Grades 1-6, 20 minutes
Inform students that they will start the day at school by trying to empathize with landmine victims. About 28 percent of mine victims lose one or both legs. Give students ropes or scarves and ask some of them to tie their legs together at ankle level or to immobilize one leg somehow. Instruct other students to tie up one arm, go blindfolded, or block up their ears to simulate the loss of an arm, eyesight, or hearing. Have students continue their normal morning activities with their new disability. After some significant time, discuss together the difficulties faced.
Debriefing:
- Compare and contrast the activities of North American children or adolescents with those from developing countries, where most mine victims live.
- How would farming, gathering wood, collecting water, etc., be done with only one leg or one arm? Without sight or hearing? Ask students to reflect on their morning experience.
- If you lost a leg or arm suddenly, how difficult would it be for you to relearn everyday tasks and activities? What would happen if your family was not able to afford an artificial limb?
- How might this disability affect your future? How might it affect the future of a landmine victim in a developing country?