They have long bonded over Russian language and history, a testament to a shared background as immigrants from more than a dozen nations that once constituted the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. What examples of confusion do these pieces give, as people struggle to reconcile conflicting information? Anyone can read what you share. But even as students read and discuss the TikTok article, they should know that this isnt just a problem for teenagers. How is having background on the political, geographic, economic and cultural history of this region key to understanding what happens? As well as a military campaign, Moscow is also waging a battle over the truth. How Volodymyr Zelensky rallied Ukrainians, and the world, against Putin. I think I was most shocked, actually, when there was a guy who literally looked into the camera, looked at the photos, and said, Russias not bombing Kyiv. If you would like to consider doing blackout poetry instead, we also have directions, tips and examples for that. To go further, we have many resources below, in our Information War section. She. And thats very painful. Finally, invite them to talk together about how they are making sense of all this news. Will the world be able to maintain unity, or will cracks emerge if the war drags on and gas prices keep rising, inflation spikes, or other unforeseen developments arise? Perhaps they can inspire their own efforts: You Just Have to Open the Door and Help People: Polands Tourism Industry Aids Refugees (Article), A Waiter. And President Putin has referred to him and the people around him as, quote, drug-addled Nazis, on Russian TV, even though this is just a completely outlandish, intentional distortion of the truth. Frank Brunis recent Opinion essay, Russia, Where All the News Is Fake, begins this way: We are only as good as the information we get. Do Something. The War in Ukraine Holds a Warning for the World Order (Article): The liberal world order has been on life support for a while, begins this News Analysis. Older kids might see disturbing images and news of the Ukraine conflict on social media. Will Banning Russian Oil Hurt Russia, or the U.S.? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In Crime and Punishment, a desperate man asks, Do you understand what it means when you have absolutely nowhere to turn? I am not here to suggest that reading necessarily makes us better, more moral. The Ukrainian health ministry has said 352 civilians . China joins Europe and the United States in imposing economic sanctions against Russia. deny that the Kremlin controls the most powerful news broadcasts on the three main television networks. We hope to post some of your ideas soon. So theyre Nazis. But we also encourage students to get their news from a variety of reliable global outlets and platforms beyond The Times. Millions of Dollars, Thousands of Robocalls and 1 Legal Loophole We've asked Drew University faculty experts to help put the crisis into perspective. For example, how might you balance a desire to protect, defend or intervene on behalf of Ukraine with concerns that such efforts might provoke or escalate a broader war with Russia? You know, Ive been talking to a lot of people here in Ukraine, first when I was in Kyiv, and then on the road. Add Russia's escalating invasion of Ukraine to the list. (The Argument podcast), Will Banning Russian Oil Hurt Russia, or the U.S.? Its like this alternate reality for so many people. As a start, you might ask your students to discuss what they already know about media and news literacy and how those lessons might apply as they scroll through their news feeds. He said his father basically said, no, no, no, and that he denied what Misha was telling him that he sees with his own eyes. Here are the 6 must-know provisions of the new debt ceiling deal Many have lived there. Ukraine - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help Dublin Shield was able to interview Artemia regarding her experiences as a teenager affected by the Russo-Ukrainian. Its largely opportunistic wealth that Russia has enjoyed since the countrys oil started selling on global markets for $45 a barrel. Its too sad? Why did some decide to stay while others decided to leave if they had a choice at all? So we actually have seen some pretty significant street protests in Russia, mostly in large cities, since the invasion started actually, more than in Russias recent history. What I see on TikTok is more real, more authentic than other social media, said Ms. Hernandez, a student in Los Angeles. Exactly. Watch: Kyiv residents explain why they're fleeing the Ukrainian capital. In this lesson plan, published just after the invasion, we use a range of Times resources, including articles, videos, maps, photos and podcasts, to help students answer these questions and understand what is at stake. If were fed lies, were lost. And anyways, he