do you see in the photo? I will ask pupils to describe whom they can see in the photograph, drawing out as much detail as possible.  Suggested questions:  What is the age of the girl? Where is she? What does she like/dislike? Does she have any family?  Pupils will share their ideas. After that, I will introduce Israa and her story using notes on PowerPoint.

This is Israa, a 13-year-old girl from Syria.  Israa lives with her mum, dad and five younger brothers and sisters.

In Syria, Israa’s day starts with breakfast, which might include cheeses, eggs, hummus, olives, fal (like a broad bean salad) and hot, sweet tea or coffee to drink. 

She enjoys going to school where she studies subjects like Arabic, English, maths and sports. 

Her favourite subjects are drawing, sport and music.  After school, Israa likes to play out with her brothers and sisters and her friends. 

• Where is Israa and what is she doing? Pupils will share their ideas. I will explain what has happened to Israa and her family following the outbreak of civil war in Syria and using notes on PowerPoint.

Israa is walking ‘home’ after collecting water for her family. Her family had to leave Syria after civil war broke out in March 2011 and home is now a small-prefabricated unit – a bit like a caravan that doesn’t move - in Zaatari Refugee Camp in northern Jordan.

Life changed a great deal for Israa and her family once war broke out.  She says: “after the war started we had to stay in all the time. Sometimes we went to school but when there was bombing and shelling we would stay at home. We missed a lot of school - sometimes we only went once per week.”

•       Pupils will complete Activity Sheet 1 by filling in what their day is like in the left hand circle, what Israa’s day is like in the right hand circle and then writing similarities in the circle overlap.

ACTIVITY 2 (15 minutes)

•       I will make small groups of three pupils.  Each group has answers a question from the PowerPoint, using ‘Think – Pair – Share’ technique.  Pupils can use the Information Sheet to help with their answers.  Pupils can use Activity Sheet 2 to write down their answers.

•       Finally, I would ask to the children to write a letter to Israa pointing out that they are aware of her awful situation and offering help to her family and to her. (15 minutes).