The thematic module consists of four units with both practical and theoretical lessons. The units differ in size depending on the content and extent. Under each unit you will find instructions on how to carry out the included lessons and activities, as well as a description of the expected results and outcomes in the form of skills and competencies that the students are expected to develop.
The important context is that each unit is contributing towards thematic learning. The units in the thematic module can theoretically be used on their own. They are related but not dependant on each other. However, at least two units, and preferably more, have to be used to give the desired impact on the students’ learning. Depending on the context and school curriculum the different units can be combined, even from other thematic modules, and they do not have to be used in a specific order. The output of a unit, or even a lesson in a unit, can be used as an input to new thematic activities.
The History of how Mines were developed and used, and the Combat against them
The theme of the module was chosen as it demonstrates how the development of technology can be abused and used for “wrong” purposes, the impact on modern warfare, the rewriting of history and the importance of critical analyses. It also focuses on the harmful effects of mines also after the wars in different parts of the world and what is being done to combat the use of landmines.
History thematic module contains the following units:
➡ The Deminer
➡ Critical source analysis
➡ Presentation history using digital software
➡ Croatian War
Objectives of this thematic module
The objectives of this thematic module is to sencitise, inform, and engage students in the topic of the
History of Mines using units that address:
• how the evolution of technology can be abused and used for different purposes
• history of the use of different kinds of mines
• the understanding of the impact of landmines on our European history and the impact of
recent wars in the Balkans
• finding facts on internet and using critical thinking in the analyses of the findings
• using ICT to create materials that visualise and present information
• source critisism and analyses
• challenges in the efforts to disarm mines and combat the use of them
Teachers and collaborators of the thematic module
To create this module a number of teachers from the partner organisations have contributed with lesson design, testing, documentation and evaluation of the activities. The participants involved are teaching a variety of subjects such as: Technology, Social science, History, English and Mother tongue. The participants have communicated through the project communication channel, on project meetings and online meetings, to divide tasks and to make sure that the thematic module is of good quality, comprehensive and that it contains units relevant to the theme.
More exact information on participation in the different activities can be found in each unit.
Unit structure
The units are planned according to a common concept:
Introduction: the students are sensitised and introduced to the topic of the unit in the context of the
theme, for example through background information, a teacher presentation, watching a video, a
museum visit, reading a book or an article.
Implementation: the students are given a task, or tasks, connected to the topic of landmines and the
arms industry. They are asked to familiarise themselves with relevant materials and sources before
they come up with a suggestion on how to solve the task. This is followed by the actual work process
to reach the objective of the unit.
Finalisation: the students present a final output for exemple in the form of a poster, pictures or a
video, an oral or written presentation, a practical description, or designing and programming a game.
Specific information about each unit, amount of lessons, duration, output et cetera, can be found
when you click on the units that you are interested in.