said, the government there, theyre all Nazis. This includes video of the so-called Ghost of Kyiv, the purported fighter pilot who took down six Russian planes, and the reported deaths of the soldiers stationed at Snake Island who Zelensky said had died heroically but in fact are all still alive. Among the sanctions and penalties students might mention: Thirty countries closed their airspace to Russian planes; Eurovision, FIFA and the Paralympic Games have barred Russians from participating in this years competitions; Germany discarded six decades of military-averse policy to increase its spending and send Ukraine weapons; technology companies like Apple halted sales in Russia, and Google pulled Russian media off their networks. Find an organization that helps refugees from all over the world. We open and close this collection of resources with advice from a Well article: Whats the Best Way to Cope in an Anxious World? This is an idea that Russian President Vladimir Putin has often repeated, right? On Sunday, Russia attacked a Ukrainian military base 12 miles from Ukraines border with Poland, bringing the war dangerously close to NATOs doorstep. For the fifth day in a row, panicky Russians tried to withdraw their savings from banks while the countrys financial system appeared to teeter on the brink of collapse. Katherine Schulten has been a Learning Network editor since 2006. Edited by Lisa Chow. Hello 2-follower anonymous troll. But Joyce Carol Oates was surely correct when she wrote, Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into anothers skin, anothers voice, anothers soul.. His father lives in Russia in a city called Nizhny Novgorod. But how do you make sure that what theyre sharing is reliable, or at least help them ask that question as they choose? Overview On February 24, 2022, the Russian military invaded Ukraine. (Debatable Newsletter), Boycotts, Not Bombs: Sanctions Are a Go-To Tactic, With Uneven Results (Interactive), This Is About the Future of Freedom: What Does America Owe Ukrainians? Next, you might ask your students for their initial responses to one or more of these questions: What do you think of the worlds response to the Russian invasion? Many are now trying to escape the country, with UN estimates suggesting over 100,000 people have already fled from . Would you include suggestions, requests, pleas or even demands? What predictions would your report make? Mr. Xis warm embrace of Mr. Putin only weeks ago advertised their ambitions to build what they called a fairer, more stable global order one in which the United States is a smaller presence. And he said, the fourth morning of the war. And I thought maybe he doesnt know whats going on here. Do Something. As the piece points out, there are many ways to help. In his Opinion piece, We Cant Trust Everything We See About the Livestreamed War, Jay Caspian Kang writes about the impossible task all of us have as we scroll through our newsfeeds to pull together as many bits of good information as possible, then try to stitch everything together into a coherent narrative. And the problem goes far beyond eliminating disinformation from Russia, since some of Ukraines official accounts have blended fact and mythmaking, too. Dressed in an army-green T-shirt or fleece, unshaven and wan, Mr. Zelensky has inspired Ukrainians to fight for their country and Europeans to see Ukraine in a different light, as a victim of aggression fighting bravely for independence, freedom and democracy. Ukrainians rejected him; Putin stole Crimea; and the war in Donbas began. Into that situation walks Vladimir V. Putin. The article can help students think about the war through the following lens: Ukraine is being viewed as a test for the survival of a 75-year-old idea: that liberal democracy, American military might and free trade can create the conditions for peace and global prosperity. And Putin continues to exert ever more control over Russian society. Part II. In the section above, we delved into what ordinary Russians are seeing in their news. Then, ask them what they know about how well those measures have worked so far. But this is his life now, tracking rumors and trying to sort out the truth. So I think that many people, especially in the West, saw this moment as Russias chance to create democratic institutions. How Should the World Respond to Russias Assault on Ukraine? In her Opinion essay How to Avoid Drowning in an Ocean of Information, Tressie McMillan Cottom captures how many of us teenagers and adults alike feel right now: Russias invasion of Ukraine has made it difficult to focus on anything else. In a video message, the mayors replacement, a Russian appointee, instructed the residents of Melitopol, to adjust to, quote, the new reality, and to end their resistance to Russian occupation. Life outside of Russia for members of the diaspora from the former Soviet Union is complicated, too. Natalie