Processing the Violence in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank
Language
English — UKPublished
Updated
Overview
About This Lesson
We know that students are bringing a range of perspectives and concerns into the classroom in relation to the violence in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. This lesson is designed to help teachers support their students in processing their feelings, and navigating the events in a sensitive and constructive way.
The activities can help your students process the loss of life, learn strategies for following the news responsibly, and consider how they can take care of themselves and others. When conflict has escalated in Israel and Palestine in the past, the world has seen a documented increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia; this lesson offers suggestions for how teachers can identify intolerance in their schools or communities. We recommend you use a selection of activities best suited to your students’ needs.
Preparing to Teach
A Note to Teachers
Before teaching this lesson, please review the following information to help guide your preparation process.
Lesson Plans
Initial Classroom Response
After a traumatic event, it can be beneficial to focus first on emotional processing, addressing the “heart” before the “head.” Give your students space to reflect on their emotional responses to this event.
If possible, coordinate with your school leadership to determine which class periods should be designated for a reflection with students. In class periods where you do not reflect more deeply on the events, a moment of acknowledgement and an invitation for students to reach out to teachers to continue the conversation may be sufficient so as not to overload students.
If you decide to address news of the attacks and outbreak of war with your class, the following ideas may be helpful to guide students’ reflection:
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