Lesson Plan: NATO Pursuit

Lesson Plan

Introduction

Canada is one of the founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which has existed for more than 50 years. Originally, NATO was guided by these principles: to settle international disputes by peaceful means without endangering international peace, security, and justice, and to refrain from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. In recent years, NATO has become a multilateral alliance and has turned its focus towards combating the modern threat of terrorism.

The Task

Students will design and research questions for a trivia board game about Canada's participation in NATO. The game must feature:

• a game board illustrated with images depicting Canada's participation in NATO
• colour-coded game cards with questions on one side and answers on the other
• an instruction sheet outlining the rules of the game Questions and answers must be clear and accurate. Game play should have an element of chance to make it interesting.

The Process

Divide the class into groups of four. As a starting point for their research, direct students to the topic One For All: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization.  Have students view the clips "Can the United Nations protect the free world?" "A Reduced NATO Commitment," "NATO Celebrates 50 years," and "The Rapid Strike Force." They can expand their search with other online resources including the websites for Veteran Affairs Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, National Defence and the Canadian Forces, and NATO's Strategic Concept - A Canadian Concept.  Students can do a Google search for "NATO and Canada" to unearth more sources of information.

The research should be divided equally among the students. Each group member will focus on one of the following four categories: NATO alliances, NATO's role(s), NATO's successes, and problems NATO has confronted.

As they explore, the students should record suitable game questions and answers. Remind them to cite all sources consulted or used. When they are done, have group members work together to select 10 questions for each game category, design and create a game board, make colour-coded game cards, and write an instruction sheet.

Conclusion

Have the groups exchange board games and play them. Lead a class discussion about the challenges and successes they experienced trying to work as a group to design and create their games. Relate their responses to successes and problems NATO has faced as a large organization.

Material

• bristol board
• construction paper (four different colours)
• art supplies