The Crisis in Darfur: A Mini-Lesson
January 22nd, 2009 |
(Repost from 08/21/2007)
I challenge you to complete this mini-lesson and consider the questions below.
Lesson
Watch the video below about the crisis in Darfur. (A free download of this video is avaiable here.)
Play Darfur Is Dying, a quick mini-game that simulates aspects of daily living in this region.
Discussion
- What is your reaction to this information and simulated experience?
- What, if anything, did you learn from this lesson?
- How might this activity be integrated with teaching and learning
Related Posts
- The Crisis in Darfur: A Mini-Lesson that Teaches So Much
- Team Darfur
- Web 2.0 Tools in the Classroom: Valuable or Distracting?
- Civil Rights
January 24th, 2009 at 11:20 AM
This video was extremely difficult to watch. A student would not be able to comprehend what is going on in Darfur and Chad by “talking about it” like they would if they were able to actually see it. To see the conditions of where the people are living and watching the children run around with no shoes makes the reality of it all more real. To be able to watch this video in a classroom setting breaks up the monotony of a lecture. Students are able to hear other opinions and listen to actual voices of people in other countries. Not only is it important for students to know what is going on in the world, but it also allows them to see how lucky we are to live in a country that is free. It was almost unbearable to listen to the stories of the children and the women…some not even able to eat because of the trauma that they have had to see and live. No lecture on this topic would be able to touch me more than watching this video.
Katie Penland
January 25th, 2009 at 2:33 PM
I agree with Katie. This video was very hard to watch. It is hard to know that things like this happen in our world. I think that even though it is hard to actually see for yourself what it is happening, it has a more profound effect on a person than just reading it in a textbook. When you are able to see something like this video it allows you to get a more in-depth understanding of what is actually happening. I think that watching this video or videos like this is very helpful in teaching. You can teach a child out of a book all day but allowing them to have a visual to put with the lesson actually helps them understand it and remember it better.
January 25th, 2009 at 3:29 PM
This video was very sad. There is so much going on in the world that we are unaware of it is unbelievable. This video was very intense, but watching it rather than hearing about it makes you understand it better and understand the severity. I think allowing students to watch this video when teaching would be a lot more beneficial than talking to them about it. The game that went along with the video is also very helpful. This could easily be incorporated into a lesson plan and could really help the children learn about other places in the world while trying to help the people out by getting water in the game.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:58 PM
We worked with a family from Sudan and hearing their stories first hand and getting to know them changed my life. They educated all of us on what is really happening in Sudan. This also reminded me of a great hands on experience that I worked with this Spring called “The AIDS Experience” by WorldVision. You walk through an African village as a child and enter a their home African home. Then you go to the clinic and find out if you have AIDS or not. All the time you are listening to the true story of the child you are. When I first went through I walked through the life of a 10 year old girl with AIDS. It was an amazing experience.
June 9th, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Watching the video made me feel extremely sad and playing the game helped me put myself in their shoes. Using the video and game to teach students would be so much more meaningful than a boring lecture. It would give them a visual and I believe it would encourage them to use higher level thinking skills.
June 9th, 2009 at 8:26 PM
You never really understand something until you wear the shoe yourself. Though others have stated it the video was horrible to watch! Innocent children being attacked and raped is awful and when you look at them they are so cute and innocent. This has help me to actually think concisously that there are people worse off than I am. Intergrating technology into the classrom can be just enough as watching the very powerful video.You could incorporate geography such as whats going on in the country and where is it,or with younger children different types of places people call homes.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:33 PM
This was a touching video that shows us a very sad situation. The game brings the situation more to life by showing a glimpse of how difficult it is to survive. This was a very effective use of technology to inform individuals of a very horrible situation and to make them understand it a little more than they would have if simply given a lecture or article to read.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:53 PM
This was difficult for me to watch. My heart goes out to the people of Darfur. Showing an excerpt from this video to a class would be much stronger than having a discussion of the conditions. Students will be able to see first-hand the conditions of children in other countries. The class can learn about geography, economics, and government.
July 16th, 2009 at 3:10 PM
I am aware of such suffering in Africa and other places, but anytime I watch such a video is it disturbing. Due to this feeling, I am not sure if this particular video would be appropriate for most students until possibly 11th or 12th grade or maybe not until college. I would not want my elementary child watching such a video yet. I think they need to know about different cultures, segregation, war, and so on, but this is too much – in my opinion. At the right age, this video could be included in regards to learning about different types of war,cultural differences,and segregation.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:03 PM
The video was just heart-breaking. It’s just horrible to think that as I’m sitting in my air conditioned home complaining about the economy, people in a distant country are getting shot at for no valid reason. The game was enlightening. It’s a great tool to help students realize what other kids their age might have to go through in different cultures.
July 16th, 2009 at 10:29 PM
After watching this video, I see that the use of technology in the classroom must be monitored. To see what’s going on in Darfur is heartfelt. It is actually my first time seeing this. Because it is such a sensitive subject, I believe that the audience has to be picked carefully. I agree with Amy. Older students may be more receptive to seeing this video. I don’t believe that it is appropriate for elememtary students. As far as the game that was created, I don’t feel that the crisis in Darfur is a game. The events occuring in Darfur should be presented with sensitivity and consideration of the people there. I personally don’t like the game at all.
July 19th, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Very touching and very sad. I do think that older students need to see this video.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:01 PM
This would be useful to show older students. Situations like this really can not just be explained. To grasp exactly how bad this really is, I think that everyone needs to see what is happening. However, this is not suitable for younger children. I also do not like the game. It makes the situation unreal, like a video game or television show.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:31 PM
@capohanka that would help! http://clifmims.com/blog/archives/1890