Israel-Hamas War Resource Guide to Support Instruction and Discussion
As the situation in Israel and Gaza develops following this weekend’s terrorist attacks by Hamas, teachers may find themselves fielding questions from students and supporting them in processing what they have heard and seen in the media. Often when international conflict, war, or humanitarian crises make the news, students ask the same questions: Why is this happening? How is help getting to people? To what extent is the United States involved? This guide is an attempt to help teachers better understand the current issues and events surrounding the geopolitical tensions. The resources in this guide not only provide context and understanding of the events that transpired this weekend but also some of the historical antecedents. With some planning, we hope these resources serve as useful documents for instruction.
It is important as a first step to recognize that students may have relatives and loved ones who have been directly affected by the horrific events that occurred this weekend. Teachers should pay particular attention to these students, as well as those who are Jewish or Muslim, and be mindful not to place the burden of explaining context or sharing their experiences to others. Discussion of this conflict, and related topics, may generate feelings of fear or anger in students. It is important to create a space for students to express discomfort and feelings of anger or distress that may emerge from discussing this event.
For more information or additional support see Current Events and Civics Education. While the resources in this guide are current as of the date published, new information may develop rapidly. Resources will be updated periodically as events continue.
NOTE TO TEACHERS: Be thoughtful about the resources you use in your classroom. The links below are intended to be mediated by educators before use with students. DO NOT watch live news coverage during a class with students in either a remote or in-person setting:
● Watching news live makes it difficult for adults and students to control their emotions and reactions
● Students are looking to school staff to maintain a calm and safe environment
● Live coverage may be extremely stressful, traumatizing, or retraumatizing to students
● Do not make statements that things will be okay, as we can not ensure this for all students[1]
*Curated resources are listed alphabetically by author and/or organization
Resource
Summary
AFT, Replacing Fear with Facts: Teaching Islam in the Classroom
Activities with accompanying resources designed to teach about and counteract Islamophobia.
Amnesty International, Citizens on Both Sides Paying the Price of Unprecedented Escalation in Hostilities between Israel and Gaza as Death Toll Mounts
Account of the events in Israel and Gaza by a prominent human rights group including background information.
Brown University, Choices Program, What Should High School Students Know About The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
A short video providing background information about the conflict between Israel and Palestine and its impact.
Brown University, Choices Program, Why Is It Important For Young People to Understand the Situation in the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel?
A video with the scholar Rema Hammami about why students in the United States should know about the circumstances in Israel and Palestine.
Chicago Public Schools, The Day After - Classroom Discourse Guide for Difficult or Controversial Topics
Guidance, resources, and pedagogical suggestions to support administration and staff in responding to difficult, controversial, or traumatic public events with students. Sections 1 and 2 are meant for all teachers, to support a general school wide response. Section 3 is meant specifically for Social Studies teachers who might be facilitating thoughtful and critical engagement with challenging current events.
Common Sense Media, How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War
Tips for teaching students and facilitating conversations about violence and conflict grouped by ages.
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), What Is U.S. Policy on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
A resource guide that provides background information behind the conflict and explains United States policy, including what the United States has done to negotiate a resolution to the conflict.
Education Week, How to Talk About the Israel-Hamas War: Resources for Educators
Guidance, facts, and curated linked resources for educators to teach the Israel-Hamas War.
Facing History and Ourselves, Processing Attacks in Israel and the Outbreak of War in the Region
A mini-lesson to help teachers guide students in processing the events in Israel and Gaza, including strategies for following breaking news responsibly and suggestions for how teachers can identify intolerance in their schools or communities.
Facing History and Ourselves, Antisemitism and Its Impacts
An Explainer and Tropes Chart to help students understand what antisemitism is, how it shows up in contemporary settings, why it persists, and how it impacts individuals and communities.
Facing History and Ourselves, Head, Heart, Conscience
A schema to help organize lessons with intellectual rigor, emotional engagement, and ethical reflection. This content free procedure can be used to help students to consider events as they unfold.
Harvard University, Graduate School of Education, Dismantling Islamophobia
Guidance for educators on how schools can work against islamophobia.
