An education resource for teachers in primary and secondary settings to explore fears and develop greater agency to discuss the Ukraine conflict with their learners.
PEACE
NOT WAR
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Contents
Resources and top tips
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Using the resource
This resource for teachers aims to support thinking about how to approach the Ukraine conflict with learners from primary through to secondary. It showcases short videos made by contributors from across Scotland and complements an online workshop delivered by Scotdec and Highland One World in May 2022.
It has been designed in response to fears and challenges voiced by teachers. Our hope is that the ideas and reflections will build confidence and motivation to seek opportunities to develop critical thinking skills, whilst supporting the well-being of staff and learners.
Scotdec and Highland One World work alongside the other Development Education Centres within the IDEAS network to advocate for a Global Citizenship approach to learning around the conflict. Using participatory learning methodologies enables young people to develop key skills and values to develop greater curiosity about the world and feel greater agency for positive change.
We invited partners - teachers, Educational Psychologists and NGOs - to respond to questions and fears submitted by teachers. We have also curated a Padlet of recommended resources which support a Global Citizenship approach to exploring the conflict.
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Meet the contributors
This resource brings together voices from across Scottish education to offer a broad range of expertise, knowledge and support when teaching about difficult and sensitive topics, framed through the current conflict in Ukraine our young people are living through.
Watch this introductory video and meet the experts who will provide the guidance within this digital resource.
NewsWise perspective
Oxfam perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Talking about the conflict in the classroom
Primary perspective
Quakers perspective
Educational Psychologist
perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Building teacher confidence and motivation
Red Cross perspective
Teaching about conflict and migration topics may seem daunting, but the key thing to ask yourself is why are you worried about teaching that topic and how can you overcome those worries.
Primary perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
What is age/stage appropriate?
Red Cross perspective
Educational Psychologist
perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Using a rights-based
approach to exploring
conflict
Unicef UK perspective
The first thing is to use the terminology of Rights Holders and Duty Bearers, for the children to realise they are the Rights Holders - both the children in the classroom and the children involved in the conflict.
Primary perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Encouraging learners
to feel greater agency
The key thing is to show young people how they can help - there are so many ways they can!
Oxfam perspective
Red Cross perspective
Primary perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Encouraging greater critical literacy
To encourage critical literacy within a news or media literacy context means encouraging learners to actively engage with a news text and not just accepting or dismissing it.
Secondary perspective
NewsWise perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Supporting different
learner needs
Some learners may need opportunities to share their emotions in a way that isn't just about a conversation.
Secondary perspective
Educational Psychologist
perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Engaging learners in discussion about current events
Secondary perspective
Unicef UK perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Teachers supporting their own wellbeing
It's important for us to look for the positives in what's going on and not be overexposed to things that stress us and distress us.
Educational Psychologist
perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Resource recommendations
and top tips
Secondary perspective
Primary perspective
Approaching the conflict in Ukraine with learners
Key resource list
We’ve curated a Padlet of resources which support teaching and learning on the conflict in Ukraine, organised by level and theme.
Our resource website hosts our selection of the best Global Citizenship resources available - relevant to the curriculum, tried and tested by teachers in Scotland and updated regularly.
Our magazine for Scottish schools Stride aims provides a source of inspiration and support for teachers delivering education for Global Citizenship in Scotland.
