1. Create a shared space for students to write, on a whiteboard, poster paper, or a Google Doc. Ask them to respond to two questions:
2. Review responses as a class. Point out patterns in students’ answers, and address any misinformation. Ask students:
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, casualties have been mounting while over 800,000 refugees have crossed the border into neighboring countries. Ukraine, which asserted independence from the USSR in 1991, has been racked by conflict since 2014, when Russia began backing secessionists in eastern Ukraine. Violence between separatists and the Ukrainian military claimed over ten thousand lives and displaced some 1.5 million even before the current escalation of Russian aggression.
"The first step in confronting the most dangerous European crisis since World War II is understanding the people, places, and motivations that led to the current dreadful moment," writes Pulitzer Center Executive Director Jon Sawyer in a recent note on the crisis in Ukraine. In this lesson, students will analyze reporting on conflict and Russian intervention in the region over the last several years. Through this exploration, they will gain context for the breaking news headlines about Ukraine, empowering them to evaluate information, engage in dialogue, and seek out underreported stories on this global issue.
Choose one story to explore with your class during the period, or invite students to choose a story based on their own interests. While students explore the news story, they should complete the following activities:
Resource 1: “In the Trenches of Ukraine’s Forever War” by James Verini: This story chronicles the lives of soldiers and civilians on the front line in eastern Ukraine, where the conflict between Ukrainians and Russia-backed separatists drags on.
Resource 2: “What Does Putin Really Want?” by Sarah Topol: In conversation with Russian diplomats, experts, and allies, journalist Sarah Topol examines how Russian leaders see themselves and their country’s place in the world in order to better understand Vladimir Putin and the motives underlying Russian foreign policy.
Resource 3: “Lives Frozen by Conflict” by Paula Bronstein: This photo and video project highlights the impact of the war in eastern Ukraine on elderly civilians, who made up a third of the country's 3.4 million people depending on humanitarian assistance in 2020.
After exploring the news story, students discuss:
1. Verifying News Stories
Evaluating the accuracy of information can be especially challenging when a crisis is unfolding in the headlines, and new information is being shared rapidly by many different people and institutions. Use this activity to critically examine information you encounter about the conflict in Ukraine.
Step 1: Find a news story about the crisis in Ukraine online, and highlight factual claims the author makes in the story. (Students can explore the latest stories by Pulitzer Center-supported journalists here.)
Step 2: Verify the information by answering the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
Step 3: Share a presentation with the class or write a short paper that answers the following question: Why is it important to verify information you hear about the crisis in Ukraine, and what strategies can you use to do so? Feel free to include examples of information and/or misinformation you encountered in the story you read.
2. Analyzing Calls to Action in Response to Global Crises
Research actions that have been proposed in order to support the Ukrainian people and/or promote peace. You might look at actions proposed by humanitarian organizations; government officials in different countries; Ukrainian civilians; or others. Prepare a presentation for your class or write a paper that answers the following questions:
3. Responding Through Art
Step 1: Return to the news story you read in this lesson, or choose another. Identify a powerful image in this story. (You could use a photograph from the story, or an image described by the journalist in writing.)
Step 2: Create a visual representation (drawing, painting, animation, etc.) or write a poem that captures this image, and the way it makes you feel.
Step 3. Consider sharing your work on social media or display it at school to raise awareness and inspire change.
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