Proulx, a senior staff editor for The Learning Network, provided additional help with this collection. Here is a sample of what the news report there looks like. He is trying to piggyback on the proud legacy of the Soviet defeat of the Nazis in World War II, and he also cannot really deal with the fact that Ukraine wants to have a separate country and a separate identity from Russia 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ukrainian children are still in school despite the war : NPR Most older adults, who have experienced war in their country before, have decided to stick it out, while some younger people have chosen to take up arms. How? This mini-lesson is designed to help students explore one facet of this devastating war: the mounting refugee crisis. And many people, they dont believe in the ideals which existed in the former Soviet Union, and the new ideals hadnt been invented for them. Russia-Ukraine war - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help Right. And now, theyll try to save you. Right. We hope this collection can help. They will not hit civilian people. While you read, take notes on what is motivating Mr. Zelensky and what decisions he has made so far that attempt to further his goals. Russian Invasion of Ukraine Explained Part 1 - YouTube Well, now, its not chipping anymore. And most of the official communications about it dont even mention the Russian military. The Carpathian Mountains rise in the west. He wont. Should the world do more like establishing a no-fly zone? I Want Peace. Zelenskys Heroic Resistance Is an Example for the World, A Knife to the Throat: Putins Logic for Invading Ukraine, Piece by Piece, Russias Rationale for a Ukraine Invasion Is Put in Place, Putin Has No Good Way Out, and That Really Scares Me, Putin Seems to Sideline Advisers on Ukraine, Taking a Political Risk. Talking to Kids About the War in Ukraine - Albuquerque Public Schools What was going through your mind? Full directions, and many tips, can be found here. And not only that. Because of that, some have found themselves standing on opposite sides of the conflict from their own family members. Your students can make individual plans, or you can do something as a classroom or school. As Russia steps up its bombing campaign against Ukrainian cities, its also waging another battle over the truth about the war. No matter how much time youll spend on this conflict in class, here are a few recommendations and resources for helping your students navigate the news. So Valerie, Im going to stop for a second on this Nazi reference, because it keeps coming up. At the beginning of this collection, we suggested that your students pull something from their newsfeed and write about why it got their attention, then share it with classmates. Many, including Joel Breakstone, the director of the Stanford History Education Group, suggest an approach called lateral reading that teaches students how to assess not only the reliability of the specific information theyve found online but also who published it and for what purpose, Jay Caspian Kang writes. And now, there was just this period of total uncertainty. The attack and Russias response to it is an example of Russia presenting an alternate reality in the face of facts about the war. However, over the past two weeks I have paid more careful attention to current events and the impending World War III, watching the news in interest, fear, anger and sadness. Its Time to Offer Russia an Offramp. Image Source: Al Jazeera Importance of Ukraine to Russia Ukraine and Russia have shared cultural and linguistic ties for hundreds of years. Then, invite students to share what they have chosen in pairs, groups or with the whole class. April 28, 2023 An apartment building in the Ukrainian city of Uman has been hit after a series of airstrikes across the country on Friday. To help, they might make a list using the sentence starter China wants . The Times offers a selection of recent translated work by Ukrainian writers that you and your students might enjoy. We Failed.. What tone would you use? Other neighbouring countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania have cumbersome visa processes. Find out more about the war in Ukraine here. (Depending on what you teach and how youd like to structure this, you could substitute or include other world leaders, or global institutions like the E.U., the U.N. or NATO.). He cannot. Fighters Bound for Ukraine (Article), A Welcome Steeped in History: Ukrainian Refugees Arrive in Germany (Article), In the War Over Ukraine, Expect the Unexpected (Opinion), How Readers Around the World Are Praying for Ukraine (Opinion). Ukraine's longest river is the Dnieper. I was really sad, but I guess I wasnt so surprised. What have your students read that can help them understand the current crisis? Will they make Putin change course? Everything is like this. The