CFR Education: Resource Conflicts Explained

Lesson Plans

Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APEconomics, History, Geography

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Council on Foreign Relations

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What it is

In this interactive text, students will click through various materials to read about how the different natural resources contribute to conflict.
Students will understand how revenue from certain markets funds conflict and how shortages of natural resources contribute to conflict.
This is the fifth section of the World 101 Conflict module, which includes a lesson plan for conflict-related sections of the World 101 content.

Teaching tips

Positives

There are many other related readings linked throughout this text to build background knowledge or expand learning.
This reading is broken down by type of resource, presenting information in digestible chunks, which should help students as they take in the reading as a whole.

Additional Prerequisites

The lesson plan correlates to a variety of conflict-related sections.
Even if the class is not doing the mapping activity in the lesson plan, it may be helpful to show the countries mentioned on a map, so students can have a little more context for the reading.

Differentiation

History students can create a timeline of all the conflict-related dates mentioned in the reading.
This article can be read using a jigsaw method, with each student or group of students reading about a different natural resource and related conflict.
Students can choose one of the conflicts mentioned or another resource-driven conflict to further research and write a brief report on.
Students may predict and discuss how climate change, an increasing global population, and the dwindling of natural resources may affect these conflicts in the future.

From the scientist review

As the climate continues to change, some natural resources like fresh water are becoming scarce in certain parts of the world. This teaching resource looks at how various natural resources have fueled conflict across the globe. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Subjects: Economics, History, Geography
Other types: Interactive Media, Ebooks
Format: Google Docs
Language: English
Location: Africa, Asia, Earth, Europe, Middle East, North America, Oceania, South America
Provider: Council on Foreign Relations
Authors: CFR Education
Published: September 15, 2023
Last updated: August 17, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · R.9-12.6 + 3 more

Maine Climate Education Hub

English Language Arts

R.9-12.6Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Social Studies

GlobalConnections (F2): Students understand economic aspects of unity and diversity in Maine, the United States, and the world, including Maine Native American communities, by analyzing how resource distribution effects wealth, poverty, and other economic factors.
Geography1 (D2): Students understand the geography of the United States and various regions of the world and the effect of geographic influences on decisions about the present and future by using inquiry to predict and evaluate consequences of geographic influences.
History1 (D2): Students understand major eras, major enduring themes, and historic influences in United States and world history, including the roots of democratic philosophy, ideals, and institutions in the world by analyzing and critiquing major historical eras: major enduring themes, turning points, events, consequences, and people in the history of the world and the implications for the present and future.

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What it is

Teaching tips

From the scientist review

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