Congo in the Classroom: Curriculum
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The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), though geographically distant, actually relates to choices we make here in the United States. The overall objectives of this three-lesson-plan curriculum for high school students is to:
- Educate students about the Congo with a brief history lesson.
- Introduce the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to students.
- Enable students to learn more about their peers across the world by reading personal narratives.
- Review the roots of the human rights abuses in the Congo with students and their connection to the Congo’s natural resources and international electronics companies.
Download the letter of introduction.
Lesson Plan #1 - A Brief History of Congo
Students will learn a brief history of the Democratic Republic of Congo and review the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Download lesson plan #1.
Associated Materials:
- Congo ABC's fact sheet for classroom teacher(s)
- Two Maps: One of the Congo, one of Africa
- Handouts of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Essential timeline of the Congo
- Handout of Key Terms
Lesson Plan #2 - Civilians in the Congo
Students will learn about civilians in the Congo through their personal stories, and discuss the narratives in groups. Download lesson plan #2.
Associated Materials:
- Five youth narratives from the Congo, collected by Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)
- Copy of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) mission
Lesson Plan #3 - Congo in Conflict
Students will learn about select mineral resources in the Congo and how citizens of the United States are connected to the conflict and other human rights abuses
in the Congo. Download lesson plan #3.
Associated Materials:
- Vocabulary sheet for key terms in the lesson
- Handouts for students, with quotes and questions
- Newspaper article handout
Associated Resources:
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