full extent of casualties in Ukraine is very hard to confirm. Here, you can see one of them, Kahlil Greene, explaining what happened. What big questions does it raise for them and how are they seeking answers to those questions? A Knife to the Throat: Putins Logic for Invading Ukraine (The Daily Podcast), Piece by Piece, Russias Rationale for a Ukraine Invasion Is Put in Place (Article), Putin Has No Good Way Out, and That Really Scares Me (Opinion), Putin Seems to Sideline Advisers on Ukraine, Taking a Political Risk (Article), Vladimir Putin: Crafty Strategist or Aggrieved and Reckless Leader? Why? See you tomorrow. Please note that some of these resources include graphic depictions of violence. Why is Ukraine so important to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, to Europe, to the United States and to the world? What would you say? AidData, the international development research lab based at William & Mary's Global Research Institute, did an exhaustive study of Russia's attempts to use media, money and partnerships with sympathetic civic groups to advance its interests in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.. Ukraine was one of 17 countries closely examined, and toward the end of the three-year project, Russia invaded Ukraine . Staff at one of Russias most prominent independent television stations have resigned, live on air. Why Zelensky Poses a Unique Threat to Putin (The Daily Podcast), How Volodymyr Zelensky rallied Ukrainians, and the world, against Putin. The footage and soundtrack were traced back to their original sources in a New York Times analysis of the videos. How to Help Tell Us How You're Teaching About This Conflict Where to Begin, No Matter What You Teach Older kids might see disturbing images and news of the Ukraine conflict on social media.. As they do, they can analyze the artifact and what it means; explore how it affects them emotionally; connect it to their own lives; list the questions it raises for them; or link it to other things they have read, seen or listened to, whether in or outside of school. Part II: See what the news looks like inside Russia. Choose one or more of these resources to read or listen to, and take notes on significant developments, major revelations, lessons or unexpected outcomes. Well, I think it has a lot to do with Vladimir Putin and Russians relationship to him. Ukraine conflict: Your guide to understanding day four - BBC The abduction of the mayor from the town of Dniprorudne follows the dramatic capture of the mayor of Melitopol, who was reportedly taken from a government building with a bag over his head. You can find them in the collection On the Ground: Ukraine Under Attack. (Please note: Many of the images are graphic.). Ovid wrote the letters in his Tristia (Sorrows) after his banishment from Rome. While you read, take notes on what is motivating Mr. Putin and what decisions he has made so far to further his goals. The state orders some of the few remaining independent media in Russia to stop broadcasting, including the BBCs Russian service, and the German broadcaster, Deutsche Welle. I mean, this is the product of years and years of clamping down on free press and increasingly escalating rhetoric in media, demonizing the other, and slowly building the case for something exactly like this. In a history class, it might be natural to construct a full unit on Ukraine, but teachers across the curriculum may also want to address questions and emotions about this conflict or teach aspects of it suited to their subject areas. To use this collection, choose from the categories in the menu below. Can you describe what youve been hearing and seeing? What do they wonder? Because The Learning Network and everything we link to is accessible without a Times digital subscription, teachers clicking on these resources from our site can use them with their students free of charge. (Debatable Newsletter), Should We Really Be Culturally Canceling Russia? To help them slow the onslaught of information, react thoughtfully and process the news, you might adapt an assignment as simple as this one, which can be done at any point and about any aspect of the crisis: Ask students to choose one artifact from the stream of news and opinion about this conflict that stands out to them for any reason. But some Ukrainians have stayed behind. So far, Europe has opened its doors to Ukrainian refugees and the European Union has agreed to let most Ukrainians live, work and study across the bloc for up to three years. Fight corrupt bureaucrats and strengthen the central government. (And to prepare yourself for the conversation, read How to Talk to Kids About Ukraine. Though the article is aimed at parents, it provides tips that will be useful to educators, too.). But at the same time, youre not going to mess with politics, and youre going to be OK with a media that is not free. (More on those below, in