Discussing The War In Ukraine with Students
There has been a lot of chatter among my fifth grade students about what is going on in Ukraine. In my school, I am the designated fifth grade social studies teacher this year. I thought it was my duty to talk to students about the current crisis in Ukraine and allow them the opportunity to understand what is happening.
Let’s be real, students go home and they hear what’s on the news. Often times, it’s without context. Talking to students about the crisis in Ukraine and relating it to a previous lesson about the ancient Egyptians or the ancient Sumerians allow students to make real world connections.
Admittedly, I’m a huge nerd when it comes to history. I have two degrees, one of which being Military Science. Below are just some of the few things that you could say to help your students understand what is going on in Ukraine.
— Pull down a map and show the locations of Russia and the United States, and then show them Ukraine. If you can, simultaneously pull down a map showing the old Soviet Union. Tell them that Ukraine was once a part of the Soviet Union.
— You can directly relate the Soviet Union and the geographical features to the United States. Say “the Soviet Union was like a collection of states like we have here in the United States, and when it collapsed those states became new countries.” Tell students that Ukraine was one of those state and now they want Ukraine back.
— Explain NATO by establishing what an ally is. Relate this to students playing on the playground and a sticking up to a bully. You’ll be surprised how many students actually know what NATO is.
— Finally, and most importantly: explain to students that they have nothing to worry about. They go on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms and they hear misinformation. Now is the time to clear it out — nobody is being drafted, and we are very well protected. Solidify that the United States has the most powerful military in the world and they have nothing to worry about.
With something as delicate is this, you have to be really careful on the way in which you were things. You must be truthful and honest to your students, but you also don’t want to scare them inadvertently.
I hope this helps you!
