Did you know that Israel, one of the most sophisticated military forces in the world, won its independence with a ragtag army, primitive weapons and makeshift strategies? In this resource, students will learn about the inaccurate cannon, soda bottles and a hastily constructed road; all of which played a part in Israel’s victory. Beyond the historical account of ingenuity, resourcefulness and creativity, learners will also debate the relevance of the classic image of the State of Israel as the young David pitted against the all-powerful Goliath: does that image hold up in today’s Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Should support for Israel be contingent upon its being an underdog? Discussion prompts and engaging activities such as playing the game of “spectrum” in which students must choose sides in this debate enhance the learners’ understanding of the fledgling State as compared to the Israel of today.
The learner will:
understand why Israel is considered to be both “David” and “Goliath”
know the ways in which Israel had to resort to resourcefulness in order to win its early wars
be able to write an opinion piece on their image of Israel today and whether they think that support for Israel should be contingent upon its being a classic underdog
Unpacked for Educators materials include:
An educator’s guide that contains many rich components. These are organized under the following titles:
review (questions that relate to the video)
discussion
activities
reflection
further learning
A video designed to spark interest in the topic.
Computer, Student Handouts