Part III.). No, thats not happening. But Worlds Apart. Understand how The Times and other reputable news sources verify reporting. Emilio Morenatti/AP Russia is bombarding major cities in Ukraine, more than a week into a war where Moscow has faced setbacks on the battlefield yet seems undeterred from its campaign to take. Over the years, many our winning poems have focused on war, including Nothing Less than Heroic by Ryan Nguyen, We were, by Laurel Booth, and a poem about World War II composed back in 2011 by a student named John from Times articles from the 1940s. To live in Moscow today is to watch the soul of a city die. If the Russia-Ukraine conflict is the worlds first TikTok war, then your students may be unwittingly taking in a lot of mis- and disinformation. A fate thousands of schools across Ukraine have met since the war with Russia began. A related article from the Well section addresses a similar stew of emotions fear, anxiety, helplessness, even guilt and suggests another course of action to loosen the grip: helping someone else. The country's human rights commissioner says 210 civilians have been killed. Whats happening is a horror, a human travesty. Why or why not? Twitter eventually removed the post. This voice of truth must be destroyed. Source: Compiled from photos and videos showing evidence of attacks, government reports and first-person accounts. Yet the situation, however bleak, is not without precedents. Then, put students into small groups and give them the following challenge: If you were advising President Biden, what would you recommend as the appropriate response to the invasion? Here are just a few of the recent Times articles that describe what some helpers are doing. And Im for Putin. Theyre essentially repeating what theyve been hearing from Putin and from talk show hosts on state TV. Widely circulated video that purportedly showed a young Ukrainian girl confronting a Russian soldier actually showed Ahed Tamimi, a young Palestinian activist who was filmed near her home in the West Bank. What do you think it has to do with? Since many have asked, The Times has created an explainer, How We Verify Our Reporting on the Ukraine War. It describes how dozens of reporters, photographers, videographers, audio journalists, writers and others work in Ukraine and the countries bordering it to deliver real-time, independent, in-depth coverage of the conflict and its reverberations across the region. From The New York Times, Im Sabrina Tavernise. Putin vs. Democracy (The Morning Newsletter): This explainer can walk students through how Russias invasion of Ukraine fits into the broader geopolitical trends of the past decade and a half a time when democracy has been on the decline worldwide. He loves me, and hes really scared, and he told that his heart is bleeding. The Times is maintaining a regularly updated page with maps tracking the Russian invasion of Ukraine. So he told me that, look, everything is going like this. Vladimir Putin and the authorities, they just dont want free media. How Vladimir Putin Lost Interest in the Present, How the West Marshaled a Stunning Show of Unity Against Russia,, increase its spending and send Ukraine weapons, McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Starbucks and other companies, calling for the suspension of normal trade relations with Russia, risking a wider conflict or retaliation by the Kremlin, Russias leadership or its powerful oligarchs, curbing the importation of oil might raise, Zelensky delivers an emotional plea to Congress: I call on you to do more.. Consider supporting local food banks or other nonprofits in your community. Millions of Ukrainians have relatives in Russia. And there was also this really major loss of national pride that I think a lot of people discount. "Yes, I think I would fight for my country." As Europeans have grappled with the shock of facing a war on their doorstep and a frenzied news cycle, many teachers have had little time to process. At a station in Western Ukraine, mothers and their children boarded evacuation trains to Poland, while many of their husbands stayed to defend the country from advancing Russian forces. The process of creating a found poem requires students to read closely to identify the words and details that resonate for them, then recombine those words to create something that summarizes, reacts to or comments on their topic. For most of the 20th century it was a part of a much larger country, the Soviet Union. To help students formulate their recommendations, consider the following questions: What strategic and moral principles would guide your thinking and advice? The Kremlin today. By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and . Since Feb. 24, photographers and videographers in and around Ukraine have been capturing a populace struggling with uncertainty and fear, and showing resolve, in the face of an invasion. He lives with his wife and kids in Kyiv, and actually owns a really trendy chain of Asian restaurants. Are these punishing sanctions the right move? Now invite students to learn more about everyday life for Ukrainians during this conflict, both those still in Ukraine and those living as refugees. You can donate to aid organizations working in Ukraine or volunteer with a local group sending supplies abroad. Where would it be especially important to choose your words carefully? (Opinion). President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia made the decision to invade Ukraine. Opinion | The Russia and Ukraine conflict explained Why do other countries get involved?" Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, more than 100 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and half a million Ukrainians have fled. They face a winter of empty bellies, infrequent heating, and nothing to hope for but spring. They give them warm clothes and food. Published Jan. 26, 2022 Updated Feb. 24, 2022 Lesson Overview Featured Article: "How the Ukraine Crisis Developed, and Where It Might Be Headed" by Dan Bilefsky. Read them these three paragraphs from the article TikTok Is Gripped by the Violence and Misinformation of Ukraine War and ask them to react: Bre Hernandez used to scan TikTok for videos of makeup tutorials and taco truck reviews. Articles, maps, photos, videos, podcasts and more, as well as suggestions for using them in your classroom. Yeah, I think we have to recognize that that wasnt peoples priority back then. Students say that returning to Ukraine via Moldova is the easiest and most hassle-free option available currently because the country has been issuing e-visas. On February 24 alone, more than 1,700 people across 53 Russian cities were detained by authorities. On Monday, February 22nd, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his troops to march into regions of Eastern Ukraine.These signed orders were in regards. No Wavering: After Turning to Putin, Xi Faces Hard Wartime Choices for China (Article), Chinas Russia Problem (The Morning Newsletter), China Sees at Least One Winner Emerging From Ukraine War: China (Article), How China Embraces Russian Propaganda and Its Version of the War (Article), China Asked Russia to Delay Ukraine War Until After Olympics, U.S. Officials Say (Article), Before Ukraine Invasion, Russia and China Cemented Economic Ties (Article), Why the Chinese Internet Is Cheering Russias Invasion (Article), Russia Asked China for Military and Economic Aid for Ukraine War, U.S. Officials Say (Article), Its Time to Offer Russia an Offramp. How does that contrast with other sources of information? To begin, teachers might share just the quote above with students and ask them to list all of the sanctions and penalties they know about. You might conduct this activity as a jigsaw and have students share what they learned with one another. Valerie, what did you think as you were watching these man-on-the-street interviews? Early on the morning of Feb. 24 in Ukraine, Russian troops poured over the border, and Russian planes and missile launchers attacked Ukrainian cities and airports. Russias only independent media owner was formally charged today with embezzling state funds. In each, youll find a brief overview; a list of resources; questions your students can think about as they read, watch or listen to; and a short assignment idea you might adopt or adapt. For example, curbing the importation of oil might raise gas prices, causing political backlash from your own citizens. China Can Help With That. Still, in a country where the state controls the media and the last vestiges of a free press have been dismantled, many do not believe that there is a war unfolding. Or work in your own community, since, as donations flow into Ukraine, other groups may receive less. Teachers can inspire children and young people to feel hopeful and promote a sense of agency through thoughtful, honest discussion and developmentally appropriate activities. We are rightfully awed by the Ukrainian peoples resolve in the face of an unprovoked attack, a kind of resolve we see people all over the world have shown in the face of violence. (The Daily podcast), The Price of Putins Belligerence (Opinion), The Cancellation of Mother Russia Is Underway (Opinion), Biden Must Not Allow Ukraine to Fall (Opinion). Student loans Conservatives had been trying to use the debt ceiling to force the White House to retreat on Biden's plan to cancel up to $20,000 of student debt for tens of millions of Americans. If you were advising President Biden or other world leaders, what would you recommend? Only as grounded, as enlightened, as capable of forming rational opinions about our political leaders and making intelligent decisions about our lives. There is a war, Im his son, and he doesnt call me. The attack is the deadliest strike on a Ukrainian.