The Killing Fields

Social Studies Online

Fish for a definition

It is important for students to understand the language of the unit that they are studying.

At one point in Borany's journey the family stops beside the Mekong River. Twice the Khmer Rouge tossed dynamite into the river to kill the fish and the people scooped the dead or stunned fish out with bamboo baskets on long poles. Later in Battambang Borany's Mother sold dried fish at the market to earn money to feed the family. Hence the fish symbol for this activity. It could be any shape that you like to choose.

1. Create a set of key terms (see below) that students will encounter in the course of the unit.
2. Download, enlarge and print off a set or two of the fishes provided, preferably on heavy paper or coloured card.
3. Print a key word on each fish and place the fish in a goldfish bowl.
4. Students fish for one or more words, use a dictionary such as Collins Cobuild or the Cambridge International Dictionary of English online to develop a clear definition of their term, or "ask an expert" to help them define their term.
5. The "correct" definition can be written on the back of the fish and hung on a mobile so that students can use it as a form of hanging dictionary as the unit progresses.

Possible terms include:

Killing fields, holocaust, genocide, Khmer Rouge, displaced persons, communist, professional, starvation, liberated, chauffeur, verandah, explosives, diarrhoea, terrified, countryside, pumpkins, jungle, communally, village, infected, invaded, invasion, strategic, ox carts, bullock carts, border, auction, market, landmine, refugee camp, Red Cross, orphan, Khmer, sponsor, embarrassed, depressed, racism, culture, festival.