Lesson Plan - Growing Up in a War Zone

Build Background Knowledge

Tell students that the video “The Day I Became a Refugee” from December 2022 tells the stories of four teens who had to leave Ukraine after the war started. Ask them to think about these questions as they watch: How did Russia’s invasion affect each of the Ukrainian teens? What do you think Rostyslav Sheichenko means when he says “You have to defend the kindness inside you”? Use Think-Pair-Share to discuss responses.

Preview Vocabulary

Use the online Skill Builder Words to Know to preteach the domain-specific terms civilian, Communist, deploy, humanitarian, infrastructure, initiative, Soviet Union, United Nations, and Western. Have students refer to the Skill Builder as they read.

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently or in pairs. As students read, direct them to circle or highlight any words whose meanings they’re unsure of.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.

• Summarize what has happened in the war between Russia and Ukraine. (Summarizing)
On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine from the north and east. It launched many missile attacks and sent troops and tanks into the country. Ukraine immediately deployed its military and has been defending itself for two years. About 200,000 Ukrainian military members have been killed or suffered injuries, and at least 10,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed. About 6 million people fled the country and became refugees, while 37 million people have stayed. The war has turned their lives upside down and left many dealing with challenges, including power outages, disrupted educations, and isolation.

• How does the map “The Battle for Ukraine” support the article? (Integrating Information)
The map shows Ukraine’s borders and how much of its territory was held by Russia as of December 15, 2023. It also supports the article by showing where each of the three profiled teens lives. Additionally, the map shows Crimea, a region that Russia annexed in 2014, and shows where that area is in relation to Russia and the rest of Ukraine.

• What do you think Artem Korsun means when he says “Even [if the] missiles don’t kill me, they still strike the inner part of me that wants to live, not just exist”? (Making Meaning)
Sample response: I think Artem means that the missiles hurt him by preventing him from fully enjoying his life. In trying to stay safe, he misses out on activities he wants to do, such as go to class in person.

• How does the sidebar “Why Did Russia Invade Ukraine?” support the article? (Text Features)
The sidebar supports the article by providing historical context for the conflict. It explains that Russia has been trying to make Ukraine part of a larger empire for hundreds of years, but Ukrainians have resisted and tried to keep their separate identity. From 1922 until 1991, Ukraine was forced to be part of the Soviet Union, a huge Communist country dominated by Russia. Today Russian President Vladimir Putin does not recognize Ukraine as a nation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pursuing alliances with Western nations, which have given Ukraine money and military assistance for the war. The sidebar says experts think that the war is likely to continue for some time.

• Why are generators so important in Ukraine? (Key Details)
Generators are important because Russia has tried to destroy Ukraine’s infrastructure, particularly during winter. As a result, at times millions of Ukrainians have had to make do without electricity, heat, or hot water. Generators offer a back-up supply of electricity that families can use for heat or even to charge cell phones. President Zelensky has said that generators are “as important as armor.”

• How is the war affecting education in Ukraine? (Cause and Effect)
More than 1,300 of Ukraine’s 17,000 schools have been destroyed in the war so far, and thousands of other schools have been damaged. Many students like Artem have had to take classes online, robbing them of opportunities to socialize and connect with friends. Only about one in three Ukrainian children go to school in person full-time, and the United Nations Children’s Fund estimates that more than 5 million students have fallen behind academically because of this. Alina Barsuk is able to learn in person a few days a week in Kharkiv, thanks to a voluntary program that allows about 1,000 students to attend school in the city’s subway stations. Kharkiv is less than 25 miles from the Russian border, so studying underground keeps students safer from missiles, which can reach the city in less than a minute.

• Choose a photograph from the article to analyze. What do you notice about it? What do you wonder? (Visual Literacy)
Sample response: In the photograph of students raising their hands in a classroom in a Kharkiv subway station, I notice that it looks pretty similar to a typical classroom, with colorful displays on the walls. The students have desks, pencils, and notebooks, and they are wearing uniforms. The teachers might be leading them in a song or other activity. I wonder why there is a photographer at the front of the room and what the slide on the whiteboard says. I also wonder whether the students have a cafeteria, gym, or other facilities that are usually available in schools.

Think Critically

Guide students to complete the Your Turn activity on page 10. Help them identify quotes in the article and think about what questions might have led to the responses. Then have them brainstorm and share additional questions.

Read a Map

Assign the Skill Builder Map Reading: The Battle for Ukraine to have students answer 10 questions about a map of the country. You might challenge fast finishers to write two additional questions and swap with a classmate. Review responses and correct any misconceptions. For more map reading practice, check out our Map Skills Boot Camp with 15 lessons at junior.scholastic.com/mapskills.

Assess Comprehension

Assign the 10-question Know the News quiz, available in PDF and interactive forms. You can also use Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension of this article and three others from the issue.