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A network dedicated to building a culture of human rights

Lesson Plans – Environment

Human Rights for Human Dignity
Source: Amnesty International
A primer on economic, social and cultural rights.
Grade Level: High school – adult
Subject Area: social studies


Environmental Justice
Elementary   Middle school   High school
Source: Teaching Tolerance
Uses maps and graphs to explore how some natural disasters like the Gulf Oil Spill disproportionately affect people of color and those who live in poverty.
Subject Area: social studies, geography

World’s Largest Lesson: Zero Hunger
Source: World‘s Largest Lesson

UNESCO and UNICEF lesson plans in support of human rights and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These lesson plans focus on Goal 2: Zero Hunger..
Grade Level: upper elementary – adult


Global Water Supply
Elementary school Middle school High school
Source: Water.org
Multi-lesson units that address personal and global issues related to water. Also offers videos of Water.Org’s work.
Grade Level: Preschool – high school
Subject Area: environment, science


Human Rights and Service Learning
Source: Amnesty International USA
An introduction to human rights service learning with a lesson on taking action for the environment.
Grade Level: middle – high school
Subject Area: social studies, service learning


Speak Truth to Power – Loune Viaud
Source: Speak Truth to Power Curriculum, RFK Center
Activities based on the Loune Viaud’s story of establishing healthcare systems in Haiti.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: science, environmental studies, health


Natural Resources, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution
Source: US Institute of Peace, 2007
Study and discussion guide with learning activities that explore the complex relationship between natural resources and violent conflict with extensive background information, discussion questions, and activities that include a concept map and simulation.
Grade Level: high school – adult
Subject Area: social studies, environmental studies 


Property Rights: Is the Environment Different?
Source: Foundation for Teaching Economics
Examines the economics of environmental realities, policies and solutions.
Grade Level: high school – adult
Subject Area:  social studies, economics


Reporting on Environmental Racism
Source: Teaching Tolerance
Explores the concept of environmental racism using print sources.
Grade Level: Middle -high school
Subject Area: social studies, science, health

Rights to a Clean Environment Toolkit
Source: Advocates for Human Rights, 2011
 A multi-faceted educational tools with background information, lesson plans, action opportunities, and resources that analyze the right to a clean environment in the United States.
Grade Level: middle school – adult
Subject Area: social studies, current events 

Recycling & Waste Reduction
Source: Wake County Government
A variety of lesson plans on waste, recycling, plastics and composting.
Grade Level: elementary – high school
Subject Area: social studies, science, environment


Wangari Maathai
Source: Speak Truth to Power Curriculum, RFK Center
Activities based on an interview with the founder of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya.
Grade Level: middle school
Subject Area: science, environmental studies

Do We Have a Right to Clean Water?
Source: Global Oneness Project

Residents of Flint, Michigan, have been facing a water crisis since 2014, caused by poor decision-making by state government regarding the source and treatment of Flint’s drinking water. The crisis calls into question citizens’ rights to clean water and how our natural resources are allocated across racial and income lines.
Grade Level: middle – high school
Subject Area: environment, science, social studies

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The core values of HRE USA and its partner organizations include transparency and critical thinking skills. We believe that human rights--and human rights education--belong to everyone, and that the full realization of human rights means that access to human rights education materials must never be conditioned upon the subscription to any particular religious faith, ideology, political affiliation, or membership in any particular organization and that any organizational connections should be openly acknowledged.