10 Resources for Teaching About the War in Ukraine
Explore 10 free resources to help students understand the war in Ukraine, from the country’s history and young people’s stories to its global impact.
Updated October 2026 with current context and classroom resources on the war in Ukraine.
At one school in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, students can continue learning in a shelter during air raid alerts. It’s one example of how Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022, continues to shape daily life. To help students make sense of the war, we can examine Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade and Ukraine’s fight to defend its independence.
“His power, and his longevity, rest on three pillars: fear; domination over the information sphere; and perceived legitimacy.”
Journalist Masha Gessen has spent years reporting on Vladimir Putin’s government and its pressure on independent media in Russia. Their 2021 testimony predates the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but it can help students compare Russian government statements about the war with independent reporting and accounts from Ukrainians.
Additional Resource
The 10 Share My Lesson resources below can help educators, parents and students explore Ukraine’s history, the war’s impact on people’s lives and the choices governments face in responding to Russia’s invasion.
Resources on the Ukraine War
Snapshots from Ukraine: Untold Stories of Teenagers
Help high school students explore Ukrainian teenagers’ experiences of war through three short films, discussion and creative writing. The lesson covers displacement, learning underground and rebuilding communities after loss.
Investigating War Crimes in Ukraine
How are reports of war crimes in Ukraine investigated? Use this University of Michigan teaching guide, case studies and interactive maps to help older students examine evidence and discuss human rights and international justice. Preview witness testimony before class.
Ukraine Dam Breach Floods Major Area
Use this 2023 PBS NewsHour Classroom lesson to examine the Kakhovka Dam breach, the flooding it caused in nearby communities and how students can assess competing claims about its cause.
From the KGB to the Presidency: Vladimir Putin's Rise
Learn about the KGB and help students investigate and understand how Vladimir Putin rose through the ranks from spy to president.
‘Convene the Council’—A Game to Help Students Understand the Russia-Ukraine Crisis
How does the U.S. government respond to an international crisis? See how an eighth-grade civics teacher used the iCivics game “Convene the Council” to help students explore the National Security Council’s role and connect foreign policy decisions to the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine Grain Shipments and the International Economy
Use this 2022 PBS NewsHour Classroom lesson to explore how Russia’s invasion disrupted Ukrainian grain exports, how an agreement allowed shipments to resume, and why the disruption mattered to global food supplies and Ukrainian farmers.
Ukraine’s Cultural Sites Under Threat from Russia’s Invasion
Use this 2022 PBS NewsHour Classroom lesson to explore the bombing of Mariupol’s theater, the risks to Ukraine’s cultural heritage and how people are working to protect it. Preview the video before sharing it with students; it contains disturbing images of war.
Music Uplifts A Nation Under Siege
In the midst of so much chaos and destruction in Ukraine, the sound of music has the power to bring light to darkness. Use this lesson to explore how Ukrainians are keeping morale high with music.
Ukrainian History: A Centuries Long Road to Independence
Use this PBS NewsHour Classroom lesson to explore Ukraine’s long road to independence and help students assess Vladimir Putin’s false claims about the country’s history and relationship with Russia.
What Is It Like Being A Ukrainian Refugee?
Use this 2022 PBS NewsHour Classroom report from the Ukraine–Poland border to explore what people carried as they fled Russia’s invasion. Discussion prompts help students consider whose perspectives are included in the news coverage. Preview the footage before class; some segments contain disturbing images of war.
As the war in Ukraine continues, we hope for peace and safety for everyone affected. These resources can help you make space for students’ questions and explore the human stories behind the headlines. Find more classroom resources below, and let us know in the comments how you’re approaching this topic with your students.
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Andy Kratochvil is a proud member of the AFT Share My Lesson team, where he’s passionate about discovering and sharing top-tier content with educators across the country. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and French from California State University, Fullerton, and later completed... See More
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