Should the UK do more to support Afghanistan Lesson Plan

The KS2 lesson plan, provided by VotesforSchools, poses the question: "Should the UK do more for Afghanistan?" It begins with a one-minute feedback session where the class reviews the results from the previous week's topic. The lesson then moves into a geography-focused starter, where students work in small groups or as a whole class to identify images and locate Afghanistan on a map, also naming other Asian countries they know. This four to six-minute activity sets the stage for a deeper discussion about the country's current situation.

During the next segment of the lesson, which lasts approximately three to four minutes, the class addresses the question "Why are we talking about this?" with a cautionary note for teachers to preview a video before showing it to younger viewers. This introduction helps students understand the reasons behind Afghanistan's presence in the news and the humanitarian crisis unfolding there. Following this, in a six to ten-minute activity, students are encouraged to "Get your facts right!" by reading and discussing questions in small groups, with answers and context provided afterwards. The subsequent activity, "Take a stand?", involves the whole class and takes eight to ten minutes. Here, students evaluate the UK's efforts in Afghanistan and express their opinions on the veracity of these actions by physically standing up or sitting down. The lesson progresses with a four to eight-minute pair work session where students prioritize actions and reflect on their top priorities for assisting the Afghan people. Finally, the lesson concludes with a whole-class vote on whether the UK should increase its support for Afghanistan, after reviewing arguments for and against the topic. Throughout the lesson, keywords such as 'refugee', 'humanitarian crisis', and 'priority' are highlighted, with the primary learning objectives being to inform students about the situation in Afghanistan and to consider the UK's role within the global community. The plan also mentions the availability of challenge tasks and supporting materials for SEND learners, along with cross-curricular opportunities.