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Contents of the Package

This package contains materials to help you (and the children you teach) understand the dangers of mines and UXOs, as well as and to help you live safely with mine/UXOs.

The package has been designed as a resource. You should be able to choose or adapt activities to suit all children in the primary school.

THE POSTER

This poster is designed to give a strong warning about the danger of mines. It provides eight information sections on different types of mines and UXOs. There is also information such as phone numbers and who to call to report mines.

The information sections show on the left side what the mine/UXO actually looks like. On the right side there is an illustration of where it may be found.

When introducing this poster and these eight scenarios, it is important to point out to the children that these situations are only examples of where these objects may be found. Initiate discussion on other likely situations so that the children are actively thinking about the presence of mines/UXOs and the dangers of them.

Possible discussion topics:

• Where else do you think this mine may have been laid?
  
• This mine has been designed to explode when there is a weight on it;
  where do you think it may be laid?
  
• Booby traps are placed in things that people would pick up
  automatically. What things can you think of that may be booby trapped?
  
• Should weapons be kept at home when the fighting has stopped? Why/why not?
  

THE LEAFLET

As the leaflet has both a puzzle and technical information, it could be utilised for a variety of activities. As a result of reading the leaflet, children should be able to recognise the most common types of mines and UXOs, will know where these explosives are likely to be found and know who to contact if they should see any explosives like these.

The leaflet can be used for comprehension activities, as a catalyst for story telling and to stimulate the children's observation skills.

• Have one child look at the closed leaflet picture (without mines). Another child looks at the open leaflet picture and then describes as accurately as possible where the mines are. The first child draws them in according to the description. (This extends the childrens listening skills, observation skills, vocabulary and comprehension.)
  
• Allow the children to look at the open leaflet picture (with mines) for twenty seconds. Ask them to close the leaflets, wait for thirty seconds and then draw the placement and type of the mines on the outside picture. (This extends comprehension skills.)

The leaflet should be sent home with the children after the comprehension activities have been completed. This helps to disseminate information into the general community.

GAMES

Snakes and Ladders

This game is played by throwing a die and moving the number of squares stipulated by the throw. If the player lands on a square with writing on it, the scenario should be read out to all the players. The child then follows either the snake or the ladder. The game can be played by four to six children if it is a board game or by six to ten children if it is on a larger plastic sheet. The game is won by the first child who reaches the ultimate square.

This game is designed to give both positive and negative messages about mines. Because of the format it is possible to describe scenarios that the children should not follow as well as scenarios that they should follow. Landing on a negative scenario means sliding down the snake to a negative consequence. Landing on a positive scenario means climbing the ladder to a positive consequence (and getting closer to the finish). This format allows the messages to be passed without the possibility of misinterpreting the message.

Memory game

Two identical sets of picture cards. The face of the cards show types of mines/UXOs. The cards are thoroughly shuffled and spread out on the table face down.

The first player turns one card up and then a second card. If the two cards match (have the same picture) then the child takes that pair. If the cards do not match, both cards are turned face down again (in the same place on the table). The next child has a turn.

The idea is that the children must remember which position the cards are in so that as the game progresses they can make the matches more easily.

This game is useful for recognising types of mines/UXOs.

Match and Win

A set of picture cards. Half the cards have pictures showing scenarios regarding what to do with explosives or mines (either negative or positive). The other half show the consequences of the scenarios.

The game is played the same way as Memory.