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Published in the winter of 2012, Child Soldiers: A Handbook for Security Sector Actors highlights the various roles military, police and peacekeepers can play in protecting all children affected by war (PDF 34 Mb).
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Lesson Plans for teachers
SPONSOR NewsHour with Jim Lehrer Lesson
Children at War Doug DuBrin
SYNOPSIS This lesson will familiarize students with the extensive use of children in combat throughout the world so that they can begin to examine both the causes as well as the consequences of the practice.
REGION Liberia
TOPIC the extensive use of children in combat throughout the world
GRADE High School
TIME One to two classes plus extended activities
LINK http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/world/childsoldiers_12-22.html
SPONSOR Beyond the Fire, Teen Experiences with War
Child Soldiers
SYNOPSIS This lesson will investigate some of the issues and concerns around child soldiers in developing nations by asking students to write reports or give oral presentations on this topic.
REGION Global
TOPIC Because of ongoing conflicts, some armies force children and teenagers to take up arms and fight.
GRADE Grades 9-12
TIME Four to five class periods (50-60 minutes per period)
LINK http://archive.itvs.org/beyondthefire/lesson_plan2.html
OTHER INFO Requires Macromedia Flash Player version 6 or above
SPONSOR British Red Cross
Class Act: You or Your Brother
SYNOPSIS This lesson plan looks at the way some armies and militias “press gang” children and young people into fighting – forcibly recruiting those who otherwise would have no intention of fighting.
REGION Global
TOPIC recruitment
GRADE 11-16 year olds
TIME two to three classes (50-60 minutes per period)
LINK www.redcross.org.uk/education
OTHER INFO This lesson plan was written by Jenifer Smith, based on an original idea by PJ White. It was produced in September 2007 and revised in November 2009. The testimony from a former child soldier in Ethiopia is quoted in Rachel Brett and Margaret McCallin, Children: The invisible soldiers, Rädda Barnen (Swedish Save the Children), Stockholm, 1996, p87-8.
SPONSOR UNHCR
Civic Education: Refugee teenagers
SYNOPSIS This lesson plan will introduce students to the strugles of life in a refugee camp
REGION Liberia
TOPIC Refugee teenagers
GRADE 12-14 year olds
TIME One to two classes plus extended activities
LINK http://www.unhcr.org/469dc0e82.html
OTHER INFO
SPONSOR UNWorks
Lesson Plan on Child Soldiers
SYNOPSIS This lesson presents an overview of where, why, how, and in what conditions children are used as child soldiers.
REGION Global but features the documentary ‘What’s Going On?,’ Sierra Leone.
TOPIC Why children are used in armed conflict throughout the world.
GRADE Grades 9-12
TIME from one to 10 classes
LINK http://www.un.org/works/goingon/soldiers/lessonplan_soldiers.html#
OTHER INFO 10-part TV series
SPONSOR Breaking News English
Nations pledge to end use of child soldiers
SYNOPSIS Nearly 60 nations have pledged not to use children in their armies. A document, called the Paris Commitments, was signed in France by 58 countries, including Sudan, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries still hit the headlines for having child soldiers.
REGION Global
TOPIC Ending the use of child soldiers
GRADE ESL adults upper intermediate
TIME two hour class
LINK http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0702/070207-child_soldiers.html
OTHER INFO
SPONSOR University of Iowa written by Helen A. Finken
Lesson 1 Children as Soldiers
SYNOPSIS This lesson presents an overview of where, why, and how children are used as soldiers.
REGION Global
TOPIC Intorduction to the use of children as soldiers
GRADE Grades 9-12
TIME 2 class periods plus extended class activities
LINK http://international.uiowa.edu/centers/human-rights/documents/child_soldiers.pdf
OTHER INFO Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this publication, in whole or in part, provided that The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights is identified as the sponsor and proper notice of copyright as stated above is affixed to each copy.
SPONSOR University of Iowa written by Helen A. Finken
Lesson 2 Child Soldiers Stories
SYNOPSIS Using oral histories students will identify the physical and emotional challenges faced by child soldiers and how they cope with those challenges.
REGION Global
TOPIC Anecdotal lesson plan that gives students a firsthand experience of what child soldiers experience
GRADE Grades 9-12
TIME 1 class period plus extention activities
LINK http://international.uiowa.edu/centers/human-rights/documents/child_soldiers.pdf
OTHER INFO Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this publication, in whole or in part, provided that The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights is identified as the sponsor and proper notice of copyright as stated above is affixed to each copy.
SPONSOR University of Iowa written by Helen A. Finken
Lesson 3 Taking Aim at Small Arms
SYNOPSIS One of the contributing factors to the growing use of child soldiers is the availability of small arms. This lesson examines the use of small arms, their impact, and the actions being taken to eliminate their use.
REGION Global
TOPIC Arms control and the relationship between small arms and their impact on child soldeirs
GRADE Grades 9-12
TIME 2 class periods
LINK http://international.uiowa.edu/centers/human-rights/documents/child_soldiers.pdf
OTHER INFO Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this publication, in whole or in part, provided that The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights is identified as the sponsor and proper notice of copyright as stated above is affixed to each copy.
SPONSOR University of Iowa written by Helen A. Finken
Lesson 4 Strategies to Eliminate Child Soldiers
SYNOPSIS Students will study the efforts by the international community to stop the use of child soldiers and to reintegrate former child soldiers into their communities.
REGION Global
TOPIC Long term solutions to eradicating child soldiers
GRADE Grades 9-12
TIME 2-3 class periods
LINK http://international.uiowa.edu/centers/human-rights/documents/child_soldiers.pdf
OTHER INFO
SPONSOR University of Iowa written by Helen A. Finken
Lesson 5 Soldiers for Peace
SYNOPSIS Students will learn how youths in Colombia have organized the Children’s Movement for Peace in order to create peace in their homes, communities, and country.
REGION Columbia
TOPIC Long term sustainable solutions to peace and personal and community participation
GRADE Grades 9-12
TIME 1-2 class periods
LINK http://international.uiowa.edu/centers/human-rights/documents/child_soldiers.pdf
OTHER INFO
SPONSOR War Child Canada
Lesson Plan 7
SYNOPSIS This activity uses role-play to help students understand the varied reasons why children end up being soldiers in the world’s wars.
REGION Global
TOPIC why children become soldiers
GRADE Grades 9-12
TIME 1-2 class periods
LINK http://www.getloud.ca/en/edu_plans.asp?id=7
OTHER INFO Must register to gain access to lesson plans
SPONSOR SOS Children’s Villages
Uganda Child Soldiers
SYNOPSIS An introduction to the issue of child soldiers in Uganda.
REGION Uganda
TOPIC To learn some basic facts about Uganda and child soldiers and what can be done to stop the practice
GRADE ages 14 to 16
TIME About 70 minutes
LINK http://www.child-soldier.org/child-soldier-resources
OTHER INFO
Drawing on their vast experiences, General Roméo Dallaire and Stephen Lewis enter into a dialogue about the issues that they have committed their lives to: the eradication of the use of child soldiers and stopping the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.
All of us at the Initiative wish to thank our allies, donors, partners and friends for having assisted our work throughout the past year. Our efforts would not be possible without your ongoing support.