The Crisis in Syria – Lesson Plan

Lesson

The Crisis in Syria

Background, Current Situation, and Activities to Engage

Subject

Social Studies, Geography, International Studies, World History

Estimated Time

One class day (40 minutes) & Homework

Grade Level

Grades 6-8

Objectives

Students will:

Gain insights on the background of conflict in Syria

Understand how the conflict escalated to a humanitarian crisis

Become familiar with terms such as refugees, internally displaced population,

humanitarian crisis

Learn to take action for Syria and engage others in the discussion

Suggested Materials

A computer that supports online presentation tools such as Prezi

Internet access, Projector, Speakers

Hand-outs for students with definition of key terms, sample letter to the President,

crossword and word search

Learning about Syria Worksheet and infographics

Marker/Chalk and Blackboard/Whiteboard to record ideas from brainstorm session

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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 4

ABOUT THE CLASS 4

BACKGROUND OF THE SYRIAN CRISIS 4

HISTORY OF SYRIAN CONFLICT 4

FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS 4

CURRENT SITUATION IN SYRIA 5-6

THE CRISIS 5-6

ACTIVITIES TO ENGAGE 6

ENGAGING STUDENTS: DISCUSSION ABOUT REFUGEES IN SYRIA AND VIDEOS 6

ASSIGNMENTS 6

HOME-WORK & EXTRA CREDIT 6

APPENDIX I 7

DIAGRAM I – REFUGEES IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES 7

APPENDIX II 8

PICTURES FROM SYRIAN CRISIS 8

APPENDIX III 9

TRAUMA-RELATED RESOURCES 9

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LEARNING ABOUT SYRIA 10-11

WORKSHEET 10-11

KEY FOR WORKSHEET 12

KEY TERMS 13-14

SAMPLE LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT 15

CROSSWORD 16-17

CROSSWORD ON SYRIA 16

KEY FOR THE CROSSWORD 17

WORD SEARCH 18

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS TO DEVELOP LESSON PLAN 19-20

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Lesson Plan

Introduction

1. Introduce images to the students

(Refer to Appendix II, page 8 for

images)

2. Engage the students by asking

questions:

o What can you tell me

about the pictures?

o What is happening?

o Where do you think this

is?

o How many of you know

an event/place where you

have seen similar things?1

3. Tie all of their thoughts together

and bring their attention to Syria

Background of the Syrian Crisis

1. Video - http://prezi.com/oopubqldmd6i/syria-the-basics/2

2. Ask students to fill out the “Learn about Syria” worksheet (Refer to page 10 & 11) as

they watch the presentation, and write down at least one question they have about the

video.

1. What do you remember most from the prezi presentation?

2. Who do you think is affected the most by the conflict? Let’s find out!

1 Refer to the Appendix III for trauma-related resources

2 IAMSYRIA

Figure 1 : Map of Syria and bordering countries

About the class (5 minutes)

History of the Syrian Conflict (5 minutes)

Follow –up questions (5 minutes)

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Current Situation in Syria

1. Use the data below to create a picture of the current crisis in Syria. Start by asking students

to brainstorm ideas about the problems caused by war.

Total Killed in Syria:

As of July 2013, the UN has documented more

than 100,000 casualties since the beginning of

the uprisings in 3/18/2011.

While presenting data, put an emphasis on

civilians (women, children).

Refer to the “Syria: Cost of Conflict” infographics

http://firstperson.oxfamamerica.org/2013/09/09/infographic-syria-the-cost-of-conflict/ for

data on children. Distribute a copy of the infographics to students.

Total Number of Refugees:

Before showing the numbers of

refugees, ask the students if they know

about refugees. Explain refugees using

the hand-out with definitions of key

terms (Refer to Page 13).

Use the UNCHR site to provide exact

numbers of refuges from Syria in

Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and

Egypt.

Data - http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php

As of August 12, 2013 the number of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries: Refer to

Diagram I in Appendix I (Page 7). Focus on children who are refugees. Refer to

http://firstperson.oxfamamerica.org/2013/09/09/infographic-syria-the-cost-of-conflict/ for data.

Internally displaced population (IDP): Around 5 million (UNHCR). Explain IDP to

students using hand-out with the definitions of key terms (Refer to Page 13).

