Ethiopia famine

Almost 25 years after Ethiopia’s last major famine the country is again in deep trouble. Drought and rising food prices are having a devastating effect on the country.

Focus Questions

  1. Summarise the BtN Ethiopia famine story.
  2. What was Live Aid trying to achieve?
  3. How many people watched the Live Aid concerts?
  4. What is a famine?
  5. Describe what is happening in Ethiopia at the moment?
  6. How have rising food prices around the world impacted on Ethiopia?
  7. What is the currency in Ethiopia?
  8. What has happened to the population in Ethiopia and what impact is it having on the food situation?
  9. Describe how some Ethiopians are trying to help themselves.
  10. How did this story make you feel?

You choose

Students will deepen their understanding of famine by completing some of the following activities. Negotiate with students how many activities they will need to complete.

Remember and understand

  • On a world map, highlight the countries affected by famine. The BtN website has a world map that students may find useful
  • Research and summarise the causes of famines. There are some web links at the end of this activity sheet to support students.

Apply and Analyse

  • Research what it means to be food-secure. What are the three pillars of food security? Present your findings in a PowerPoint presentation.
  • What is the global food crisis? Explain how biofuels and climate change impact on the crisis. Present your findings in a creative way (animation, short film).

Evaluate and create

  • Create a profile of an aid agency that is supporting countries affected by famine. How is food aid distributed to countries in need?
  • Create a story or picture book about world hunger.
  • Do you think world hunger will be a problem in 50 years? Explain your answer.

Self assessment

What do you understand more clearly now?

What would you do differently next time?

Related Research Links
ABC News – Ethiopia again gripped by famine

ABC Foreign Correspondent, Ethiopia the endless famine

Oxfam – Africa food crisis

World Vision Australia – Famine and food aid

United Nations World Food Program – Food Force

Medecins Sans Frontieres – Ethiopia

BBC News – Ethiopia country profile

India attacks

  1. Describe the recent attacks in India?
  2. Where in India did the attacks take place?
  3. Why is India important to Australia?
  4. Describe how religion may have contributed to the attacks?
  5. How did the story make you feel?

ABC Behind the News – Upsetting news

ABC News - Indian community shocked by Mumbai attacks

ABC News -DFAT still trying to locate Australians in Mumbai

Children’s BBC – Police say India attacks are over

Congo crisis

At the moment there is some terrible fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hundreds of thousands of people have left their homes and are without food or shelter.

Focus Questions

  1. Write a brief outline of the story.
  2. Where is the Democratic Republic of Congo?
  3. What are three facts about the DRC that you learnt from the BtN story?
  4. When did the country become independent?
  5. What happened under President Mobutu’s rule?
  6. Why have people in the DRC left their homes recently?
  7. What impact is this having on their lives?
  8. Describe how the people living in the DRC might be feeling.
  9. What are other countries doing to help?
  10. Describe Simon’s reaction to the fighting in the DRC.

Profile of Congo

Students will be researching and developing a profile of the Democratic Republic of Congo to gain a deeper understanding of the country.

Working in pairs, ask students to brainstorm what they know about the DRC and record their responses. Using the `who, what, why, when, where and how’ framework, ask students to write questions that they would like to find the answers to. Students share their questions with the rest of the class. Discuss how the students could find answers to the questions they generate.

Topics to include in the profile of the DRC include:

  • Historical information (background of country)
  • Geographical information (climate, environmental issues)
  • Political information (including history)
  • Economic information (including resources that generate income)
  • Social/cultural (language, cultural events)
  • Values/beliefs

Encourage students to gather information from a variety of sources. There are some website links at the end of this activity sheet that may be useful.

Negotiate with students how they are going to present their profile. These could include:

  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Brochure
  • Oral presentation

Reflection

What are some things you would do the same in your next research inquiry, and what might you do differently?

What do you understand more clearly now?

Further investigations

Create a poster describing an aspect of Congolese music. The following website has more information about traditional and contemporary music.

Create a rap or rhyme about an aspect of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Present it to the class.

Related Research Links
ABC News – DR Congo rebels take town in new offensive

ABC News - UN arranging crisis talks with DR Congo, Rwanda

Children’s BBC Newsround – Country profile Democratic Republic of Congo

Children’s BBC Newsround – UN sends help to Congo refugees

National Geographic – Democratic Republic of Congo

BBC Country profile – Democratic Republic of Congo

Country at a glance United Nations Cyber school bus – Democratic Republic of Congo

Pakistan

The resignation of Pakistan’s president has been big news in Australia. The Australian cricket team has cancelled a trip to Pakistan and politicians here are keeping a very close eye on what’s going on.

Focus Questions

1]Describe in your own words what is happening in Pakistan.

2]What are three facts about Pakistan that you learnt from the BtN story?

3]Where is Pakistan located?

4]What is happening in Afghanistan at the moment?

5]What does resign mean?

6]How did the resignation of the president affect the people in Pakistan?

7]Why did the Australian Cricket Board decide to cancel the trip to Pakistan?

8]What impact could the problems in Pakistan have on Afghanistan?

9]What do you now know about Pakistan that you didn’t know before watching the BtN story?

10]How is Australia affected by the problems in Pakistan?

Profile of Pakistan

Students will be researching and developing a profile of Pakistan to gain a deeper understanding of the country.