Institute for Curriculum Resources, Teaching The Arab-Israeli Conflict
A five-lesson unit, with an emphasis on primary sources, on the Arab-Israeli conflict that explores the history of the conflict and peace process. Digital resources as well as downloadable PDFs and supplementary resources are available.
Learning for Justice (Revised in Spring 2020 for NYCDOE), #USvsHate: Anti-Hate, Bias, and Inequality Resources
The #USvsHate project, created by Learning for Justice, is a nationwide anti-bias initiative to amplify student voice and push back against messages of bias, bigotry, and hate. Working with organizations including the American Federation of Teachers, Facing History and Ourselves, Teaching for Change, Rethinking Schools and others, #USvsHate offers an extensive curated collection of lessons, allowing students to strengthen their capacity to thrive in an increasingly diverse democracy. Educators will find resources for working with students to build an inclusive school community and to understand—and push back against—various forms of hate. Those looking specifically for lessons on topics like racism, antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia and more will find a wide variety of lessons for students at all grade levels.
Learning for Justice, Handle With Care: Supporting Young People During Crises
A resource guide and suggestions for families and educators as they work to respond to the needs of children as a traumatizing event unfolds.
Learning for Justice, Resources for Learning about Israel and Palestine
A collection of resources, curated by Learning for Justice in May 2021, for learning about the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, Lesson Plan on Antisemitism
A lesson plan that defines antisemitism and examines anti-Jewish discrimination in Nazi Germany, emphasizing how Jews responded to this discrimination. This historical background leads into how antisemitism affects Jewish communities today. Free sign-in is required to access resources.
News Literacy Project, Practice Good Information Hygiene: Sanitize Before You Share
A resource created to help students respond to the misinformation swirling around the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the four-step process provides guidance for students on the importance of consuming and sharing online content with care. The News Literacy Project also has a helpful PDF on checking sources and avoiding misinformation.
New York City Department of Education, Civics for All 9-12 Part 1, “Digital Citizenship and Fact Checking” (p. 130)
A lesson plan providing a protocol for web-based research and fact checking.
New York City Department of Education, Civics for All 9-12 Part 2, “Civil Political Discourse” (p. 139)
A lesson plan providing effective structures for participation in a simulated civil political discourse and conversations with those who have different and opposing viewpoints.
New York City Department of Education, Passport to Social Studies, Grade 10 Unit 4, “Partition of Palestine” (p. 34) and “The Arab Israeli Conflict” (p. 40)
Lesson plans for building contextual understanding on Israel and Palestine.
PBS LearningMedia, The U.S. and the Holocaust
A collection of learning resources associated with The
U.S. and the Holocaust, a documentary film by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, and Sarah Bostein.
PBS LearningMedia, Making a Difference in the Midst of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
A lesson plan that uses segments from the PBS program Wide Angle to explore the history and complexity of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as well as to examine the roles individuals and organizations can play in promoting understanding and peace.
PBS Newshour Classroom, War Grips Israel, Gaza After Surprise Hamas Attack
A complete lesson plan from the PBS Newshour education team on the events from this past weekend including a curated news video and discussion questions.
Rethinking Schools, Independence or Catastrophe? Teaching Palestine Through Multiple Perspectives
An article written by a teacher about the approach used to teach the events of 1948 through multiple points of view. Includes an activity designed to situate students as an objective learner about the events.
San Diego County Office of Education, Resources for Educators and Families to Discuss the Events in Israel and Gaza with students
A collection of resources to support educators and families. Resources for social and emotional learning are included. Links and materials are organized by grade band.
TeachMidEast, The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
A resource guide curated to provide moderate and balanced resources with perspectives from multiple sides.
UNICEF, How To Talk To Your Children About Conflict And War
Eight tips to support young people as they process living through a time of conflict.
The White House, Joint Statement on Israel
Joint statement released on October 9, 2023 by the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America about the crisis in Israel.
Yad Vashem The World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Antisemitism
A video toolbox for educators designed to help educators teach antisemitism effectively.
[1] St. Paul Public Schools (MN.) “Preparing for & Responding to the Chauvin Trial Verdict,” (2021).