Figure 2: Refugee camps in Jordan (UNHCR)

The Crisis (10 minutes)

Figure 2: Shelling in Syria (Reuters/Khattab Abdulaa)

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2. Build up to what children are facing

Ask students to imagine how they would feel if

they were living in these circumstances and what how

they would feel about their county.

Ask them to keep that in mind while showing

them the next video

Show them the “What children feel about their

country” (Syria) Video-

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/multimedia/video/syria-our-hearts-love-you

Activities to Engage

Ask students how they feel about the video they just watched-

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/multimedia/video/syria-our-hearts-love-you

Discuss how they can take Action. Brainstorm ideas and record their suggestions on the

white /black board.

Some suggestions:

o Organize a fundraiser

o Educate others—friends and family (they could show others the video and have

their own discussion)

o Write a reflection/essay

o Learn more (teacher can provide other resources)

o Write a letter to President Obama asking him to help bring peace so children can

return home and go back to school

Ask how many students would like to write a letter (use Oxfam’s letter

as an example). Refer to Page 14 for sample letter to the President.

Ask them to write a letter at home and bring it to school the next

day.

Assignment

Distribute a copy of the “Sample letter to the President” to students. Ask them to write a

letter to President Obama asking for peace talks and to end fighting in Syria. (Refer to

page 15 for Sample letter to the president)

For Extra Credit: Complete the crossword and word search on Syria (Refer to page 16 &

18).

Figure 3 : Rema (Oxfam America)

Engaging students: Discussion about refugees in Syria and video (15 minutes)

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Appendix I

Diagram I – Refugees in neighboring countries as of 02 September, 2013 (UNHCR)

Turkey, 463,885

Lebanon, 739,823

Jordan, 519,676

Iraq,

183,195

Egypt, 117,470

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Appendix II

Figure 5: By Matt Brown

Figure 6: By John Stossel

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Appendix III

Trauma- Related Resources

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

Website: http://www.istss.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Website: http://www.nctsnet.org/

The Child Welfare league of America (CWLA)

Website: http://www.cwla.org/whowhat/more.htm

Child Trauma Academy

Website: http://childtrauma.org/

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Learning about Syria3

Fill in the blanks based on the information from the Prezi presentation

About Syria:

1. Syria is a country bordering the Mediterranean Sea and is considered part of the

__________ East.

2. Syria is roughly the size of the state of Missouri and is home to over _____ million

people.

3. Flying from the US to Syria spans _________________ miles.

4. In Syria, the majority of people speak ____________.

5. The religion most Syrians follow is _________________.

6. Syrians are famous for their ________________ and _______________.

7. Since 2000, Syria has been ruled by President Bashar al-_____________.

8. Syria has a one party system and has no _________________,

_____________________________, and ________________.

9. The Syrian revolt has been part of a movement for freedom in the Middle East known as

the ____________ Spring.

The Rebellion

10. The revolt in Syria was started by __________________ who wrote anti-government

graffiti on the walls of their city.

11. The school children were ____________________________ and

__________________________.

3 IAMSYRIA

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12. The regime tried to control the protesters with ____________________.

13. Protestors fought back by ________________________________.

14. In July 2012, the Red Cross called it ___________ War.

15. Both sides are accused of ______________ ________________ abuses.

The World’s Reaction

16. The UN is trying to negotiate a ____________ solution in Syria.

17. The World Powers are split over how to do it. The U.S, _____________,

__________________, and __________________ want Assad to go.

18. But ____________, ______________, and _____________ have stood by the Assad

regime.

19. The fighting has spilled over to various countries such as ______________,

________________ and _________________.

Hope for Syria

20. Some of the organizations helping Syrians are _________________, _______________,

______________ and _____________________.

21. Children are helping by _____________________.

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Key for “Learning about Syria Worksheet”

About Syria:

1. Middle

2. 20

3. 5710

4. Arabic

5. Muslim

6. Food and Music

7. Assad

8. Political freedom, free speech and freedom of Conscience

9. Arab

Rebellion:

10. School children

11. Arrested and harshly punished

12. Force

13. Organizing a rebel army

14. Civil War

15. Human Rights

The World’s Reaction

16. Peaceful

17. France, Britain and Turkey

18. Russia, China and Iran

19. Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq

Hope for Syria

20. UNHCR, UNICEF, ICRC and Save the Children

21. Following the story in the news/collecting donations

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Key Terms

Refugee

A refugee is someone who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race,

religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the

country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of

the protection of that country."4

For more information regarding refugees, visit http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home

