Lesson Plan | Traditional Methodology | Conflicts in the Middle East

Objectives

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to provide students with a clear and comprehensive understanding of the lesson objectives, allowing them to grasp what will be covered and what is expected of them. This helps to contextualize the content and prepares students to engage more effectively during the teacher's explanation.

Main Objectives

1. Identify the main causes of conflicts in the Middle East, including religious, economic, commercial, and border issues.

2. Understand how these issues interact and contribute to the complexity of conflicts in the region.

3. Recognize the historical and contemporary importance of these conflicts in the global scenario.

Introduction

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to provide students with an initial understanding of the relevance and complexity of conflicts in the Middle East. By presenting a rich and detailed context, the teacher lays the groundwork for a deeper analysis of the factors contributing to these conflicts, highlighting their significance both historically and contemporaneously. This introduction aims to capture students' attention and spark interest in the topic, facilitating the assimilation of content throughout the lesson.

Context

The Middle East is a region of extreme geopolitical and historical importance, marked by vast cultural and religious diversity. Since ancient times, this region has been a meeting point of civilizations, trade routes, and territorial disputes. With a strategic location linking three continents - Asia, Africa, and Europe - the Middle East has been the stage for conflicts involving everything from territorial issues to disputes over natural resources, such as oil, and deep religious differences. These conflicts have not only shaped the history of the region but also have significant repercussions on a global level, affecting the economy, politics, and international security.

Curiosities

Did you know that the Middle East has about 48% of the world's proven oil reserves? This makes the region a crucial point for the global economy, being one of the reasons why many armed conflicts are related to control of this vital resource. Moreover, the Suez Canal, which crosses Egypt, is one of the most important maritime routes in the world, facilitating trade between Europe and Asia.

Development

Duration: (45 - 55 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to deepen students' understanding of the various causes and consequences of conflicts in the Middle East. By addressing essential and detailed topics, the teacher provides a comprehensive and interrelated view of the factors contributing to the complexity of the situation in the region. The proposed questions aim to reinforce learning, encouraging students to reflect and articulate their own responses based on the information presented.

Covered Topics

1. Religious Issues: Explain how religious divisions, primarily between Sunnis and Shiites, contribute to the conflicts in the Middle East. Detail the importance of Jerusalem for Jews, Christians, and Muslims and how this results in tensions. 2. Economic Issues and Natural Resources: Address the importance of oil and natural gas in the region and how the competition for these resources has triggered conflicts. Mention the significance of the Suez Canal for global trade. 3. Territorial Issues and Borders: Discuss territorial disputes, such as the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Explain the creation of new states after World War I and how the drawn borders influence current conflicts. 4. International Interventions: Analyze the role of world powers, such as the United States and Russia, in the conflicts in the Middle East. Explain how geopolitical alliances and rivalries influence the dynamic of conflicts in the region. 5. Humanitarian Impacts: Discuss the consequences of conflicts for the civilian population, such as refugees, internally displaced persons, and humanitarian crises. Explain the relevance of international organizations in attempts to mitigate these problems.

Classroom Questions

1. What are the main religious divisions that contribute to the conflicts in the Middle East? Explain how these divisions affect the dynamics of the conflicts. 2. How does the competition for natural resources, such as oil and natural gas, influence conflicts in the Middle East? 3. Explain how the borders drawn after World War I continue to influence conflicts in the Middle East today.

Questions Discussion

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate student learning, allowing them to reflect and discuss the information presented during the lesson. By addressing questions in detail and engaging students in discussions, the teacher ensures a deeper and more critical understanding of conflicts in the Middle East. This interaction also allows the teacher to assess students' understanding and clarify any remaining doubts.

Discussion

•  Religious Issues: Explain that religious divisions in the Middle East, primarily between Sunnis and Shiites, have deep roots dating back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad and the subsequent dispute over his succession. Highlight the importance of Jerusalem as a holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and how this contributes to tensions in the region. The presence of shared sacred sites among these religions often leads to conflicts, as each group seeks to maintain control over these locations.

• ⛽ Economic Issues and Natural Resources: Address how the abundance of oil and natural gas in the Middle East makes the region a strategic center of global interest. Explain that the competition for control of these resources has been a significant cause of conflicts, with world powers frequently intervening to secure access to these energy sources. Also mention the importance of the Suez Canal as a vital route for global trade and how its control is a point of tension.

•  Territorial Issues and Borders: Discuss territorial disputes, emphasizing the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Explain how the borders drawn after World War I, often without considering local ethnic and religious divisions, continue to be a source of conflict. The creation of new states and demarcation of arbitrary borders resulted in ongoing territorial disputes.

•  International Interventions: Analyze the role of world powers, such as the United States and Russia, in the conflicts in the Middle East. Explain how geopolitical alliances and rivalries influence the dynamic of conflicts in the region. Foreign interventions often exacerbate local tensions, as each power seeks to support factions that align with its strategic interests.

•  Humanitarian Impacts: Discuss the devastating consequences of conflicts for the civilian population, including the creation of refugees, internally displaced persons, and humanitarian crises. Explain the relevance of international organizations, such as the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross, in attempts to mitigate these problems and provide humanitarian assistance.

Student Engagement

1. ❓ What are the main religious divisions that contribute to the conflicts in the Middle East? How do these divisions affect the dynamics of conflicts? 2. ❓ How does the competition for natural resources, such as oil and natural gas, influence conflicts in the Middle East? 3. ❓ Explain how the borders drawn after World War I continue to influence conflicts in the Middle East today. 4. ️ Ask students to discuss in pairs or small groups how international interventions can both help and hinder conflict resolution in the region. 5. ️ Have students reflect on the humanitarian consequences of conflicts and suggest possible solutions or actions that international organizations could take to alleviate civilian suffering.

Conclusion

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to review and consolidate learning, ensuring that students have a clear understanding of the main points covered. It also aims to reinforce the importance of the subject, connecting it to the global context and students' daily lives, and providing a cohesive closure to the lesson.

Summary

• Religious divisions between Sunnis and Shiites and the importance of Jerusalem.
• Competition for natural resources, particularly oil and natural gas.
• Territorial issues and borders drawn after World War I.
• International interventions by world powers such as the US and Russia.
• Humanitarian impacts of conflicts, such as refugees and humanitarian crises.

The lesson connected theory to practice by demonstrating how religious, economic, territorial, and international issues intertwine to create a complex scenario of conflicts in the Middle East. Historical and current examples were presented to illustrate these dynamics, facilitating students' understanding of how these factors influence the current reality of the region.

Understanding the conflicts in the Middle East is crucial as the region directly affects the global economy, especially through oil and trade via the Suez Canal. Additionally, religious and territorial tensions have global repercussions, influencing international policies and world security. Understanding these conflicts helps students become more informed and critical citizens.