1. ActionAid schools | September 2013 | 1
Children in Conflict
Lesson plan and activity sheets
Israa, 13, northern Jordan
PHOTO: JENNY MATTHEWS/ACTIONAID

2. ActionAid schools | September 2013 | 2
Children in Conflict/Lesson plan
Activity Resources Curriculum links
Starter
• Who do you see in the photo? Pupils share their ideas of who the girl is in
the photo, using suggested prompts if appropriate. Introduce Israa and
her story using notes on PowerPoint.
• Where is Israa and what is she doing? Pupils share their ideas. Explain
what has happened to Israa and her family following the outbreak of civil
war in Syria using notes on PowerPoint.
• Pupils complete Activity Sheet 1 by filling in what their day is like in the
left hand circle, what Israa‟s day is like in the right hand circle and then
writing similarities in the circle overlap.
• ‘Children in Conflict’
PowerPoint
• Activity Sheet 1 - A
day in the life
• Suggested websites
for more information:
o BBC
o UNHCR
o NASA
PSHE/Citizenship: KS2
4b. to think about the lives of people living in other
places and times, and people with different values and
customs.
4f. that differences and similarities between people arise
from a number of factors, including
cultural, ethnic, racial and religious diversity, gender and
disability
Main
• Split pupils into three groups. Each group answers a question from the
PowerPoint, using „Think – Pair – Share‟ technique. Pupils can use the
Information Sheet to help with their answers. Pupils can use Activity
Sheet 2 to write down their answers.
• Summarise ideas on whiteboard for pupils to refer to for the plenary.
• ‘Children in Conflict’
PowerPoint
• Information sheet
• Activity sheet 2 – How
would you feel if..?
(optional)
PSHE/Citizenship: KS2
4b. to think about the lives of people living in other
places and times, and people with different values and
customs
English: KS2
En1 2a. identify the gist of an account or key points in a
discussion and evaluate what they hear
Plenary
• Pupils write a post for a school blog (including title, tags/keywords) or an
article for the school newspaper (including headline) to explain Israa‟s
story to other children at their school. They should compare and contrast
their lives with Israa‟s in the article.
• Newspaper template
(optional)
English: KS2
En3 9a. to imagine and explore feelings and ideas,
focusing on creative uses of language and how to
interest the reader
En3 11. The range of readers for writing should include
teachers, the class, other children, adults, the wider
community and imagined readers.
Introduction: Since civil war broke out in Syria in March 2011, more than two million Syrians have fled Syria and are now
living as refugees in neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Lebanon. The UN estimates that 80% of
refugees are women and children. This lesson explores the life of Israa, a 13-year-old refugee. To find out
more about ActionAid‟s work with Syrian refugees, please go to http://www.actionaid.org.uk/donate/syria-
crisis-appeal
Objective: To compare and contrast children‟s lives in the UK and in a country affected by conflict
Outcome: To write a post for a school blog or article for a school newspaper

3. ActionAid schools | September 2013 | 3
My day Israa’s day
Children in Conflict/Activity Sheet 1 – A day in the life

4. ActionAid schools | September 2013 | 4
“It is very dusty
and sandy in
the camp.”
“The toilets in
the camp are
bad, the water
is horrible.”
“We didn‟t bring
any toys, just one
change of clothes
and one pair of
shoes each.”
“We left
everything else
behind and my
mum‟s told me
that everything‟s
gone – it‟s been
destroyed.”
Children in Conflict/Information sheet – Israa‟s story
“I wish I could have
brought a rose from
our garden with me.”

5. ActionAid schools | September 2013 | 5
Children in Conflict/Activity Sheet 2 – How would you feel if..?