Internally Displaced Population (IDP)

Persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or

places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed

conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made

disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border.5

For more information regarding IDP, visit http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c146.html

Humanitarian Crisis

A humanitarian crisis is an event or series of events which represents a critical threat to the

health, safety, security or wellbeing of a community or other large group of people, usually over

a wide area. Armed conflicts, epidemics, famine, natural disasters and other major emergencies

may all involve or lead to a humanitarian crisis that extends beyond the mandate or capacity of

any single agency.6

For more information regarding Humanitarian Crisis, visit http://humanitariancoalition.ca/

Dictatorship

Form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without

effective constitutional limitations.7

For more information regarding Dictatorships, visit

http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Dictatorship.html

4 UNHCR

5 UNHCR

6 Humanitarian Coalition

7 Britannica

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Arab Spring

The Arab Spring refers to the pro-democracy uprisings currently sweeping the Middle East and

North Africa.

For more information regarding Arab Spring, visit http://topics.time.com/arab-spring/

United Nations

An organization of independent states formed in 1945 to work for peace and development, based

on the principles of justice, human dignity and well-being of all people.

For more information regarding United Nations, visit http://www.un.org/en/

Oxfam America

Oxfam America is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and

injustice.

For more information regarding Oxfam America, visit www.oxfamamerica.org/syriacrisis

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Sample Letter to the President of United States of America

Date:

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

My name is [First Name, Last Name], and I am a student at [Name of the middle School] in [city

and state].

I am writing to express my concern about the children in Syria. More than 7000 children have

been killed in the fighting in Syria since the conflict started in spring 2011, and many children

have had family members killed. The UN has estimated that more than 1 million Syrian children

have fled to other countries. Further, thousands of schools have been damaged or destroyed, and

many Syrian children are no longer able to attend school.

I urge you to do everything you can to find a diplomatic solution that will help Syrian children.

They want to go home, they want to live safely, and they want to go back to school. The children

of Syria cannot wait any longer for the conflict to stop.

Please do everything in your powers to help achieve peace talks and bring an end to the fighting.

We ask that you do this for the children of Syria.

Sincerely,

[First name, Last Name]

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Crossword Syria

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Key for Crossword

Across

2. Aleppo

4. Basaralassad

7. Jordon

8. Damascus

9. Dictatorship

11. Desert

13. Oxfam

Down

1. France

2. Arabic

3. Turkey

5. Syrianpound

6. UNHCR

10. Islam

12. Egypt

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Word Search Syria

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Resources for Teachers to Develop their own Lesson Plan

Oxfam America Syria Page

Information available: Brief history of the conflict, the urgent need and Oxfam’s humanitarian

response to the crisis. Information on how everyone can contribute.

www.oxfamamerica.org/syriacrisis

High School Lesson Plan

Learn More at:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/world/syria.html

Anthony Shadid: Time Is Running Out for a Better Future for Syria (Q & A regarding Syria)

Information Available: Introduction to Syria’s Past, present and the current crisis from the

Pulitzer Prize winner journalist Anthony Shadid.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/foreign-affairs-defense/syria-undercover/anthony-

shadid-time-is-running-out-for-a-better-future-for-syria/

News

Syria Deeply

Information available: In-depth coverage of the crisis. Outlines the reason, response, causalities,

and refugee situation of the conflict. Daily news and recent developments in Syria.

http://beta.syriadeeply.org/

I AM SYRIA

Information Available: How to advocate for Syria among students, communities and information

of Syria including background, and current situation. Lesson plans for middle school students.

http://www.iamsyria.org/

The Guardian

Information available: Latest news on Syria

http://www.theguardian.com/world/syria

Videos and Documentaries

Inside Syria’s War (2013) (15 minutes)

Information Available: Inside look from the rebel’s perspective in Aleppo.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50133121n

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The Battle for Syria (2012) (27 minutes)

Information available: Day-to-day activities of the rebels including their perspective on Assad’s

government.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50133121n

The Regime Responds (2012) (23 minutes)

Information available: The history of the crisis and how it escalated to a civil war.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/battle-for-syria/#b

The Refugee Crisis (3 minutes)

Information Available: Data on Syrian refugees and the resources needed.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/jul/25/syrian-refugee-numbers-video-animation