Gun Violence: Stop the Shots - Public Health Series | Academy 4 Social Change 
 
 

Gun Violence: Lesson Plan 

 
Topic  

Gun violence includes any unlawful intentional or accidental suicides, deaths, and 
injuries caused by firearms. Besides the death and injury it causes, gun violence 
has lasting mental health consequences and can perpetuate cycles of poverty, 
disenfranchisement, and racism. Gun violence disproportionately impacts people 
of color, women, and other marginalized populations. 

Possible subjects/classes  Time needed  

● Public Health 
30-45 minutes 
● Global Issues 

Video link:  

https://academy4sc.org/topic/gun-violence-stop-the-shots/ 

Objective: What will students know/be able to do at the end of class?  

Students will be able to... 

● Explain the issue of global gun violence.  
● List the main drivers and possible solutions to the crisis. 
● Identify the populations that are most affected by gun violence. 

Key Concepts & Vocabulary  

Ideology, Systemic/Structural racism 

Materials Needed 

Worksheet, Student Internet Access 

Before you watch  

Think-pair-share: What countries do you think have the highest rates of gun 
violence? What do you think are some of the possible causes of and solutions for 
gun violence?  

While you watch  

 

Gun Violence: Stop the Shots - Public Health Series | Academy 4 Social Change 
 

1. What is public health? 

2. Where in the world, besides the US, are there high rates of violent gun 
deaths? 
3. List two policy solutions to curb gun violence. 

After you watch/discussion questions  

1. Think about your own community. Is gun violence an issue? If so, what 
consequences are there? 
2. Why do you think poverty and gun violence are associated? 
3. Think about a public health issue (e.g., malnutrition or a pandemic, like 
COVID-19 or the swine flu). What similar aspects does this issue have to the 
gun violence crisis? 

Activity Ideas  

● In pairs, prepare a presentation about successful gun control initiatives and 
the circumstances that made them possible. 
● Split  students  into  small  groups  and  have  them  visit  the  website  pri.  org, 
and  check  out  their  map  "Here  are  countries  with  the  world's  highest 
murder  rates".  Each  group  should  pick  a  country  and  complete  the guided 
questions on the Worksheet. 

Sources/places to learn more  

1. Johnson, Chris. “Attacking Urban Gun Violence.” Ted. Ted, Feb. 2018. 
https://www.ted.com/talks/chris_johnson_attacking_urban_gun_violence.  
2. Aizeman, N. and Silver, M. “How the U.S. Compares With Other Countries in 
Deaths From Gun Violence.” NPR. NPR, 5 Aug. 2019. 
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/08/05/743579605/how-t
he-u-s-compares-to-other-countries-in-deaths-from-gun-violence.  
3. Cukier, W. and Sidel, V.W. The Global Gun Epidemic: From Saturday Night 
Specials to AK-47s. Praeger Security International, 2006.  

   
 

Gun Violence: Stop the Shots - Public Health Series | Academy 4 Social Change 
 

Gun Violence: Worksheet 

Directions: Break up into small groups and choose a country with a high rate of gun violence to 
research (check out the map at pri.org of countries with the world’s highest murder rates to get 
started). Then answer the following questions: 
 
1. What is the country you’re investigating? 
 
 
 
2. What is the homicide rate in that country? Be sure to list the year this rate was 
recorded. 
 
 
 
3. Gather some other statistics about gun ownership and gun violence in that country 
(e.g., private gun ownership, gun suicides, accidental gun deaths, mass shootings). 
Find at least three of these statistics. List them below, along with the year the 
statistic was recorded.  
 
 
 
 
4. Research the other issues your country faces that may relate to gun violence (e.g., 
drug trafficking, poverty). Find at least three other issues and list them below. 
Explain how each issue could relate to the country’s overall gun violence. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
5. Research any activist movements against gun violence/for gun control in your 
country. Find at least one. How are the efforts of this movement or group working? 
Has there been any significant change since the activist work began? What’s the 
largest obstacle they face? 
 
 
 
 

Gun Violence: Stop the Shots - Public Health Series | Academy 4 Social Change 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
6. Are there any gun control policies? Are they enforced regularly and/or fairly? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compare & Contrast: As a class, work together to answer the above questions for the United 
States. Share with the class how your researched country compares to the United States. 
Take notes on some of the countries your classmates researched that you found most 
striking or interesting.