Try this exercise in imagination and leave your students with a puzzle. Show them the photo of this mystery object. You can download the photo via the link on the right and print or project it. Give them some time – until the next lesson perhaps – to come up with ideas of what it might be.

Discuss what students think the object is made of. Do they think the colour is significant? What about the shape? Ask them if they think it is heavy or light.

You could ask them to write a description of the object to help them guess what it is.

When students come back with their ideas, make a note of their suggestions and encourage them to give reasons for their ideas. Ask them to imagine they see this object on the street on their way home. What would they do with it?

Reveal that the object is a type of landmine – a pressure-operated anti-personnel blast mine known as the “butterfly”.

What do students know about landmines? What does the description of the butterfly tell them? Discuss what “pressure-operated” and “anti-personnel” mean.

Explain that unlike other landmines, the butterfly is not buried. The wings allow it to float to the ground from an aeroplane. What might happen if a weapon like this was in a civilian area?

Many injuries from unexploded weapons, including landmines, happen because children find them scattered around where they play, and tamper with them. Communities and aid agencies work hard to reduce the number of injuries through education programmes.

The key messages are “the three Rs”:

> Recognise – what different unexploded weapons look like
> Retreat – they must not touch the weapon
> Report – they should tell an adult straight away

Extension activity

Invite students to think of ways to get these key messages across. Discuss the best ways to explain the danger to different age groups – young children, older children and teenagers.

What medium would have most impact – a piece of film, a song, a poster, an interactive game? Would children of different ages have different attitudes towards unexploded weapons?

Talk to students about the dangers they face in their own lives – when they are playing and at other times. Ask them to think about the public awareness campaigns and messages from school and their communities warning of the dangers. Which have been most effective and why?

You might ask students, in groups, to choose an age group and flesh out their ideas and design a piece of educational material. Here are some ideas:
> Colourful posters and flyers
> Cartoons, illustrations or photos
> A storyboard outlining a piece of film
> A song, a rap or a short play
> Photos – click here for suitable photos.