Newsthink teaching resource: the Ukraine crisis
Use our Newsthink resource to explore the events in Ukraine through a powerful photo and explore how humanitarian crises affect people.
Age:
11-19
Subjects:
PSHE, tutor time
Topics:
Newsthink, conflict, refugees and migration
Type:
Quick activities
Even before the frightening events witnessed in recent times, communities in Ukraine had already been enduring the impacts of long-term conflict for years. Use this teaching resource, based on a picture taken of the International Red Cross working in Poland, to explore with young people the effects of conflict and crisis on individuals, and engage in discussions about our shared human values.
If you would like support on how to approach global conflicts like the Ukraine crisis with learners, you can use our resource on exploring conflict in impartial and neutral ways.
Learning objectives
- Examine and discuss an image related to a current humanitarian news event.
- Analyse and identify how people are impacted by this event.
- Discuss and debate a statement relating to a core value by explaining whether you agree or disagree.
How do I use this resource?
Explore events unfolding in Ukraine through the lens of a humanitarian. Use a photo to explore the impacts conflict has on people. Download the PowerPoint above to deliver the activities. Use one, some or all of the activities, as suits you. Each one can be done in ten to fifteen minutes. Embed this activity into your lessons or use it in assembly or tutor time to engage learners with current events and humanitarian news.
Resource overview
Explore the photo of the people at Polish Red Cross rest stations and ask learners to analyse the moment captured using the “see, think, feel” framework.
- Debate the statements: ‘Civilians should never be targeted’ and ‘all people deserve to be safe’. Do learners agree or disagree? Why?
- Compare this photo and these events to the Afghanistan crisis using our Newsthink from last year. Ask the question ‘all people deserve to be safe” again – do learners still agree? Why?
- Encourage learners to reflect on their values and opinions in their own time through a reflective journal.
- Explore what further actions people can take to learn more about this issue, or support the people affected.
Learn more
Widen the discussion by exploring the impact of other recent conflicts, including the experiences of refugees in Afghanistan in 2021.
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This resource was created by the British Red Cross in March 2022.
Photo credit ©Polish Red Cross
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