Rwanda: You Go, Girls!

Read the Fine Print

Abstract: The PBS WIDE ANGLE documentary series analyzes a number of significant and current global issues. In 'Ladies First' (2004), WIDE ANGLE delivers a riveting report on the political and socio-economic success of the Rwandan women after the genocide of 1994 that divided the country's major ethnic groups, the Tutsi and the Hutu. The purpose of this lesson is to use 'Ladies First' to show not only that women working together can and did create a dialogue and a basis for trust among ethnic groups, but also to show how these same women are challenging their traditional role in Rwandan society and assuming unprecedented leadership. Although the basis of the lesson is the success of women in Rwanda post-genocide, the lesson begins with a clip from the movie HOTEL RWANDA, which establishes the devastating brutality of 1994 that left the country in utter ruin. As a Culminating Activity, students will use various Web sites to hone skills needed for the Global Studies Regents Exam, including: analyzing statistical, economic, and demographic information; a map exercise; and the interpretation of a primary document.

Course Type: Learning Module
Languages: English
Material Types: Activities and Labs, Curriculum Standards, Lesson Plans, Teaching and Learning Strategies
Media Formats: Text/HTML, Video
Technical Requirements: RealPlayer

Conditions of Use: Custom License
WIDE ANGLE: WINDOW INTO GLOBAL HISTORY is an outreach initiative produced by the LAB@Thirteen, Thirteen/WNET New York's Educational and Community Outreach department. The project is designed to support the teaching and learning of Global History in high school classrooms. Our goal is that these resources will enrich the study of Global History in a variety of ways: For teachers, we hope these materials provide a flexible resource to facilitate the integration of quality media elements into standards-based classroom instruction.