Working in pairs, ask students to brainstorm what they know about Pakistan and record their responses. Using the `who, what, why, when, where and how’ framework, ask students to write questions that they would like to find the answers to. Students share their questions with the rest of the class. Discuss how the students could find answers to the questions they generate.

Topics to include in the profile of Pakistan include:

  • Geographical and physical features of the country
  • Facts about Pakistan
  • Political history
  • Poverty in Pakistan
  • Relationship with India and Afghanistan

Encourage students to gather information from a variety of sources. There are some website links at the end of this activity sheet that may be useful.

Negotiate with students how they are going to present their profile of Pakistan. These could include:

  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Brochure
  • Oral presentation
  • Web page

Reflection

What are some things you would do the same in your next research inquiry, and what might you do differently?

What do you understand more clearly now?

Further investigations

Use the online puzzle maker to create a word search or crossword about Pakistan.

Research the work of an organisation such as Oxfam or the Fred Hollows Foundation in Pakistan. Create a poster to display your research findings.

Create a rap or rhyme about an aspect of Pakistan. Present it to the class.

Related Research Links
ABC News – Pakistan’s Musharraf steps down

ABC News – Pakistan’s coalition at odds over judges

ABC 730 Report – Political shift for Pakistan

BBC Country profile – Pakistan

Oxfam website – Information about Pakistan

Lonely Planet guide to Pakistan

South Ossetia

  1. What is the main point of the story?
  2. Where is South Ossetia?
  3. Why are Russia and Georgia at war?
  4. What significant event happened in 1991?
  5. The agreement that gave South Ossetia some independence didn’t solve the problem. What did they want?
  6. Why is the pipeline that runs through South Ossetia so valuable?
  7. What is the concern if Russia gains control of the pipeline?
  8. Describe how the people living in South Ossetia might be feeling?
  9. What do you think should happen next?
  10. What do you now know about this conflict that you didn’t know before watching the BtN story?

South Ossetia

ABC 730 Report – Georgia and Russia at war over disputed territory

ABC News – A day in South Ossetia, and a Russian armoured vehicle

Children’s BBC – Emergency aid arriving in Georgia

BBC – Country profile of South Ossetia

TITLE OF STORY:TIBET

Curriculum Outcome Links Society and Environment/HSIE DATE 25/03/08

Student learning outcomes

Students will:
  • Develop an understanding of Tibet and its relationship with China.
  • Further develop their research skills.
Focus Discussion
  1. Where is Tibet?
  2. Why is Tibet called the `rooftop of the world’?
  3. Who is the Dalai Lama?
  4. What is the religion of Tibet?
  5. When and why did the Dalai Lama leave Tibet?
  6. What do the Chinese believe was happening in Tibet?
  7. What has been the impact of hundreds of thousand of Chinese moving to Tibet?
  8. Why are some Tibetans now trying to draw attention to their cause?
  9. Why is it difficult to know exactly what is happening in Tibet at the moment?
  10. What impact might the current protests have on the upcoming Olympics in Beijing?

Profile of Tibet

Students will be researching and developing a profile of Tibet to gain a deeper understanding of the region.

Ask students to brainstorm, in pairs, what they know about Tibet and record it on the sheet ofpaper. Using the `how, who, what, why, when, where’ framework, ask students to write questions that they would like to find out the answers to. Regroup and share these questions with the rest of the class. Discuss how the students could find answers to these questions.

Topics to include in the profile of Tibet:

  • Geographical and physical features of the region
  • Facts about Tibet
  • Political history
  • Relationship with China
  • Timeline of significant events
  • Profile of the Dalai Lama
  • Tibetan Buddhism

Encourage students to gather information from a variety of sources. There are some website links at the end of this activity sheet that may be useful.

Students can present their profile of Tibet in number of different ways. These include:

  • Powerpoint presentation
  • Webpage
  • Video
  • Poster
  • Brochure
  • Oral presentation
  • Report

Ask student to share their profile with the rest of the class.

Follow-up Suggestions
INTRAPERSONAL
Summarise the Dalai Lama’s life using the Biocube at:
INTERPERSONAL
Research the impact Tibetan Buddhism has had on the rest of the world. Share the information with the rest of the class.
LOGICAL AND MATHEMATICAL
Use the online puzzle maker to create a word search or crossword about Tibet.
VERBAL – LINGUISTIC
In pairs, find out more about the Dalai Lama’s teachings. Discuss how they could be applied to your own lives.
Create an individual or group dance showing the conflict between Tibet and China or the Teachings of the Dalai Lama.

 Related ResearchLinks

Aust. Government response to Tibet protests

IOC and Human Rights in China

Riots in Tibet

Inside Tibet

Tibet’s future

Country profile of Tibet

Info about Tibet

Info about the Dalai Lama

East Timor

1.Where is East Timor in relation to Australia?
2.Who is East Timor’s president?
  1. What important prize has he won? Why is this significant?
4.When was East Timor declared independent from Indonesia?
5.Australia is a good neighbour to East Timor. Do you agree?
  1. How many Australian troops have been deployed to East Timor? Why?
  2. Why would some East Timorese people still want to belong to Indonesia?
  3. Why would rebel soldiers go so far as attempting to assassinate the president?
  4. Predict what would happen if UN troops left East Timor.
  5. Why is East Timor likely to continue to depend on Australia in the future?

ABC 730 Report – Tensions high in E Timor

BBC News – Country profile – East Timor

BBC – Timeline East Timor

BBC – Profile Jose Ramos-Horta

© ABC 2008