Topic: NATO military operations

Author: Anna Rabiega

Addressee:

8th‑grade primary school student.

Core curriculum:

XII. International affairs.

The student:

1) lists the objectives and manifestations of the activities of the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

4) presents the activities of Poland in the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization of the North Atlantic Pact.

The general aim of education:

The student has basic knowledge on international affairs.

Learning outcomes:

The student:

• is able to name a few NATO military missions in the world.

• indicates in which NATO operations Polish troops are involved.

• analyzes the reasons for NATO engagement in various military operations in the world and is able to discuss the pros and cons of Polish participation in those missions.

Key competences:

• communicating in a foreign language,

• digital competence,

• learning to learn,

• social and civic competences.

Teaching methods:

• discussion,

• teaching conversation using infographics, interactive exercises,

• WebQuest

• SWOT analysis.

Forms of work:

• self‑learning,

• group work,

• whole‑class activity.

Material & equipment needed:

• computers with loudspeakers/headphones and internet access, headphones,

• multimedia resources from the e‑textbook – chapter: Polska w NATO, NATO military operations,

• interactive whiteboard/blackboard, felt‑tip pen/a piece of chalk.

Lesson plan overview (Process):

Introduction:

1. The teacher presents the goal of the lesson: You will find out why Polish soldiers engage in NATO missions in various parts of the world.

2. As a review of the lesson about the North Atlantic Alliance, the teacher using online resources introduces students to the film „NATO: What is it, why does it still exist, and how does it work?”. Before the screening, he informs the students that their task is to determine (based on the film or the knowledge they already have) the answers to questions that are written on the board:

• When and for what purpose was the North Atlantic Alliance formed?

• What are the rules of the Alliance's operation? What are the members obliged to do?

• What is collective self‑defense?

• What countries cooperate in NATO?

• How did the end of the Cold War affect the functioning of NATO?

• What are the main goals for NATO today?

• What are the examples of NATO military forces involvement in the 21st century? Is art. 5 of the Washington Treaty applicable in these cases?

• What are the challenges facing NATO today?

• How does NATO operate?

After watching the movie, the teacher asks willing students to answer the questions. If the students failed to determine the answer to any of the questions, the teacher provides them with this information.

Implementation:

1. The teacher asks the students to count up to three and remember their number. Then he asks the students to study the different types of NATO operations depicted in the infographic in the abstract „NATO military operations” and try to determine:

1. What are these activities?

2. Under what circumstances can they be applied?

3. What is their effectiveness?

Students with number 1 are considering and preparing to answer question 1, students with number 2 - question 2, with number 3 - question 3. The teacher sets the time to complete the task. After the time runs out, he asks willing / selected students to answer the question, and other students with the same number to complete the statement of a colleague.

2. The teacher divides the class into groups of three and assigns one of the NATO peace missions in which Polish troops participated or participate to each of the groups. He informs the students that they will work using the WebQuest method and explains this method if necessary. The task of each group is to find information on the Internet, what each of the missions was about and prepare to present the results of the group's work in the form chosen by the students (mind map, oral report, fishbone diagram). The students can also use the map from the abstract. The teacher sets the time for the task. He displays the questions that the students should include in their search on the interactive whiteboard:

• What was the purpose of the mission (the reason for its creation)?

• How many Poles took part in this mission? How many died?

• What was the effect of the mission? How did it end? And in the case of ongoing missions - what are the current effects of the mission? Is there hope for its imminent ending? What would have to happen for the mission to be fulfilled?

3. After the time for completing the task is up, each group presents the information they have found to the rest of the class in the form chosen by them.

4. At the next stage of the lesson, the teacher asks the students to prepare in pairs a SWOT analysis about the presence of NATO military missions in the world's most unstable regions. If necessary, the teacher explains the method to the students. The students prepare their arguments about the strengths of NATO involvement, the weaknesses of such a solution, opportunities and threats for the future related to the functioning of NATO. The teacher sets the time for the task and draws a table on the board for the SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats resulting from the involvement of the North Atlantic Alliance).

5. After the time is up, the teacher writes the arguments given by willing / selected students into the appropriate part of the table. The teacher and the students analyze and jointly think about the justification for NATO involvement in military missions around the globe. He asks one student to summarize the results of the analysis.

Summary:

1. The teacher informs the students that in order to summarize the knowledge and skills gained during the lesson, they will solve exercises 1 and 2 from the abstract regarding NATO missions. Then the students discuss their answers with the teacher.

2. At the end of the class, the teacher asks the students questions:

• What did you find important and interesting in class?

• What was easy and what was difficult?

• How can you use the knowledge and skills you have gained today?

Willing / selected students summarize the lesson.

3. Homework proposal:

a. Write a short note about NATO military missions. Specify, referring to examples, what they are about, in what circumstances they are used, what their meaning is.

b. Listen to the abstract recording to review the material and new vocabulary. Then do the vocabulary exercise at the end of the chapter.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

NATO military operations

Polish soldiers are well known for their heroism and courage. Similarly, during their mission in Iraq in April 2004, when one of the biggest battles in which the Polish army took part in since the second world war was fought, they performed with outstanding bravery.

NATO is currently running a couple of military operations: Baltic Air Policing Mission, Kosovo Force, Ocean Shield, Operation Active Endeavour, RSM Afghanistan. Polish troops take part in most of them. You can read more about the operations on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.