Human rights

The Bosnian War

Synopsis

This lesson is an excellent extension to the 'Conflict and cooperation' Lesson Plan which teaches students about the Balkans crisis (1990-1995). During this lesson, students learn about the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights and Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They then discuss and debate whether universal rights should be offered to all individuals by considering relevant scenarios in their school and then in the complex context of the Balkans crisis. Using a variety of stimuli, including a war painting by Peter Howson (1994), students consider how the rights of civilians, military personnel and Governments are balanced and breached in times of conflict.

MOD Topic

The Bosnian War

Curriculum Checklist

1.2: a, b, c. 2.1: a, d. Range: a, m, n.

Curriculum Links

• History
• Geography
• Art
• English

Prior Knowledge

The lesson plan 'International conflict and cooperation' teaches students about the Balkans conflict and will help them to debate and discuss human rights issues.

Citizenship at KS3:Human rights, Debating a global issue, Why is it so difficult to keep the peace in the world today?

Citizenship at KS4: Challenging racism and discrimination, The UK's role in the world, including in Europe, the European Union, the Commonwealth and the United Nations.

Learning Outcomes

Lower ability students will:

• Have some understanding of what is meant by human rights and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Draw information from a range of sources and stimuli and build some understanding of the Bosnian War.
• Understand that the UK Armed Forces played a role in the Bosnian war.
• Discuss some civilian and military human rights that were breached during the Bosnian war.
• Deliver key points of an argument in a clear manner.

Average ability students will:

• Have a good understanding of what is meant by human rights and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Draw information from a range of sources and stimuli and collate that information to create an understanding of the Bosnian War.
• Understand the UK Armed Forces role in the Bosnian war.
• Create opinions about civilian and military human rights that were breached during the Bosnian war.
• Deliver an argument in a clear, logical and progressive manner whilst engaging an audience.

Higher ability students will:

• Have an excellent understanding of what is meant by human rights and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Draw information from a range of sources and stimuli and collate that information to create a strong understanding of the Bosnian War.
• Fully understand the UK Armed Forces role in the Bosnian war.
• Create strong and justified opinions about civilian and military human rights that were breached during the Bosnian war.
• Deliver an argument in a clear, logical and progressive manner whilst engaging an audience.

Lesson code

C6