The document discusses the life experiences of child soldiers. It notes that children as young as 9 have been involved in armed conflicts, with many being abducted from their families. The life of a child soldier is difficult, as they may be forced to commit atrocities against their own communities and family members. Children are targeted for recruitment due to factors like poverty and family separation, which make them vulnerable.

1. What is happening in this image?
Who are these children?
What do you feel when you look at this
image?

2. Year 8My World
LESSON OBJECTIVES
In this lesson we will consider
what the lives of child soldiers are
like.
SUCCESS CRITERIA
Indentify some reasons why child soldiers
are used.
Explain what the life of a child soldier is
like.
Describe how you might feel if you were
a child soldier abducted from your home.
Child Soldiers

3. The Facts
Look at the child soldiers
sheet in front of you.
Design a key to show
which statements you think
are true and which you
think are false.
You may discuss your
ideas quietly with the
people sat close to you.
(we will revisit this at the end)
KEY
True
False
Children as young as 9
have been involved in
armed conflicts
Many children are
abducted from their
families
40% of child soldiers
are girls
There are estimated to
be 250,000 child
soldiers in the world
today
Some governments
use child soldiers
As part of their
recruitment, children
are sometimes forced
to attack or kill a
family member
Children are most
likely to become child
soldiers if they are
poor or separated
from their families
Child soldiers are only
used in Africa
Most child soldiers are
paid for the work that
they do
Only people over 16
are recruited to be
child soldiers
Children under 16 are
too weak to use
weapons so they work
as cooks instead
Child Soldiers
My World

4. Juliet's journey. A video we made
about Juliet's remarkable journey from
child soldier to global campaigner
http://www.warchild.org.uk/issues/child-soldiers/child-soldiers-videos
LEARNING CHECK
Can we explain what the life of a child soldier is like?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mj2ooJJD3A

5. Why do you think
military groups
choose to recruit
children?
Children are easily
manipulated
1. What does this
mean?
Children are most
likely to become
child soldiers if they
are poor, separated
from their families,
displaced from their
homes.
4. Why do you think
this makes them
more likely to be child
soldiers?
Children believe
that the group will
offer food or
security.
2. What might they
need security from?
3. Can you think of an
example of when
something similar
happens in school?
Children don't eat
much food, don't
need paying much
and don’t fear
danger as much as
adults.
LEARNING CHECK
Can we identify some reasons why child soldiers are used?

6. Children are sometimes forced to
commit atrocities against their
own family or neighbours.
Why do you think they are made to do this?

7. Child soldiers are often given drugs by military
leaders. I think that they do this because...
•
•
•

8. 1. Choose one word that best describes how
you feel in this situation. Write this word in
your book.
2. What does this word mean? Can you
describe it? Why did you choose it?
3. What would you do next?
You are 16 years old. You live in an area where
different armed groups are fighting. Your father
receives a tip-off from a neighbour. One of the
groups is looking for new recruits and they plan to
come to your house during the night. They want to
take you or your younger brother.
LEARNING CHECK
Can we describe how it might feel to be a child soldier abducted from their home?

9. Peer Marking
Swap your sheet
(from the start of the
lesson) with
someone sat close to
you.
Mark it using these
answers.
KEY
True
False
Children as young as 9
have been involved in
armed conflicts
Many children are
abducted from their
families
40% of child soldiers
are girls
There are estimated to
be 250,000 child
soldiers in the world
today
Some governments
use child soldiers
As part of their
recruitment, children
are sometimes forced
to attack or kill a
family member
Children are most
likely to become child
soldiers if they are
poor or separated
from their families
Child soldiers are only
used in Africa
Most child soldiers are
paid for the work that
they do
Only people over 16
are recruited to be
child soldiers
Children under 16 are
too weak to use
weapons so they work
as cooks instead
Child Soldiers
My World

11. KEY
True
False
Child Soldiers
My World
Children as young as 9
have been involved in
armed conflicts
Many children are
abducted from their
families
40% of child soldiers
are girls
There are estimated to
be 250,000 child
soldiers in the world
today
Some governments
use child soldiers
As part of their
recruitment, children
are sometimes forced
to attack or kill a
family member
Children are most
likely to become child
soldiers if they are
poor or separated
from their families
Child soldiers are only
used in Africa
Most child soldiers are
paid for the work that
they do
Only people over 16
are recruited to be
child soldiers
Children under 16 are
too weak to use
weapons so they work
as cooks instead
KEY
True
False
Child Soldiers
My World
Children as young as 9
have been involved in
armed conflicts
Many children are
abducted from their
families
40% of child soldiers
are girls
There are estimated to
be 250,000 child
soldiers in the world
today
Some governments
use child soldiers
As part of their
recruitment, children
are sometimes forced
to attack or kill a
family member
Children are most
likely to become child
soldiers if they are
poor or separated
from their families
Child soldiers are only
used in Africa
Most child soldiers are
paid for the work that
they do
Only people over 16
are recruited to be
child soldiers
Children under 16 are
too weak to use
weapons so they work
as cooks instead