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Recent elections have brought forth the old problem of voter suppression in a new guise — voter ID laws, voter roll purges, polling places shuttered. As activists combat these restrictive, antidemocratic measures, we must provide students historical context to understand these struggles. The Zinn Education Project has put together a cluster of lessons on the history of voting rights in the United States.

This lesson, and the other materials provided by the Zinn Education Project, really helped me move our discussion on voting rights forward. Many students reconsidered their preconceived notions that voting should have qualifications, especially around education and literacy, and that voting is a fundamental right in our democratic system. — Andrew Duden, high school social studies teacher, Oregon

As with all lessons at the Zinn Education Project, Who Gets to Vote? Teaching About the Struggle for Voting Rights in the United States by Ursula Wolfe-Rocca, is free to download for classroom use, thanks to donations.

Lesson

You are invited to attend the Center’s virtual information session on November 12, 2024 (06:00 PM CT) to learn how you can bring the We the People program to your school or district.

Join the Center for Civic Education in a virtual open house to learn how you can bring the We the People program to your school or district. Learn more about the curriculum and connect with Center staff, program coordinators in your region, and even expert teachers who can help you launch your own We the People program. We hope to see you there!

Visit this page to get up to date on the latest HRE USA news.

HRE USA’s Human Rights Here and Now Bulletin is a periodic publication that provides background information and educational resources and lessons to address contemporary human rights issues.

Bulletin 10: For Every Child, Every Right! A Toolkit for Educations: The CRC Changes Children’s Lives

In light of the rapid spread of disinformation and misinformation during election years, we are committed to providing educators and practitioners with resources that not only address these issues but also advocate for the right to vote and promote freedom of information. This toolkit is designed to equip individuals with accurate, fact-based tools to navigate the complexities of electoral misinformation while empowering civic participation. The curated resources aim to foster critical thinking, media literacy, and advocacy for voting rights, ensuring that individuals can make informed decisions during election periods. While these resources are a starting point, we encourage further exploration and engagement through our Professional Development and Training Team’s selections, many of which are available through the HRE USA K-12 Lesson Library, as well as external links to our community partners and human rights educators.

This toolkit was developed as a part of a virtual roundtable on Mis/Disinformation during an Election Year held on September 14, 2024. The roundtable brought together youth and experts to analyze and address the pressing issues of misinformation and voting rights. This session was recorded and the video can be accessed here.

Access collection here

The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award identifies and honors those who embody Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s belief that the power of individual and collective moral courage can overcome injustice. Each year, we honor outstanding champions of social justice who stand up to oppression, even at great personal risk, in the nonviolent pursuit of human rights. Help us promote the work of dedicated human rights defenders around the world by nominating an individual or organization whose work you believe is worthy of recognition. 

Submit your nomination → 

Learn more about the award →

Defending Democracy: Lessons for Building Resilience and Taking Action is a free, downloadable curriculum from Woven Teaching created for high school educators who want to engage their students in the fight to protect democracy and fight authoritarianism.  Based on the framework of Professor Timothy Snyder’s, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, these lessons offer practical applications and actions that young people can take in their communities and as global citizens. 

Highlights of Defending Democracy: An emphasis on critical thinking, media literacy, and collaboration, and community buildingHighly accessible, practical, and action-orientedAdaptable and created for either high- or low-technology environmentsGlobal and US-based examples, as well as historical and contemporary case studies15 lessons that encourage civic engagement and global citizenship – Summaries of each lesson are available hereConsiderations for Teaching Ethically and Effectively, including tips on facilitating difficult conversations in the classroom.Additional materials, including: glossary, group work roles, pre- and post-assessment, and resources for further learning.

 You can download Defending Democracy here. To learn more, check out the curriculum overview.

Defending Democracy was created by Woven Teaching, the human rights education practice of Woven Foundation. Woven Teaching’s work is dedicated to supporting classroom teachers with practical help for ethical and effective instruction. We believe that by weaving human rights education into the curriculum, educators can create socially responsible global citizens.

For more information about other Woven Teaching materials and resources, please visit woventeaching.org/resources.  

For more information about Woven Teaching or to schedule a workshop for your school or district, please contact info@woventeaching.org.

Register | Schedule | Keynote | Workshops

ONLINE via ZOOM
Saturday, November 2, 2024
12:00PM – 3:00PM ET /  9:00AM – 12:00PM PT

Register

The annual 2024 Native Knowledge 360° Teach-In, hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in collaboration with Teaching for Change, is an opportunity for educators around the world to access classroom resources from NMAI’s online education portal Native Knowledge 360°, the Zinn Education Project, and more. This event will be hosted ONLINE via Zoom.

Teachers select two workshop breakout sessions that include relevant and resource-rich experiences to support effective use of American Indian-focused classroom lessons and resources from Teaching for Change and NMAI. The goal of the Teach-In is to support awareness of the museum’s Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) national education initiative and its classroom lessons to promote improved teaching about American Indian communities. Teachers play a crucial role in advancing the museum’s work to transform popular understandings of Native history, cultures, and contemporary lives.

Teaching for Change and NMAI museum educators will share key concepts from NMAI’s Essential Understandings Framework, children’s literature from Social Justice Books, and classroom materials from NMAI’s Native Knowledge 360° education initiative. See highlights from the 2023 Native Knowledge 360° & Teaching for Change Teach-In.

Professional development credit and ASL interpretation will be available.

Register today!

November 11 at 1 p.m. ET

A longtime advocate for immigrant, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ communities, Arely Westley works with numerous organizations in New Orleans to uplift LGBTQ+ youth, stop abuses in ICE detention facilities, and expand access to immigrant support services. Westley was recognized as this year’s RFK Human Rights Award for her tireless efforts to combat injustice and speak truth to power.

Register here for the panel and receive accompanying lesson materials.