How Does Exploring Humanitarian Law Fit Within Standards?

Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) lessons have been aligned with the National Council for the Social Studies' ten thematic strands for secondary education. Here are some examples of ways teachers are integrating EHL lessons into their teaching.

U.S. and World History Courses:

• Discussions of Prisoners of War draw upon diverse examples, including British prison POW ships in the Revolutionary War, Andersonville in the Civil War, and all of our modern-era wars.
  Strands: V. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions; VI. Power, Authority, and Governance
• Learning about banned weapons, light arms, and anti-personnel mines is central to a student’s understanding of how science and technology influence the development of society. Understanding why certain weapons are banned and being able to trace consequences of the use of landmines helps students learn how a given historical act can potentially have a "ripple effect," impacting the present as well.
  Strand: VIII. Science, Technology, and Society
• The key concepts of human dignity, bystander and humanitarian actions are central to EHL are themes that run throughout U.S. and World History. This includes Las Casas, who spoke up for indigenous peoples during the Spanish explorations; citizens that advocated against removing Indians in the 1830s, and again at the turn of the last century (Helen Hunt Jackson, specifically) during the Indian Wars; proponents of the Women's and Civil Rights movements from the early 1900s through the 1960s; and the Holocaust and modern genocides.
  Strands: II. Time, Continuity, and Change; IX. Global Connections; X. Civic Ideals and Practices
• Responses to refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) broaden our definition of citizen to include a global perspective.
  Strands: V. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions; VII. Production, Distribution, and Consumption; IX. Global Connections; X. Civic Ideals and Practices 

American Government or Comparative Government Courses:

• The Geneva Conventions' history and discussion is relevant, as are the lessons on justice, dealing with violations of the law, judiciary systems, the United Nations and internationalism in the 21st century.
  Strands: II. Time, Continuity, and Change; VI. Power, authority, and Governance; IX. Global Connections  

Psychology, Sociology, or Global Studies Courses:

• Integrate discussions from EHL on human dignity, the role of a bystander, humanitarian actions, child soldiers and the needs of displaced persons.
  Strands: II. Time, Continuity, and Change; IX. Global Connections; IV. Individual Development and Identity

For more details, download a guide to the alignment of EHL with the National Council for the Social Studies Standards.

EHL's flexible curriculum can make a significant contribution to the pedagogy and content of a wide range of subject areas such as social studies, literature, and arts. To access subject area charts for each EHL exploration, click here.

Learn More...

Click here to download a Curriculum and Module Overview.

Click here to review EHL Curriculum Online.

Click here to learn more about EHL alignment with the International Baccalaureate program.

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