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Case Studies > Conflict Diamonds

Conflict Diamonds

Year 11 in a school serving a range of socioeconomic groups with significant areas of deprivation and disaffection.

The initial hook was using the feature film Blood Diamond as a stimulus. We set a clear and realistic task with a Citizenship slant – presenting a case to the school council. In the attachment is the detailed scheme of work. The multiple choice exercise, crossword and cloze exercise are Hot Potato quizzes devised to check whether the students had been researching the topics adequately. The beauty of using them on a VLE is that you can direct the students to have completed them by a particular point in the lesson and then check the results immediately. Any pupils who then need further help can be identified straight away and given extra support.

We found five or six hours was the right amount of time for students of average ability.

Useful Documents - Right click to download

Conflict Diamonds

Uploaded : 24 April 2008

Filename : conflict_diamonds.pdf ( 1.14 MB )

Description : The purpose of this unit is to look in more depth at some of the issues raised in the film Blood Diamond. You will be looking in detail at the following broad areas:

• human rights

• actions citizens can take in democratic processes to influence decisions

• the rights and responsibilities of consumers

• the challenges facing the global community, including international

disagreements and conflict, and debates about inequalities, sustainability and use of the worldʼs resources.

By the time you have finished studying this unit you should be able to:

• explain what 'blood' or 'conflict' diamonds are;

• analyse the impact of the trade in conflict diamonds on African countries;

• consider what the diamond industry and international community can do to stop the illegal trade in diamonds;

• discuss whether stopping the trade in conflict diamonds would lead to peace in Africa.

THE KEY CONCEPTS YOU WILL BE CONCENTRATING ON ARE:

Democracy and justice

• Understanding and exploring the roles of citizens and parliaments in holding government and those in power to account.

Rights and Responsibilities

• Exploring different kinds of rights and obligations and how these affect both individuals and communities.

• Understanding that individuals, organisations and governments have responsibilities to ensure that rights are balanced, supported and protected.

• Investigating ways in which rights can compete and conflict, and understanding that hard decisions have to be made to try to balance these.

Identities and diversity

• Considering the interconnections between the UK and the rest of Europe and the wider world.